Scottie Scheffler maintains a three-stroke lead going into the final round at the first major of the year at The Masters, while Cameron Smith climbed to second with the low round of the day. Tiger Woods dropped down the leaderboard, shooting a 78 to finish at +7; only seven players shot below par on the difficult course along with adverse weather conditions.
Scheffler has played solid throughout the tournament, and got to 11-under total twice before bogeys on the 14th, 15th, and 18th holes to finish with a 71, and –9 total.
Previous best finishes at majors for Scheffler were a tied-fourth finish in the 2020 PGA, tied-seventh in the 2021 U.S. Open, and tied-eighth at the 2021 Open and 2021 PGA Championship. His best finish at the Masters was a tie for 18th last year.
Scheffler led by as much as six strokes, and has dominated the par-five holes, making eight birdies, three pars, and one bogey today through the first three rounds. Following bogeys throughout the tournament, he would rebound with a birdie, like today’s bogey on hole four following two birdies, Scheffler came back with birdies on holes #6 and #8.
However, he gave back a portion of his lead on the back nine with four bogeys (#12, #14, #15, #18) and two birdies at #13 and #17.
Scheffler missed the fairway again all three rounds on #18, hitting it into the trees to the left. Drawing tee shots has been his only kryptonite this tournament. Scheffler would take a penalty stroke to finish with a bogey. Scheffler stayed until dark to practice under the lights at the range.
“That’s something I’ve worked on—being focused and committed to each shot—because I struggled with that in college, I wasn’t prepared,” said Scheffler. “I didn’t trust myself like I do now. So when I get over a shot now, I’m fully confident that I’m gonna make a good swing and that’s really all I can do.”
Scheffler skyrocketed to No. 1 in the World Rankings after winning his third tournament in five starts beginning February 13th; his maiden victory came at the WM Phoenix Open in a playoff against Patrick Cantlay. Three weeks later, he would win his second title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, as well as the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play two weeks ago.
“I’ve been humbled a couple of times already (since showing) up here,” added the 25-year-old. “The guy picked me up in my cart this morning called me Xander (Schauffele). So that brought me back down to earth real quick.”
The scoring average was the same as Friday at 74.6. Overall, only nine players scored par, at 72 or better. Realistically, Smith being three strokes behind, and Sungjae Im at four strokes back, have a chance to catch Scheffler.
Smith, easily recognized by his blond mullet, shot the low round of 68, with six birdies and two bogeys, to get to as high seven-under, before finishing at –6.
When asked about his two victories this year against the top competition, “It just means that I can get it done when when I’m up against the best guys in the world, [it’s a] good feeling to have,” replied the 28-year-old Australian. “It’s not given to you, so I’m gonna have to go out there tomorrow and play really good golf again. Hopefully everything just falls into place. I mean, I can’t control what anyone else is going to do tomorrow. So just go out there and really focus on myself.”
Charlie Schwartzel dropped from second to tied for fourth with a one-over par round to finish at –2; he eagled the 1oth hole with a hole-in-one, but gave up four strokes with bogeys on four holes on the remaining back nine.
Recently inducted Hall of Famer Woods shot his highest round ever at The Masters with at 6-over 78 to end tied for 41st at +7. His driver gained consistency and distance, as he hit 13 of 15 fairways after the seventh tee shot in the third round.
“It’s just been blustery all day and ... it was cold starting out. The ball wasn’t going very far. It was tough,” said Woods, 46. “I just could not get a feel for getting comfortable with the ball ... trying to feel the swing of the putter head, trying to get anything, and nothing seemed to work.”
Woods is statistically among the best ever putters of all-time, but his putting took him out of contention losing five strokes, making four three-putts, and a four-putt.
In response to why he made the comeback following his tragic auto accident 14 months ago: “Never give up. Always chase after (your) dreams, and I fight each and every day,” said Woods. “Every day is a challenge. Every day presents its own different challenges for all of us. And I wake up and let’s start the fight all over again.”
Sunday final round television coverage is shown on ESPN Plus, CBS, and The Golf Channel. Scheffler and Smith tee-off at 2:40 pm ET.
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