AUGUSTA, United States (AFP) - Defending champion Jordan Spieth clung to a one-stroke edge over Japan's Hideki Matsuyama late in Saturday's third round of the Masters while 58-year-old Bernhard Langer held the clubhouse lead.

Spieth stumbled with a double bogey at the par-4 11th but answered with a 17-foot birdie at the par-3 12th to stand on four-under for the tournament.

World number 14 Matsuyama, 24, sank a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th to reach three-under and stay hot on the world number two's heels.

Two-time champion Bernhard Langer fired a two-under par 70, even with a bogey at 18, to finish 54 holes on one-under 215.

He was bolstered by a run of three birdies in a row from the par-5 13th to the par-5 15th.

The German could become the oldest champion in major golf history, a decade older than Julius Boros when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.

Jack Nicklaus became the oldest Masters champion 30 years ago when he won the last of his record 18 major titles at age 46.