Marc Leishman cut a disappointed figure after watching playing partner Patrick Reed run away with the Masters lead, as the rain soaked Australia's hopes at Augusta National on day three.
Playing with Reed in the final group on Saturday, Leishman struck the ball beautifully but a cold putter cruelled his chances at donning the green jacket this week.
World No.16 Leishman carded a one-over-par 73 to fall to six under and a distant eight shots off the pace.
Overnight leader Reed showed no signs of nerves atop the famous white and green leaderboards during a round of 67, which catapulted him to 14 under.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy matched his career-best round at Augusta, a 65, to be 11 under and within striking distance.
Leishman started moving day just two shots behind Reed and gave himself every chance, hitting 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
But a series of missed birdie putts from short range stalled his charge.
"I hit a lot of good putts; they just weren't going in ... it wasn't my day," Leishman said, settling for a share of sixth.
"That was pretty much the story of the day; I hit it well enough to shoot a really good score, but it just wasn't meant to be."
Fellow Australian Cameron Smith was climbing the leaderboard and almost aced the par-3 16th, his tee shot leaving him a tap-in birdie.
But bogeys on the 17th and 18th left the 24-year-old at three under after a 70.
"Yeah, it's pretty frustrating," Smith said.
"I feel as though I played really solid golf for 16 holes but the driver let me down those last two holes and put me in positions you really don't get away with."
World No.11 Jason Day and Adam Scott salvaged respectable scores, but their damage was already done after they opened with round of 75 on Thursday.
"Today felt like how I wished I would have started on Thursday," Scott said.
Day posted a three-under 69 to improve to one under, while 2013 Masters champion Scott signed for a 70 and now sits at two over.
"(The final round) will be a good chance for me to go out and, if we have nice conditions, shoot a good score and leave here feeling like I'm a bit of a golfer," Scott joked.
