Tiger pulls off astonishing eagle, but Westwood still leading Mickelson at the Masters

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Westwood leads at Masters, Lefty 1 stroke back

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods holed out a shot from the seventh fairway for eagle, climbing back within five strokes of Masters leader Lee Westwood in a final round already producing plenty of thrills.

Woods’ improbable shot — which came after he bogeyed three of the first six holes — kept him on the fringe of contention. But Westwood is holding steady, making up for two bogeys with a pair of birdies and making a brilliant par save out of the bunker at the seventh.

Westwood was at 12 under, one stroke ahead of Phil Mickelson and two in front of K.J. Choi. It could be quite a back nine for the leaders, considering Nathan Green and Ryan Moore each made a hole-in-one at No. 16, and there have already have been two eagles at the 13th and three eagles at the 15th.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is fading in the final round of the Masters, taking bogey on three of the first five holes to drop six strokes behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood.

Westwood has taken a couple of bogeys as well, falling into a tie with Mickelson at 11 under. Mickelson might have been in the undisputed lead if not for an unfortunate brush with nature at No. 2 — a pollen pod blew onto the green just before a 10-foot birdie putt, right in the line of the cup. The ball actually hopped when it struck the pod, knocking it off line.

Fred Couples and K.J. Choi are at 9 under, two strokes behind the leaders. At 50, Couples is trying to become the oldest major champion in golf history.