Scottie Scheffler’s lead at The Masters has been cut to three shots going into the final day of the four-day tournament after a nightmare on the 18th on Saturday at Augusta National. The new world No 1 came into the tournament this week as a strong favourite having shown the best form of anybody in 2022 and has backed that up with an excellent weekend thus far. But he found a bush off the tee on the final hole of his third round and had to take a penalty drop, though he was able to prevent too much damage by shooting a bogey.
The American is aiming for a maiden Green Jacket but carded his worst round of the weekend on day three with a one-under-par 71. Despite a sluggish finish to his third round, history is on Scheffler’s side to win his first major with no player having ever blown a five-shot lead, which he took into Saturday, at the Masters since 1945.
Scheffler said: “I feel great. Definitely played some nice golf today. I made some errors I haven’t made the past few days but to still make it round under par is a pretty nice round. It’d mean a lot [to win]. I’m looking forward to the challenge and just keep my head down and keep doing my thing and executing shots.”
His third-round 71 followed a three-under-par 69 on Thursday and a stunning 67 on Friday. The in-form Cameron Smith is the leading challenger to Scheffler. The Australian’s 68, six shots better than his second round, means he is three shots off.
Clubhouse leader Smith said: “It was really tough conditions. The greens are starting to firm up and it got really spicy out there. I just have to stay aggressive, I am hitting my irons really good so I just need to pick the right shot.”
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Charl Schwartzel had been with Smith in the chasing pack. But the South African ended Saturday four behind Smith and seven off leader Scheffler. Sunjae Im is only just behind Smith after a round of 71 on Saturday left him on four-under for the tournament.
Tiger Woods endured a horrible third round which left him on seven-over par overall. He admitted: “I am not where I want to be. I need to shoot a low one tomorrow. I would really like to shoot something in the 60s and come out here on a positive note.
“Today wasn’t a very good day. I didn’t really hit the ball that bad but my putting was awful. The four three-putts and a four-putt, that was just awful. I don’t think I have had many days, if any days, like that on the greens.”
World No 9 Rory McIlroy is one-over and tied ninth heading into Sunday after his third-round 71. The Northern Irishman said: “It’s been a tough couple of days, and I’ve just sort of hung in there as best as I could.
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“Now you’re just trying to go out and shoot the best score that you possibly can without being reckless and without taking on too much risk. I think I moved up a few places with that score today and just try to move up a few more tomorrow and try to get a top 10 and move on.”
Tommy Fleetwood entered the top 10 after a Masters Saturday 70 on the same day his beloved Everton eased their Premier League relegation fears by beating Manchester United. He is tied with McIlroy, with fellow English Danny Willett tied for par.
Fleetwood said: “Three points and a 70 for me so it’s been a good day. I had it on at breakfast and we were 1-0 up and I managed to see the result before we warmed up. They’re a difficult team to support, they really are.”
Elsewhere, reigning Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama carded a 77 and sits on two-over while Shane Lowry managed a one-over 73 to sit at two-under overall. The Irishman will be disappointed given he had gotten up to five-under after a birdie on the sixth.
Smith and Im look set to provide the sternest challenge to Scheffler on Sunday but barring an obscene collapse, the American will surely claim his first major a year after finishing T18 at the same event.