High temperatures expected for final round

Saturday opened with threats of thunderstorms late in the day.

Those storms never materialized. Instead, inordinately high temperatures greeted players during the third round of the Masters Tournament.

It amounted to perfect scoring conditions on a day when "moving day" at Augusta National Golf Club proved to be just that.

Angel Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, Adam Scott and Bubba Watson took advantage, all firing 5-under-par 67 for the day's low score to dramatically improve their standing heading into today's final round.

Cabrera moved from a tie for 18th into a tie for second at 8-under; Scott went from T-20 to a tie for sixth at 7-under; and Watson, who only made the cut with one stroke to spare, jumped all the way into a tie for ninth at 5-under.

"The ball was really going a long way today," said Scott, who is five shots behind leader Rory McIlroy. "It's a little warmer, and ... certainly conditions are very fair out there. It's ideal scoring conditions."

Others, such as Tiger Woods (74) and Geoff Ogilvy (73), failed to capitalize. Both moved backwards to 5-under overall.

No interruption of play Saturday means the tournament will likely be played without any delay for the third consecutive year.

That stretch comes after one in which the tournament had weather delays in five of six years from 2003-08.

While players likely will get a reprieve from inclement weather, they were not protected from the heat.

Highs in the upper 80s greeted players in the early-to-mid afternoon. A high of 90 is expected for today's final round.

Reach Justin Williams at (706) 868-1222, ext. 116, orjustin.williams@augustachronicle.com.