Sun Apr 13 16:39:29 2008

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Immelman remains in control at Augusta

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Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - Trevor Immelman began to pull away Sunday during the final round of the Masters, though he missed a short birdie putt at the seventh hole that could have extended his lead a little further.

Brandt Snedeker, two shots behind Immelman overnight, pulled even with the South African when he holed a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-five second hole. But Snedeker bogeyed the third to fall off the pace.

Immelman, seeking his first major championship just four months after he had surgery to remove a benign tumor from his diaphragm, had a four-shot lead on Steve Flesch after seven holes.

But it should have been larger.

Knocking his approach to just under two feet at No. 7, Immelman pulled the short birdie putt left of the hole. An CBS camera caught him grimacing slightly, though Immelman was still in good position getting ready to make the turn at Augusta.

Not making a move was Tiger Woods, who started the day six shots back.

Looking to win a major coming from behind for the first time in his career, Woods made bogey from a bunker at the fourth hole, lipping out a three-foot par putt.

His only birdie on the front nine came at the par-three sixth.

Behind Woods were Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson, all playing around even-par for their third rounds. Woods was at even-par for the round when he made the turn -- still five-under overall, and still trailing Immelman by six shots.

"It's really tough out there," said Heath Slocum, an early finisher who shot a 69. "But the greens were holding better than I anticipated with the wind. So I'm sure somebody will shoot a good number, but it's going to be tough."