Scheffler Holds Slim Lead at The Masters After Third Round
ICARO Media Group
In a thrilling and closely contested third round at The Masters, Scottie Scheffler emerged as the leader, but with a narrow margin. Only three players managed to break 70 on Saturday, highlighting the challenging conditions at Augusta National.
Scheffler's rollercoaster round saw him take the lead, lose it, and regain it with impressive determination. After leading by two strokes at one point, he stumbled with a double-bogey on the 10th hole and a bogey on the 11th. However, a remarkable eagle on the 13th propelled him back to the top. Despite some ups and downs, Scheffler displayed resilience by finishing with birdie-par-bogey-birdie to take a one-shot lead heading into the final round.
Looking ahead, Scheffler has a chance to achieve a rare feat: winning the green jacket within three years of someone else wearing it. The last golfer to accomplish this was Bubba Watson in 2014 when he won the tournament in 2012, passed it to Adam Scott in 2013, and reclaimed it in 2014.
However, Scheffler faces stiff competition from a dozen challengers, all within six shots of the lead. Among them, Collin Morikawa stands out, having carded a solid 69 in the third round. Morikawa's consistent play, including three consecutive birdies at the start of his round, puts him well within striking distance of his first green jacket.
Another notable performance came from Tony Finau and Chris Kirk, the only other golfers to break 70 on Saturday. Unfortunately for them, they trail the leaders by a significant margin and will need a miraculous final round to contend for the title.
Bryson DeChambeau, the first-round leader, endured a rollercoaster ride himself. A double-bogey on the 15th hole put a minor dent in his chances, but he salvaged his day with a remarkable birdie on the 18th. DeChambeau now sits four shots behind Scheffler, hoping to regain his momentum and challenge for the green jacket once again.
Max Homa showcased consistency on Saturday, with only one bogey on his card. However, he will need to make a significant move on the final day if he hopes to claim his first major victory, as the top contenders show little sign of wavering.
Ludvig Aberg, making his major debut, had an impressive start to the round, going four-under through 13 holes. However, a couple of late bogeys spoiled his chances, leaving him three shots off the lead. Despite the setback, Aberg has proven his potential and could still be a dark horse in the final round.
As Moving Day didn't quite live up to its name, with few players making significant strides, the green jacket is still up for grabs. While Scheffler may be the pre-tournament and live-betting favorite, the unpredictable nature of the sport coupled with less-than-stellar scores in the past two days makes for an exciting final round at Augusta National.