Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer shot a three-under-par 69 to move into contention at the Masters. The 46-year-old German, who started the day level par for the tournament, reached the turn in one under and picked up two more shots coming home.
Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson equalled the best round of the tournament with a 67 to move to one under.
The 29-year-old was only inches away from posting a 66, but his par putt at the last just missed.
"I was thinking if I could pull it into red numbers (below par), I would give myself a chance - and I did that," said Jacobson, who was tied for fifth at last year's US Open and sixth at the Open.
"If I can put together another score like that, I have a good chance."
Forty-seven this August, Langer would take over from Jack Nicklaus as the oldest-ever champion.
But even if he does he insists he will still not give up the Ryder Cup captaincy and play at Oakland Hills in September.
"I don't know why people keep asking," the two-time Masters champion said. "I have said I will not play."
Spaniard Sergio Garcia slipped to three over par as two bogeys in the last three holes saw him post a 75.
Garcia's 54-hole total of 219 is one worse than Alex Cejka's, although the Czech-born German will be furious with himself that he is not further ahead.
Cejka was two under with two holes to play but a bogey at 17 and a disastrous triple-bogey at the last gave him a 78.
MMIX
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I don't know why people keep asking, I have said I will not play 
