European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday april 9,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 21sportsstaysahead by Bob Green Augusta a. Apr Ray Floyd had that old winning gleam in his Eye the masters in his hand and the Bear at his Back. Floyd a 47-year-old Hall of Famer who captained americans last Ryder cup team shot a magnificent 31 Over the masters Golf Back nine saturday for a 68 and a two stroke Lead after three rounds of the masters. List of All scores on Page 22. But lurking five shots behind him after a 69 was 50-year-old Jack Nicklaus who was trying to prevent his Long time rival from usurping his status As the oldest masters Champion. A at this stage i have nothing to prove to myself a Floyd said. A i Haven to put any pressure on myself. Of course if you have a Chance to win a  Floyd a 10-under 206 total was two shots better than masters Rookie John Huston and three in front of defending Champion Nick Faldo. But it was Nicklaus a who went into sem retirement after scoring his sixth masters Triumph in 1986, then reemerged As a 50-year-old Grandfather with a Victory last weekend in his first senior tour event a who loomed largest among Floyd a rivals. A the put himself on the spot going into the seniors and he won there a Floyd said. A then he put himself on the spot saying head be competitive Here. A Over the years when Jack has put himself on the spot he a performed  Floyd has had to contend with Nicklaus All his life. Nicklaus was in the Field when Floyd won All his four major titles. And Floyd was in the Field when Nicklaus won most of his 18. Together they have 57 years on the pea tour and 91 victories. So it was natural that Floyd had Nicklaus on his mind. It was understandable that he was thinking of someone else when he was asked to comment about the showing by Huston who said he a watched every one of Nicklaus six masters titles on television. The Augusta National course built by Bobby Jones on the rolling terrain of an old Nursery has a lot to do with Floyd and Nicklaus being on the Leader Board. They be spent a combined 58 weeks playing the masters on it. A you need to know How to handle it a said seve Ballesteros who owns two Ray Floyd reacts As he failed to make a Birdie putt on the 13th Hole at Augusta on saturday. Most of Floyd a putts fell. He shot a 68. Masters titles. A the older you Are the More advantage you  Floyd a closest challenger is Huston who qualified for his first masters last month when he got his first tour Victory. Huston who ran off a string of four consecutive birdies beginning on the eighth Hole shot a 68. Next was Faldo who was comfortably placed at 209, three off the Pace and not at All unhappy about it. A a it a a Tough tournament to Lead a said Faldo who moved up with a bogey free 66 in his bid to join Nicklaus As the Only men to score consecutive masters victories. A a there a a lot of pressure on this course. Its a Field Golf course difficult on the Man leading a he said. Bernhard Langer the West German who won this title in 1985, and Scott Hoch who lost to Faldo in a playoff last year after missing a 2-foot putt on the first extra Hole were at 212. Langer had a 69 and Hoch shot 73. No one else was As close As six strokes of Floyd who won this event in 1976 leaders cards Augusta. A. Apr cards of the leaders after saturday s third round of the 54th masters tournament at the 6.905-Yard, Par-72 Augusta National Golf club course Par out 454 343 454�?36 Floyd out.445 354 354�?37 Huston out.444 343 543�?34 Faldo out.354 343 344�?33 Nicklaus out.444 443 354�?35 Par in 443 545 344�?36�?72�?216 Floyd in.342 534 244 �?31�?68�?206 Huston in.333 545 344�?34�?68�?208 Faldo in.343 435 344�?33�?66�?209 Nicklaus in.443 534 344�?34�?69�?211 and also owns two pea National championships and the 1986 . Open title. Several others made their moves Early in the Day. And for a while it appeared those Early moves would be enough to get them in Contention. For example there was Tom Kite the 1989 player of the year who solved some putting problems and did not have a �?o5�?� on his card in a round of 66 that lifted him to two under Par. But that was before Floyd began his rampage Over the Back nine overhauled Huston and regained the top spot with a string of three consecutive birdies beginning on the 14th. That burst five birdies in seven holes virtually eliminated from the title Hunt a Host of hopefuls that included Ballesteros Kite Tom Watson and two time . Open Winner Curtis strange. Strange salvaged a 71 after burrowing through underbrush and Bushes in search of his Ball on a Hill behind the 12th Green. He made double bogey there and finished in a tie with Kite at 214, nine behind. Ballesteros and Watson were another shot Back at 215, an unexpected nine strokes away. Watson had an Early 67 and Ballesteros shot a 68 that made up no ground at  sports radio baseball a Philadelphia at Chicago cubs 2 .  likes his position after 3 rounds Augusta a. Up a Jack Nicklaus believes in positive thinking the 50-year-old a Golden bears was five shots off the Lead going into sundays final round of the masters and he sees that As a plus. I m quite pleased with my position a the six time masters Champion said after shooting a 3-under 69 saturday. Its a better position than i was in in 1986 tween he shot a 65 in the final round to become the Oidest masters Winner. I Only have three Guys in front of me now instead of eight. Nicklaus concedes his chances mis Leader weren to the equally seasoned Ray Floyd. Raymond a a terrific competitor a Nicklaus said. Tight be better if the Ray Fly a when he a close to the Lead he usually stays there. Heck he solder 47 than i was when i won the last time. A but i Hope 1 play some Good Golf tomorrow and shoot a Good  Nicklaus made four birdies saturday and feels he should have made two or three More. A i did no to play As Well As i did in the first round when he had a 72but seemed to make the putts to keep the round going Quot he said. A it was a perfect Day to play Golf. A Little rain last night took the fire out of the greens. I did no to play All that Well and still shot 69.�?� Nicklaus got his first Birdie at the Long Par-5 second Hole when he pitched to 12 feet from the pin and Sank the putt. He made a 10-footer for a Birdie at no. 7 and 10-footers at 14 and 15. His Lone bogey came at no. 4, a Par-3, when by his own admission he hit a a a terrible 3-Iron and two putted from six feet despite a Good recovery. A it was my Only bad mistake All Day a said Nicklaus. A i Hope i play a Little better tomorrow and shoot a better  Nicklaus was asked if he Felt any special pressure in trying to win a major championship at an age when most golfers have Laid that goal aside. A pressure to me is the fun of the game a said Nicklaus. A a it a our life. Its no fun to go out and finish in 30th