On this day, Tiger Woods made unpopular history. On this day, Scottie Scheffler showed (only briefly) the error of his ways. On this day, Ludvig Åberg gave his latest glimpse into golf’s exciting future. Regrettably, this Masters Tournament, which has been rare for a century, has to end.
Woods set a record on Friday when he became the first player to successfully qualify for the Masters 24 times in a row. True to form, the 48-year-old made a bold prediction about challenging the Green Jackets. We should probably know better by now than to fall under Woods’ spell. Father Time is unbeatable. In 42 games, his performance in the first nine games was his worst at Augusta. Things didn’t get better after that. Woods shot 82, his worst four-shot score in the Masters. Both 78s will be launched in 2022; Woods’ current pattern is undoubtedly one of general decline. When he took the podium to perform his postgame media duties – which he fully deserves credit for doing – Woods looked emotionally and physically exhausted.
“I didn’t warm up very well, but I lasted all day today,” Woods said. “I just hit the ball all the places I knew I shouldn’t hit it. I missed a lot of putts. Simple, doable putts. I missed a lot of them.
“I didn’t play a lot of tournaments and tournaments. I one-putted on the 5th, I three-putted right away on the 6th and missed a chip on the 7th. I just went the wrong way and when I had When there was an opportunity to turn things around, I didn’t.”
Woods did insist that there was no possibility of withdrawing from the Masters before the fourth round. “My team will prepare me,” he said. At some point, probably soon, he had to ask if it was all worth the trouble. Sunday will mark his 100th Masters game. There’s no joy in watching him fumble and stumble like this on a surface he once dominated.
He appeared sullen as the game raged in the background. Scheffler, the unflappable Scheffler, surprisingly gave hope to the field with a chaotic double bogey on the 10th hole. He shot again on the 11th hole. At 5:30 pm local time, Oberg birdied the 13th hole and climbed into the Masters lead for the first time. This may seem surprising considering this is the Swede’s first major appearance. Earlier, the Scandinavian’s attack on Augusta National left Nicolai Højgaard tied at the top of the leaderboard with Scheffler. Hoygaard hit four agonizing shots in a row on the 11th tee.
Oberg also fell. The 15th provides an opportunity. Instead, Europe’s rising star chipped the green and hit it. He had done something similar in a hole earlier. Oberg remains determined to compete in the Masters, but will have to win from behind. A 70 put him at minus-four.
Scheffler seemed disturbed by the rumors of his death. He holed an early 31-foot putt on No. 13 to regain the share of the lead at 6 under. Two-time Grand Slam champion Collin Morikawa now plays alongside him. Scheffler birdied the 15th hole to take the lead. Another last one to make up for the mistake on the 17th. After 54 holes, Scheffler’s minus-seven strokes lead Morikawa’s minus-six. The world No. 1 signed for 71.
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Picking a winner from this melee would be a fool’s errand. Max Homa was 5 under.
Bryson DeChambeau was the star of the day, panicking before making birdie from the 18th fairway and 80 yards. His tee shot found woodland. DeChambeau finished at three under par. Watch out for Xander Schauffele, he’s one shot behind.
Rory McIlroy will have to wait at least another year to complete his career Grand Slam. McIlroy suffered the injury during his second-round 77. He was in better shape heading into Saturday’s 71, but the problems this time around in Georgia appeared to be more of a technical issue than a mental one for McIlroy. Simply put, he didn’t play particularly well. This is the theme throughout 2024.
“All I can do is come out here and do my best,” McIlroy said. “That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years are better than others. I’ve got to keep showing up and trying to do the right things. I want to go out and finish on a positive note. Taylor Swift is rumored to be on Saturday Appearance at Augusta National. In the end, the pop icon didn’t show up, but the Masters left an annoying gap in McIlroy’s otherwise illustrious resume.
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Jon Rahm, like McIlroy, is fighting for position. The 2023 champion shot 72 and was five shots ahead of par. Rahm paid tribute to his compatriot Jose María Olazabal, who advanced to the Masters some 25 years after winning his second. “He loves the game,” said Lahm of Orazava. “Why else would he be competing hard here and grinding out there? At his age, it’s unbelievable. There are a lot of great players who continue to fight when they don’t have to, just because they enjoy it so much. . It is definitely impossible not to be attracted by this.
