Steve Pate set a Masters record Friday, making birdie on seven consecutive holes to launch himself in contention.

The mercurial Pate, whose nickname on tour is "Volcano," began his run on the par-4 seventh and continued through the par-5 13th hole.

He tied the previous record of six consecutive birdies on No. 12, the famous par 3 at the heart of "Amen Corner". Pate then broke the mark with another birdie on 13.

The streak came to an end when Pate missed a putt from the fringe on No. 14.

The previous record was set by Johnny Miller in the third round in 1975 and matched by Mark Calcavecchia in the final round in 1992 and David Toms in the final round last year.

Third-round play began today under a cloudy sky as the 56 players who made the cut teed off. Of the 56, 23 were either even par or below.

Second-round leader José Maria Olazábal ran into trouble right off the tee, hitting his first shot off No. 1 into the woods. He played a nice recovery onto the green, however, and made par.

The third round pin positions gave a hint of what Masters officials wanted to present the players still remaining. On the first hole, the pin was perched precariously on a back right ledge, while the par-5 13th was tucked all the way in the left corner.

But the overcast skies and light winds made for good early scoring conditions. Many of the early players were under par. David Duval, though, was 1-over through nine, while Tiger Woods was even.

"I don't know what my destiny is," said Greg Norman, a few shots off the lead. ``All I want to do is just go play well. I don't believe in things getting owed to you. I think you go out there and play well enough to get them yourself."

So far, Norman has been doing just that, playing steady if not spectacular golf in this, his 19th Masters. He bogeyed the first hole Friday, then didn't make another mistake in shooting a 68 that left him 5-under at 139 -- three shots behind Olazabal.

Whether the weekend will finally bring the green jacket he so desperately wants or more heartache, remained to be seen. But he was determined to do just what Olazabal had to do to resurrect his career -- forget the past.

"I've always been one for what's done is done and move on with life," Norman said. "Right now, I'm feeling extremely relaxed and in control of what I'm doing."

So is Olazabal, who sat on a couch in Spain resting his aching feet as he watched Norman shoot a final-round 78 three years ago, allowing Nick Faldo to win.

The ailment that had Olazabal thinking his golf career was over was cleared up months later by a German doctor who worked on his back. But it was just as difficult for the 1994 Masters winner to watch the tournament on television as it was for Norman to throw it away in person.

"I thought about the possibility of not playing anymore," Olazabal said. "I was worried more about the quality of my life."

Those thoughts were long gone Friday. Olazabal began the day a stroke off the lead, then came down the stretch with a 32 on the back nine -- capped by a 12-foot birdie putt at 18 for a one-shot lead over Scott McCarron.

Neither his stride nor his golf game showed any ill effects from the enforced layoff that struck at the peak of his career. "This is a very special place for me," Olazabal said. ``To be back at this golf course, doing this well, is a very happy time."

Olazabal's back nine binge put him atop a leaderboard loaded with names of players who have won major tournaments and a few who have yet to prove they are anything more than journeymen golfers.

McCarron, who quit golf after college because he couldn't putt, was a surprising second after a 68, shot with the help of his long putter. Then came Norman and U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen at 5-under with Nick Price and Davis Love III two more shots back.

"Two shots is nothing," Olazabal said. ``The tournament will establish itself on the back nine on Sunday. We all know that."

By then, perhaps, pre-tournament favorites Duval and Woods might find a way to get themselves back into contention. Both have taken dreaded 8s on holes and both had to rally Friday to be assured of making the cut.

Woods was seven shots back after making birdies on three of his last six holes. Duval was another stroke back after a final birdie helped ease the sting of the eight he took after hitting his third shot in the water at No. 15.

"I think that is what is so great about this place. It makes you look foolish at times," Duval said. "That is the biggest challenge -- to not look foolish."

Augusta National can do that at times to even the world's best golfer.