GOLDEN OLDIES FIGHT IT OUT
Veterans Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera ready for final day Masters shootout
KENNY PERRY'S bid to become the oldest major champion in history was still on course last night.
The American veteran - 48 years, eight months and two days old - shares the lead with 47-year-old Argentinian Angel Cabrera going into today's final round at Augusta.
Perry, who turned pro way back in 1982, shot a third-round of 70 while former US Open champion Cabrera carded a 69 to leave the pair tied on 11-under.
Perry, who is chasing his first major triumph, took up golf at the age of seven, encouraged by his father Ken, who went to torturous lengths to instil a competitive spirit in his easy- going son.
"We played a lot of card games, board games and golf," Perry revealed.
Trouble
"He would just pound on me, saying, 'I'm going to beat you till I die.' He was relentless. He was ruthless. He was a smart man. He knew it was going to make me tough. That's all he was trying to do, make me tougher."
Perry, who lost a play-off in the 1996 US PGA, played tough all day yesterday at Augusta, making birdies on the second, fourth and 10th holes before he slipped up for the first time with a bogey on 11, traditionally the most difficult hole on the course.
Another bogey on the 12th threatened to bring Jim Furyk, on eight under par, into the tournament. But Perry birdied the 13th and his patience and coolness under pressure suggests that someone will have to make a charge today to beat him.
Fellow American Chad Campbell had started the day as joint leader but his challenge hit big trouble on the 16th. The Texan's tee shot found the bunker on the par-three and he then took four more to get down on the treacherous green. He finished his round on nine under in third place after a 72.
Furyk, who captured his only major in 2003, ripped off three straight birdies on the back side, including a chip-in at 15, to get to five under for the round and nine under overall.
Humble
Despite a dropped shot on 17 he is in fourth place.
American Steve Stricker is on seven- under while Japan's Shingo Katayama, South Africa's Rory Sabbatini and former Open champion Todd Hamilton are on six under.
Perry, despite winning $28million during his career, still remembers his humble beginnings in Kentucky. He took out a loan to build Country Creek, a public course in his hometown of Franklin, in 1995.
He brought 142 acres of land for $2.5million and designed a public course for mid to high handicappers. It costs just $28 to play and Perry can sometimes be seen working in the clubhouse.
And he knows how much a win today would mean for him. He said: "I think the public looks at you and says you need to win a Major. But for me, because of where I came from - a nine-hole golf course in the middle of nowhere - it would mean so much.
Memories
"I didn't have swing coaches. I didn't have an entourage. I didn't have the money. I didn't have anything. I was borrowing money, begging, doing whatever I could, scratching and clawing to get out here. It means a lot more to me, I think, because of where I've come from and where I've been able to go and how much success I've been able to have. To me, that's very satisfying and very gratifying.
"Now everybody looks at winning majors as very important, and I would agree. You know, people look at your stats. They are going to say, you need to win majors if you are going to be in the upper echelon of the PGA Tour players out here.
"But I've had a great career and I'd be very satisfied if it ended today, where I'm at, in my life, in my career."
Family
Perry, who starred in last year's American Ryder Cup victory, admits that those memories will always be upmost in his mind - but winning a Green Jacket would run it close.
In his distinctive southern drawl, he said: "The Ryder Cup, I can't express to y'all how much that meant to me, winning in my home state.
"To me, that was the ultimate of anything I have ever, ever been a part of or accomplished. Better than any of my 13 wins. None of those meant anything compared to what I experienced that week with my family, my dad.
"But dad has always said: 'You need to win that green jacket.' He always calls me and tells me."
Today Perry will have the chance.
LEADERBOARD
205 Kenny Perry, Angel Cabrera (Arg); 207 Chad Campbell; 208 Jim Furyk; 209 Steve Stricker; 210 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa), Todd Hamilton, Shingo Katayama (Jpn); 211 Tim Clark (Rsa); 212 Nick Watney, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim, Sean O'Hair, Ian Poulter (Eng), Lee Westwood (Eng), Stephen Ames (Can); 213 Vijay Singh (Fij), Steve Flesch, Camilo Villegas (Col); 214 Dustin Johnson, John Merrick, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus); 215 Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Graeme McDowell (NIrl), Justin Rose (Eng), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Sandy Lyle (Sco), Larry Mize, Padraig Harrington (Irl); 216 Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Ken Duke, Luke Donald (Eng), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Stuart Appleby (Aus); 217 Dudley Hart, Paul Casey (Eng), Robert Allenby (Aus), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Bubba Watson, D.J. Trahan; 218 Ross Fisher (Eng), Ben Curtis; 221 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Andres Romero (Arg), Rocco Mediate; 222 Mike Weir (Can), Kevin Sutherland.
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