In his eighth Masters Tournament, Shingo Katayama finally found a way to get into contention heading into today.

Shingo Katayama reacts to his missed birdie putt on the 17th hole. The Japanese golfer birdied Nos. 13, 14 and 15 to get himself back in contention after a bogey on 11. (Jackie Ricciardi/Staff)

It's a relief and a joy for the 36-year-old Japanese pro, who said he draws motivation from a baseball team and practices left-handed shots to warm up before rounds.

Katayama posted 2-under-par 70 to climb to within five strokes of co-leaders Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry. He will enter today's final round tied for sixth place and will tee off with Todd Hamilton at 2:05 p.m. in the fourth-from-the-last pairing.

Though he didn't grow up playing baseball, Katayama said his national pride grew when the Japanese baseball team won the World Baseball Classic in March.

He said he watched the semifinals and finals while practicing in Miyazaki and compared that title to a Masters win.

"I think that just motivates myself, too, just to do my best to get honor for my country," he said.

Katayama put himself into position to be the first Japanese golfer to win a green jacket by doing what he's never done at Augusta National Golf Club: shoot two subpar rounds in the same tournament.

Of the 24 Masters rounds he had played entering this year's tournament, he had broken par twice -- second-round 70s in 2001 and 2006. He shattered that personal mark with 67 on Thursday and added Saturday's 70 to break into the top 10.

He dropped to 4-under after an approach shot on 11 nearly disappeared into the patrons gathered behind the 12th tee.

He bogeyed the hole, but the 26-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour strung together birdies on 13, 14 and 15 to put himself back in contention.

Katayama laid up on No. 13 before chipping over the tributary of Rae's Creek and making a 15-foot birdie putt.

His approach shot on No. 14 nearly went in, but he settled for a two-foot tap-in to move to 6-under, and he went for the green in two on the 15th and two-putted for his third consecutive birdie.

"I think I was trying to do my best from the very beginning," he said. "But I was biding my time until the 13th, 14th and 15th, and it is a great feeling to finish it up with 70 today."

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.