Matt Kuchar shoots 68 to stay in Masters hunt for first major title

The day, and the tournament, were getting away from Matt Kuchar.

Lucky for him, he was arriving at his Augusta National security blanket -- the par-5 13th hole.

Kuchar made his third consecutive score of birdie or better at the hole when he two-putted from 50 feet, igniting a streak of four birdies in a row that enabled him to salvage a 68 on Saturday and stay on the fringes of Masters contention at 8-under-par 208, five behind Francesco Molinari.

Kuchar was 2-under for the day with no bogeys through 10 holes, then lost shots at Nos. 11 and 12 through what he said was more the product of misfortune than mishits.

"I was playing good golf ... I hit good shots on both 11 and 12 and walked away with a couple of bogeys," he said. "Kind of had to remind myself I'm still playing good."

 Kuchar's second shot from the fairway at No. 11 missed the green to the right, and his chip stayed 10 feet below the hole. He missed the par attempt.

He thought he was dialed in at No. 12 but the ball fell in the front bunker and he blasted out 15 feet past the hole. Again, he missed a par attempt.

But Kuchar had plenty of holes to play, two of them par-5s. For the week, he's now 10-under on the par-5 holes, and his birdie at No. 13 made him 5-under at that hole.

Kuchar then nailed his second shot within 4 feet of the hole at No. 14, making the birdie putt, and two-putted from 10 feet for birdie at No. 15.

He saved his best roll of the day for the 16th hole. His tee shot was left and below the right-front hole position but he curled in a 40-footer for birdie.

Kuchar made a pair of good two-putts on the final two holes, from 38 and 55 feet. 

"That's doable," he said of his deficit, which was three shots then, but climbed to five by the end of the day.

"I'm excited to be the guy that tees off and has a chance to be in contention. Golf gets so exciting when you've got a chance to contend for a tournament title, a major championship and particularly the Masters Tournament."