The main task on Saturday at Augusta is to move into a reasonable position on the leaderboard for a Sunday, back nine charge. You can’t win the tournament on Saturday, but you can certainly play yourself out of contention. Even the idea of creating comfortable distance from the field is no guarantee, just ask Greg Norman. The point is to reach No. 10 tee on Sunday within earshot of the leaders, then let the chips, or in this case strokes, fall where they may.

Conditions were ideal today from the perspective of the championship committee at Augusta. The sun was out, there was a light breeze whipping through Amen corner and the course was dry. As per usual at the hallowed ground, as the course continued to dry out shots began to drop.

Early fireworks were provided by American bomber Gary Woodland, who went out with a front nine score of 30, and reached the 4-under-par mark before faltering on the way in and finishing at even (T-14) after three rounds. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez was also creating a stir on Saturday. Starting the day in the middle of the pack at 3-over, Jimenez went on to make seven birdies and one bogey en route to a round of 66, leaving him in a tie for fifth going into Sunday.

2012 Masters Champion Bubba Watson (who started at 7-under) teed off Saturday afternoon with a three-shot lead over Australian John Senden and four shots beyond Texan Jordan Spieth, Sweden’s Jonas Blixt and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn. Watson’s day was a roller coaster ride. After losing a shot at No. 1, he eagled the long par-5, No. 2 to climb to 8-under. Watson then proceeded to bogey three of the next five holes, making his way back to the field. Teeing off on No. 10 he was just one shot clear of Blixt and Bjorn, who struggled coming in to card a 73 (currently T-7th).

Watson’s trouble continued. After making pars on Nos. 11 through 15 (which included missed opportunities after huge drives on the par-5, No. 13 and 15) he bogeyed No. 16, parred No. 17 and made a scrambling par on the No. 18 to finish at 5-under. He will join Jordan Spieth in the final group who is also in the house at 5-under after a third-round 70.

Closely pursuing them tomorrow will be Matt Kuchar (68) and Jonas Blixt (71) at 4-under and one shot back. American Ricky Fowler (67, T-5) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (66, T-5) are two shots back.

Other notables who are well in position to make a move on Masters Sunday are 54-year-old Freddie Couples (73, T-10), Englishmen Lee Westwood (70, T-7) and veteran Jim Furyk (71, T-7). There are 17 players within six shots of the lead. That list also includes defending champion Adam Scott, who is at 1-over and in a tie for 16th.

Bottom line, it’s anybody’s ballgame tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if someone comes out of the pack with a low score to claim the green jacket, or if it will be battle of wills where the most patient player will outlast the field.

I’ll be watching.

TV Times below: CBS 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo will have the call.