Co-leaders ready for Sunday's pressure -- they think

Both Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera believe that only 18 holes stand between them and the Green Jacket. Yet neither of these two accomplished veterans has been in this particular position before.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Kenny Perry didn’t want to talk about the Green Jacket.

He knows how difficult, demanding and deceiving Augusta National can be. He’s seen dreams can turn into nightmares with one ill-timed splash into Rae’s Creek.

Shoot, Perry was even struggling on Saturday during the third round of the Masters. He pulled his first tee shot into the trees, for goodness sakes. He didn’t have his ‘A’ game, but when things threatened to unravel on the back nine, Perry hung tough.

Saturday was a test. Easter Sunday will be the final exam as Perry plays in the final group with Angel Cabrera, the two men leading the 73rd Masters Tournament by two strokes at 11 under par.

“I'm looking forward to seeing what I got,” Perry, who shot 70 Saturday, said. “… This may be my last time to have this kind of opportunity. So I'm going to enjoy it, for sure.”

If he wins, Perry will become the oldest major champion at the age of 48 years, 8 months and 2 days. And he’s in the catbird seat, as they might say in his native Kentucky -- the winner of the Masters has come out of the final pairing in 17 of the last 18 years.

Augusta National may have other ideas, though. The powers that be in those dark Green Jackets appear intent on returning excitement to Alister Mackenzie’s baby, and there are a host of players ready to take advantage.

Among those is Phil Mickelson, who is tied at 4 under with nine others, including his Sunday playing partner, Tiger Woods.

“I think that at this golf course funny things can happen,” the two-time Masters champ said. “If you get momentum on your side and you’re making some birdies, you can make a lot of them. But when it starts coming apart, it’s hard to get it back.

“And it’s easy to tumble.”

Padraig Harrington, who trails by 10 and has seen his bid for the Paddy Slam all but evaporate, agreed.

“I would suggest this is one of the toughest golf courses in the world to lead from the front on,” he said.

Perry’s never won a major like those two, although he’s come close -- most notably losing to Mark Brooks in a playoff at the 1996 PGA Championship. He has developed into quite a closer, though.

Seven of the last eight times that Perry has held at least a share of the 54-hole lead -- and 10 of 17 times overall -- he’s earned the title. His scoring average in those final rounds is a 69.94. He’s knows what it takes, and he knows how to do it.

“Through the years, I've been able to try to channel my energy and calm myself down out there on the golf course, and that really helps you,” he said.

Perry has come a long way from the man who used to work as a bag boy at Bent Pine Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fla. He was just out of college, already married and living on $800 a week. He and his wife, Sandy, bunked with Perry’s uncle to make ends meet.

In more than two decades on the PGA TOUR, he’s made an extremely comfortable living, earning more than $26 million. The kids are grown, the last one in college and Perry has been able to rededicate himself to the game.

“I don't hit it as far and seems like my irons are not quite as crisp but yet I'm a lot better thinker and I have a more confidence and I have a lot more belief,’ Perry said.

He believed last year, and he made it happen.

Perry wanted to make the U.S. Team for the Ryder Cup in his native Kentucky, and two wins and four other top-10s in eight starts got the job done. He played where he thought he could win -- and that didn’t mean the U.S. Open or the British Open.

“That’s pretty impressive to dedicate himself like that and pass on the major opportunities,” said Chad Campbell, who trails Perry and Cabrera by two.

Cabrera has already won a major, making up a four-stroke deficit at Oakmont in 2006. The big-hitting Argentine has got three top-10s at Augusta National, and on Saturday he became just the 11th player to have opened with three rounds in the 60s.

The last? Defending champion Trevor Immelman. No one has ever broken 70 in all four rounds.

Unlike Perry, Cabrera has never held a 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR, although he’s 2 of 7 on the European Tour in that position. He learned to play golf while working as a caddy in his hometown of Cordoba and Eduardo Romero took a special interest in him.

Cabrera plays golf with the abandon of his idol Seve Ballesteros. He wasn’t even born when Roberto DiVicenzo had what Cabrera called his “bad moment” -- signing an incorrect scorecard and figuratively handing the Green Jacket to Bob Goalby in 1968.

“I am playing for myself and trying to make the most of it,” said Cabrera, who has given up the cigarettes that helped him cope with the pressure at Oakmont.

“Now I don't have a sports psychologist and I don't smoke,” the nonchalant Argentine said. “But I try to just enjoy my golf during the round and that's it.”

Enjoy Sunday? The fans walking down those lush green fairways lined by the abundant azaleas and crisp white dogwoods certainly will. The two leaders will be grinding, though, reaching out for the ultimate reward.

“You know what, we got 18 holes to go and I'm in a great spot,” Perry said. “I've got something that I can achieve that will … move me up another notch on the totem pole on the PGA TOUR. I go from a good player to maybe people start thinking I'm a better player than just a good player.

“I'm never thinking I'm a superstar, but most people who talk about me say I'm a nice guy and I'm a good player, and that's about all you hear. So maybe (we’ll) change that attitude tomorrow.”