SportsLine wire reports

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Don't get caught up in the José Maria Olazábal-Greg Norman head-to-head showdown Sunday. The truth is, just about anyone can still win The Masters.

A total of 16 players are within five strokes of Olazábal, the leader after both the second and third rounds, and eight more are another shot back.

Sunday's final round promises to be eventful and filled with surprises. If it is anything like Saturday's round, ground can be made up or lost in a hurry.

"Six shots is not hard too make up on this course," said 1997 champion Tiger Woods, who began the day eight shots off the lead and finished within five strokes of Olazábal after shooting a 2-under-par 70. "I liked my nine-shot lead in 1997, but even that's not safe. All you need to do is make a few bogeys and give guys some hope."

Like Woods, Colin Montgomerie also picked up ground Saturday without the benefit of a spectacular round. He carded a 71.

"When you start six behind and now you're three behind, that has to be a good day," said the Scotsman, who actually gained two shots and sits four off the lead.

There's no better example of someone gaining ground rapidly than Steve Pate, who was back in the pack and 10 shots behind Olazábal heading into the third round. Thanks to a record streak of seven consecutive birdies, Pate shot a 7-under 65 Saturday. Coupled with Olazábal's 73, Pate gained eight strokes and moved into a tie for third.

"Nothing ever surprises me here," said David Duval, the pre-tournament favorite who finds himself six shots back. "I might have a chance come tomorrow. The only problem is I might be a little bit too far behind. I want the course to be hard because if you are going to get a good round going, you can make up more round."

Duval knows a little about making up ground with spectacular rounds. Earlier this year, he came from seven shots off the pace with a PGA Tour record-tying round of 59 to nip Pate by one stroke at the Bob Hope Classic.

There will be no 59s Sunday at Augusta, but a round in the mid-60s is possible. Depending on who shoots it, it could open or close the door for plenty of others.

"There are a lot of great players," said Norman, who sits in second place, one shot behind Olazábal. "Just looking at that leaderboard, anybody within 2- or 3-under-par has got a big chance of winning this championship.

"Jose's got a chance to win tomorrow. Ernie (Els), Lee (Janzen), Bob (Estes), Davis (Love) has got a chance."

If anyone knows how quickly things can turn around in 18 holes, it is Norman. He led heading into the final round in 1986, only to watch Jack Nicklaus come from four shots back and claim his sixth green jacket. Then there was the 11-stroke swing in 1996, when Norman carried a six-shot lead into the final round and lost by five to Nick Faldo.

"We all want to give ourselves the chance to win the tournament tomorrow," Norman said. It's great to have the lead. We all want the lead. We all want to take the final shot.

"But you always want to put yourself in position whether you have the lead or not. Whether that's going to the 10th tee two or three back or going to the 10th tee with a two- or three-shot lead. Things change dramatically on the back nine at Augusta National."

Everyone agrees that nothing will be decided before the 10th hole Sunday. In fact, that's where most think the tournament will start.

"If I'm in the tournament, it starts there tomorrow," Els said, pointing to the 10th tee.

"Anybody at 4 or 5 under after nine holes tomorrow is in the ballgame," Woods said.

And that could be a lot of people.

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