CONSISTENT AGAIN: This was supposed to be the year Todd Hamilton's Masters Tournament exemption expired, potentially his last trip down Magnolia Lane.

He had missed the cut in seven of his nine starts on the PGA Tour this season and was on no one's short list to contend for a green jacket.

Those expecting Hamilton to plummet off the leaderboard are still waiting around this morning.

In Saturday's third round, Hamilton fired a respectable 72. Instead of crumbling and potentially falling out of the top 16 and ties -- which earns an invitation to next year's tournament -- the 2004 British Open winner avoided an over-par round for the third consecutive day. He is tied for sixth at 6-under.

Still, Hamilton talked of missing an opportunity for a score similar to his opening-round 68.

"I didn't do a whole lot of stuff bad, but I didn't do a lot of stuff great," said Hamilton, who is ranked 373rd in the world. "The way I played should have been a better score."

Hamilton three-putted twice and said he had trouble lagging long attempts all day.

"I didn't have very good touch," he said.

Hamilton is one of 11 players who hasn't shot a round over par this tournament. He said everyone within five shots of co-leaders Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera has a chance to win.

NO BREAKTHROUGH HERE: Sergio Garcia had the worst third round score of anyone still in red figures for the tournament, virtually ensuring that his first major championship won't come at Augusta National.

Garcia hit eight of 18 greens in regulation and shot 75 to fall to 1-under for the tournament. He is tied for 25th.

FLESCH GOES LOW: Left-hander Steve Flesch was one of five players to tie for the low round Saturday with 68.

After posting a second-round 74, Flesch went back to his rental house and waited to see whether his 1-over-par total would make the cut. He advanced to the weekend right on the cut line, but only after watching the leaders fail to get to 10-under, a number that could have sent him packing.

"I was just glad to play," he said. "It's a strange game. It's not a lot of fun when you can't control what's going on."

Flesch controlled his game during the third round, playing the final seven holes in 4-under par. At 3-under for the tournament, Flesch has put himself in position to qualify for next year's Masters by finishing in the top 16, plus ties.

TIGER'S OTHER HALF: What was it like to play with Tiger Woods during the third round?

Graeme McDowell , of Northern Ireland, shot 73 for the second consecutive day. He was the low man in the group after the first hole, where Woods made double bogey.

"I thought I handled it pretty well out there," McDowell said. "The crowds were fantastic; I just didn't play good. ... It wasn't the day I had in mind, but it's always a tough task when you're playing with the best player in the world."

McDowell said the turning point for him was the par-5 eighth hole. He had 75 yards to the flag for his fourth shot, but he walked away with a bogey.

McDowell had some fun earlier in the day. After he and Woods finished No. 9, they walked behind teenager Rory McIlroy , who was giving interviews. McDowell playfully smacked his countryman on the back of the head.

DEFENDING CHAMP'S EVEN ROUND: Defending champion Trevor Immelman shot 36 on the front and back nines for an even-par 72 on Saturday. His 36 on the front nine was his lowest total there this year by two shots.

Immelman made bogey on the final hole for the second straight day after his approach shot sailed into the gallery on the right side of the green.

"If I would have parred the last hole, I would have been happy with my round," he said. "Obviously, just a sour taste finishing with a bogey."

Immelman will be around until the end of the tournament today. He will present the green jacket to the winner.

BACK ON TRACK: Larry Mize improved on his second-round score by four shots Saturday to put him in position for his best Masters finish since 1994.

Mize, who won the 1987 tournament by chipping in from No. 11, is tied for 25th after an even-par 72. He has not finished better than 23rd in 15 years.

"I kind of needed to do a little better than 72," Mize said. "But I felt like I played pretty solid out there. I just didn't take advantage of a few things."

TRAHAN WON'T BACK DOWN: D.J. Trahan stuck by his comments Friday about the slow pace of play. In the second round, he lay in the fairway waiting to hit to the No. 15 green.

"I hope I don't get a bad rap about that," Trahan said. "I'm going to give you my honest opinion. It was slow."

Trahan shot 34 on the final nine holes to finish with 72. He is 1-over for the tournament, the first time he has made the cut in three tries.

WEIR FINDS TROUBLE: Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion, shot the highest round of the day, 79.

He said he was having trouble selecting clubs and unsure of how to attack the greens. He also had difficulty finding his groove on the putting surface.

"When you get behind, and you're not feeling in the putter, you start taking chances," he said. "It's just a tough golf course ... ."

Weir, who opened with 68 on Friday, will play with Kevin Sutherland in the first group off today.