Angel Cabrera isn't the straightest hitter at Augusta National Golf Club.

Angel Cabrera's only win in the past four years was at the 2007 U.S. Open, and he has four top-15 finishes at Augusta National. (Rainier Ehrhardt/Staff)

But the man known as "El Pato" (The Duck) because of his distinctive walk already has a major championship. His lone win the past four years came at the 2007 U.S. Open. He has been one of the European Tour's most consistent players, ranked 12th on the tour's all-time earnings list without the stable of wins to show for it.

And he has experience at Augusta National, with four top-15 finishes in nine starts.

That could be all he needs to win his second major today, with none of the world's top 10 within six shots of the lead.

"I think he has a great shot to win the golf tournament," said Todd Hamilton, Cabrera's third-round playing partner.

If Cabrera does win, he would become the first South American to win the Masters Tournament. Countryman Roberto De Vicenzo appeared to be in line for a Monday playoff in 1968 before it was discovered that he had signed an incorrect scorecard. Bob Goalby slipped on the green jacket instead.

"Well, I was not there, and I was not able to live that bad moment that Roberto had at that time, but now I am playing for myself and trying to make the most of it," Cabrera said.

Cabrera entered the year's first major with one top-25 finish in three PGA Tour starts.

The Argentinian has hit 24 of 42 fairways through three rounds; only one of the golfers who made the weekend has made fewer. He ranked 186th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy entering the Masters.

He hasn't hit the most greens or tallied the fewest putts. But through three rounds, Cabrera's scoring (68-68-69) has been steady.

In the third round Saturday, when players expected the week's toughest setup, Cabrera made birdies at Nos. 3, 8, 10, 15 and 17.

Hamilton said Cabrera's length fits Augusta National well. He has been able to get up and down, with the exception of a head-scratching chip on No. 14 on Saturday that left him almost 20 feet away.

He didn't have the best start, three-putting No. 1 for a bogey and failing to birdie the par-5 second after driving into the deep fairway bunker on the right side. But he rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 third, and he called his up-and-down to save par at No. 9 "muy importante."

Cabrera's round earned him a final-round pairing with Kenny Perry.

Perry, at 48, is vying to become the oldest Masters winner. He has nearly a decade on today's playing partner.

"I've played with Kenny several times, and he's a great competitor," Cabrera said through a translator. "I'm sure he's thinking very well about what he's doing at this point."

Reach Stephen Fastenau at (706) 863-6165, ext. 116, or stephen.fastenau@augustachronicle.com.