The Masters 2014: Recapping Saturday's Best Early Performances

The weekend clearly brings out the best in golf's brightest characters. 

Thursday and Friday produced more rounds in the 80s (15) than in the 60s (11), with the low score being 68 on both days. But on moving day, one old-school player who would rather play with a cigar in his mouth posted a 66, and a youngster who enjoys resembling different colors of the rainbow entered the clubhouse with a 67. 

The early tee times on Saturday are usually reserved for gentlemen who are playing more for pride than anything else, but several players put themselves in contention for Sunday. 

Let's take a look at the best early performances from Round 3, as well as an updated leaderboard. 

Updated Leaderboard

Best Early Saturday Rounds

Miguel Angel Jimenez (66)

Darron Cummings

Fred Couples—for good reason—tends to get most of the attention when it concerns the "old guys," but 50-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez tore up Augusta on Saturday. 

Perhaps the tour's most eccentric character due to his long hair, traditional pre-round cigar and wild stretching routine, Jimenez hit just one bogey on the day and caught fire on the back nine, burying five birdies to complete his six-under 66. 

As CBS' broadcast showed, via the Eye on Golf Twitter feed, the feat put "The Mechanic" in prestigious company:

Much of Jimenez's success has been due to his accuracy out of the tee box, per Sky Sports:

The low round of the tournament skyrocketed Jimenez more than 30 spots up the leaderboard, and at three-under, he'll be in one of the final pairings with a shot at his first major win (he has eight top-10s). 

Rickie Fowler (67)

David J. Phillip

Rickie Fowler often dresses like he doesn't want to risk going missing, but after a five-under 67 on Saturday, everyone's eyes are on him now. 

The 25-year-old followed up two early birdies with a bogey on No. 4, but he was near perfect from that point, hitting zero bogeys and four birdies over the next 14 holes. 

While he has just one win on tour, which came all the way back in May 2012, PGA Tour's Twitter feed pointed out he has had his share of relative success at majors: 

Fowler, who made tweaks to his swing when he started working with Butch Harmon in January, created buzz earlier this week when he tore up practice rounds and helped Phil Mickelson win some money. 

That success has translated to this event, and he's going to be right in the thick of things on Sunday. And don't worry—considering what he told Jim Nantz, via PGATour.com's Amanda Balionis, you won't have to worry about missing him: 

Justin Rose (69)

David J. Phillip

On Thursday, Justin Rose had five bogeys and a double bogey, finished with a four-over 76 and was on the verge of missing the cut. 

But he responded with a 70 on Friday to get above the cut line, and after a three-under 69 on Saturday, he's a solid bet for a top-10 finish. 

The 2013 U.S. Open champ had three bogeys on the day, but he hit eagles on the par-four No. 3 and par-five No. 13 to continue resurrecting his tournament. 

At one-under overall, he still has some work to do, but with the direction Rose has been trending this week, don't be surprised to see his name near the leaderboard on Sunday.