Golf: Masters leader out to win with a smile

Australian Masters leader Adam Bland taken a relaxed approach to this week's tournament. Photo / Getty Images

Melbourne - Australian Masters runaway leader Adam Bland believes his success at Victoria Golf Club this week is due to not thinking too much about golf.

Joint leader after the opening round and a two-shot leader after the second, the South Australian continued to defy the tournament's big names and foul weather to move three shots clear entering Sunday's final round.

Constant rain on Saturday meant bunkers were puddles and mopping was required to keep the greens and fairways playable.

But the smiling left-hander still posted a one-under-par 70, to follow rounds of 65 and 67.

He had a three-shot buffer to Victorian Daniel Gaunt, who made some huge par-saving putts early in his round, then posted four birdies in the final six holes to shoot 68.

Andre Stolz (72) of NSW was another shot back, having briefly joined Bland in the lead before carding four bogeys and two birdies on the back nine.

Aiding Bland's chances, the event's biggest names were well back.

Defending champion Tiger Woods (71) was 10 shots behind, Colombian star Camilo Villegas (70) only one shot closer, while Spain's Sergio Garcia shot a 77 to to fall 13 shots adrift.

Of the best-credentialled Australians, US PGA Tour regular winner Stuart Appleby (69) was decently-placed at four under, while 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (69) was on two under and two-time Masters winner Robert Allenby (68) even par.

But Bland planned on extending his lead on Sunday, rather than hoping it was not whittled down.

"If I can, (I'll) just keep going forward and make them catch me," he said.

Crucially, he aimed to keep smiling rather than be affected by any pressure of being on the brink of the best win of his career.

Having arrived on the back of what he rates the worst three-month stretch of his career, on the second-tier US Nationwide Tour, he said he had been finding the game hard work, with little pleasure.

This week, he concentrated on enjoyment.

With South Australian mate Jeremy Way on his bag, he instructed him to talk about anything but golf, until absolutely necessary.

"I've been pretty uptight for the last three months playing golf and really hating it out on the golf course," Bland said.

"I just told him we'll talk about golf when we get to the ball, anything else, I don't care what you talk about, the way the grass is growing, anything, just keep my mind off golf.

The AFL has been a recurring topic, given Bland's passion for reigning premiers Collingwood.

Appleby, who shot a final-round 59 to win a US PGA event in August, was not expecting a repeat here, but said it would take something special to catch Bland.

- AAP