South African Trevor Immelman held steady through the front nine and surged ahead with an impeccable homeward half to seize a two-shot lead with one round to play at the Masters in Augusta.

Immelman, the overnight leader at eight under par, posted a three-under-par 69 at rain-softened Augusta National for an 11-under 205 total.

The 28-year-old South African now stands 18 holes from his first major tournament title, though 13-times major winner Tiger Woods is lurking in fifth place, six shots back.

In second place on 207 was American Brandt Snedeker, who overcame three successive bogeys from the 11th with birdies at 14, 15 and 18.

American Steve Flesch shot 69 for 208, one better than Briton Paul Casey, who also registered a three-under 69. Four-times champion Woods posted 68 for five-under 211.

Immelman pulled ahead of the pack with birdies at the par-five 13th and par-four 14th and then escaped danger at 15.

The South African's third shot to the par-five hole spun off the green and appeared to be headed down the front bank and into the pond before somehow stopping on the steep slope.

Immelman chipped back up to the green and holed a four-foot putt to save par and held his nerve through the finish.

He capped off his impressive round with a breathtaking approach to three feet at the last and rolled in his third birdie of the back nine.

Snedeker, 27, matched Immelman with his own birdie at 18 to claw all the way back from his trio of bogeys at the stretch of holes from 11 to 13 known as Amen Corner.

Casey charged to eight-under with four birdies on the front nine, but rode a rollercoaster after the turn with three bogeys and two birdies to end the round on seven-under-par.

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Reuters