American journeyman Jason Dufner snatched the outright lead early in the third round at the Masters Saturday while a frustrated Tiger Woods failed to make any ground to slip further out of contention. Dufner, who began the day tied for the lead with compatriot Fred Couples at five-under, suddenly found himself out in front alone after just one hole. Dufner safely parred the tricky opening hole, statistically the most difficult on the course this week, while Couples made a bogey on a perfect sunny day at Augusta National. Woods, who needed to shoot a low score to get back into contention, could only manage an even-par 72 to remain at three-over on what is traditionally known as Moving Day. The former world No. 1 made a bright start, with birdies at the third and fourth holes as the huge galleries following him let out a mighty roar that echoed through the pine trees and around the course. But his early burst proved to be a false dawn and he failed to make another birdie all day as his emotions started to boil over. On the 13th tee, he slapped his club into the ground after hooking his drive into the banks of Rae's Creek. He recovered to make par but his inability to conjure up any of his old magic left him dejected. The defending champion, South African Charl Schwartzel, also lost ground after shooting a 75 to end the day at six-over. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who blew a four-shot lead in the final round last year, made a terrible start to his third round when he doubled-bogeyed the 445-yard opening hole to slip back to two-under. Bubba Watson and Spain's Sergio Garcia, who both started the day in a five-way tie for third, also bogeyed the first hole, while England's Lee Westwood and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen made par to join Couples at four-under. American Brandt Snedeker, who tied for third at the 2008 Masters, grabbed the early clubhouse lead after superb round of 68 took him to a one-under total of 215. Woods, meanwhile, is subject to discipline by the US PGA Tour for kicking his golf club after a poor shot. Whether he is fined is not likely to be known. The tour does not comment on discipline. Woods, after a bad miss with a 4-iron into the 15th hole Friday, hit a poor tee shot with a 9-iron on the par-3 16th. He let the club fall from his hands, then turned and kicked it 15 yards. According to tour policy, players can be disciplined for conduct unbecoming a professional even in tournaments that are co-sponsored or approved by the tour. The tour is so secret about its discipline than when John Daly once told the Associated Press he had been suspended for six months, the tour still would not confirm it.
