“I was just trying to make as many birdies as I can.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. » Saturdays in golf are known as Moving Day. And on this Masters Saturday, it lived up to its billing.

Second-round co-leader Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy all headed south. Phil Mickelson made a northward charge. But no one made as big a push as Sweden’s Peter Hanson.

He surged to the front with a 7-under-par 65 at Augusta National that lifted him one shot ahead of Mickelson. Hanson completed 54 holes in

9-under 207. Mickelson carded a 66, keeping him one shot clear of former British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen (72).

Bubba Watson (70) was three shots back, followed by Matt Kuchar (70) as things sorted themselves out on a Saturday that began with the top 18 players separated by no more than three strokes.

“Fortune favors the brave at times here,” said Padraig Harrington, one of a trio of pros five shots back. “And it can catch up with you as well.”

Hanson began Saturday three shots off the lead, bogeyed his first hole and spent the next 2 hours drafting behind a constantly changing leaderboard. Four birdies over his final seven holes lifted him above everyone — even Mickelson, who was thrilling the crowd from one group behind.

“It helps you a little bit to focus,” Hanson said. “I was just trying to make as many birdies as I can.”

Couples and Jason Dufner, who shared the second-round lead at 5-under, both shot 75s to fall into a tie for 11th. McIlroy and Garcia endured even mightier struggles, with Garcia shooting a front-nine 40 and McIlroy a 42.

When both managed to card birdies at the par-3 12th hole, Garcia extended his arms and the two embraced.

“I think we were both needing a hug,” said McIlroy, who carded a 77. “We both didn’t have our best stuff today.”