(
)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Oh yes, there was a golf tournament taking place at Augusta National yesterday amidst the massive storm of controversy surrounding Tiger Woods.
By the time the dust settled on the pine needles and the sun set, a stage was set for a possible dramatic shootout in today’s final round of the Masters, with eight players either in the lead or within four shots — including Woods (3-under), who escaped disqualification but was hit with a two-stroke penalty before the third round after taking an illegal drop on Friday.
Brandt Snedeker takes a share of the lead into the final round with 2009 Masters winner Angel Cabrera. Both are 7-under after shooting identical 69s yesterday.
Behind them is a contingent that includes three Australians — Adam Scott (6-under), Marc Leishman and Jason Day, who are both 5-under.
Despite the slew of near-misses the great Greg Norman had at Augusta, no Australian ever has won the Masters in the tournament’s 76-year history.
“I’m fresh mentally and physically fresh,’’ said Snedeker, who was the hottest player on the PGA Tour early in the year before having to sit out for weeks with a rib injury. “This is what I’ve worked my whole life for [today’s final round], so I’m really excited about what it holds.’’
Snedeker said he feels “very close’’ to the form he had on the West Coast swing, where he won at Pebble Beach, had two runners-up and a third.
“The confidence is coming back, everything,’’ he said.
Snedeker nearly won the Masters in 2008, finishing tied for third after a devastating final-round 77. Five years later, he said he believes he is ready, that this is his time.
“I had no clue what I was doing in 2008,’’ he said. “I had no game plan, no idea when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive and how to play this course the way you’re supposed to play it. I have a completely clear focus of what I need to do [today].
“It’s all been a learning process and I am completely, 100-percent sure that I’m ready to handle it no matter what happens. I’ve spent 32 years of my life getting ready for [today].’’
Australia has gone through the torment of Norman losing to Larry Mize on a miracle chip-in birdie in 1987 and watching in agony as Norman blew a six-shot lead to Nick Faldo in 1996, among others.
“We’ve got another great chance,’’ Scott said. “There are three of us knocking on the door. The Aussies are proud sporting people and we’d love to put another notch in our belt.’’
Scott said he is ready to make up for his near-miss at the British Open last July, saying, “If I’m in the same position I was in at the Open [today] I’ll just be trying to finish the job.’’
Leishman, who quietly has been hanging around near the top of the leaderboard all week, called today “our best chance yet.’’
Cabrera, who recovered from a mid-round stumble (bogeys on 12 and 13) with bounce-back birdies on 16 and 18, called today “definition time.’’
“In 2009, I was nervous, anxious,’’ Cabrera said. “But now I am very comfortable. I know what I’ve got to do to win.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com