Harry How / Getty Images

Kenny Perry plays a shot to the second green at the Masters on Saturday. Perry, 48, is trying to become the oldest winner of a major tournament.

Cabrera escaped with par from a tough spot in the bunker on the ninth hole, birdied the next hole to get into contention, then used his power to make birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.

Campbell made seven straight pars down the stretch until a wild finish — the double bogey on the 16th hole with a 7-iron into the back bunker, a 12-foot birdie on the 17th, then a wild drive into the trees on the 18th that led to bogey.

“I’ve still got a good opportunity to win this golf tournament,” he said.

Woods left the course knowing that even having a remote chance would depend on how the leaders played the back nine. They helped slightly but not running away, with Campbell shooting a 38 on the back and Perry getting around in 36.

The world’s No. 1 player has never won a major when trailing after 54 holes, and only once has he won when trailing by more than seven shots going into the final round of any tournament.

“That was a hell of a fight,” Woods said. “I’m pretty proud of the fact I got myself back in the tournament, considering that I didn’t hit it as well as I wanted to and had two three-putts.”

The forecast was for sunshine and theatrics, perhaps a back-nine charge not seen this decade at Augusta National.

Steve Stricker played bogey-free for a 68 that put him four shots behind at 7-under 209, with former British Open champion Todd Hamilton (72), Shingo Katayama (70) and Rory Sabbatini (70) another shot behind.

One player too far out of contention is Padraig Harrington, who saw his hopes of a third straight major end on the second hole when he twice hit a tree and took a quadruple-bogey 9. He shot a 73 and was 10 shots back.

Only once in the last 18 years at the Masters has the winner not come out of the final group, which bodes well for Perry and Cabrera.

Even so, Perry knows that Sunday will be the toughest day of all — even if the course is set up for birdies and eagles.

“This might be the last time I have this kind of opportunity,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”