Steve Stricker keeps hope alive with Saturday 71

Steve Stricker is holding out hope he’ll win his first major title Sunday.

He also knows he’ll have to play one of the best rounds of his life. Stricker closed with double bogey at No. 18 for 71 and trails co-leaders Brandt Snedeker and Angel Cabrera by five shots entering the final round of the Masters Tournament.

“I’ll have to do something special,” he said matter-of-factly Saturday.

Stricker, 46, is the same age as Jack Nicklaus, who closed with 65 to win the 1986 Masters. Stricker likely will need that type of magical performance if he’s going to claim the green jacket.

At the beginning of the year, Stricker announced he was cutting back his PGA Tour schedule to spend more time with his family. In just four events, he has recorded two runner-up showings and a fifth for $1.8 million in earnings, along with a No. 8 world ranking.

He continued his stellar play this week in Augusta, but only after recovering from a 4-over start through the first eight holes of the tournament to post an opening 73. After carding 70 in the second round, he climbed back into contention with his third-round play, despite two three-putts.

“I’ve been playing well all year,” Stricker said. “I was just a little out to lunch the first eight holes of the tournament. I’m glad I was able to come back.

“I played a pretty good round of golf again.”

In the third round, Stricker was almost perfect off the tee, hitting his first 13 fairways. Disaster struck at the final hole, when he found the right rough on his tee shot. Stricker knocked his approach left of the green then chipped to within 15 feet of the hole. He missed the slick downhill attempt. Worse, he lipped out the 3-foot comeback putt for bogey.

“I just tried to lag it down there, make my bogey and get out of there,” Stricker said of his first putt. “I thought I hit a good second putt. To end up with a double like that is kind of stinging right now.

“I am disappointed. Leaving with a double bogey puts a bad taste in your mouth.”