“Look, I’m really trying to block that out”, four-times major champion McIlroy said of his bid to join one of the sport’s most exclusive lists.
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Among the things that didn’t make Spieth happy: His 74 was his first over-par round in 10 career Masters rounds.
Jordan Spieth was timed for being out of position after he said he wanted to wait out the toughest period. Those birdies on the par 5s – a good chip from behind the 13th green, a 5-wood onto the green for a two-putt on the 15th – were just what he needed.
Rory McIlroy, who began the day one shot behind Spieth, did not card a birdie en route to a 77 and is five shots behind.
The third round of the Masters is underway, though the leaders don’t tee off until Saturday afternoon.
“I had a four-shot lead and everything was going right”. Watson commented: “I’m a realist”, he said.
“It was a really tough finish to go from holding a four-shot lead…to where all of the sudden, now it’s anyone’s game”, Spieth said.
But as has been his want at Augusta, Spieth rebounded with birdie on 12. “If you start to think about anyone else…” I’m not going to dodge the question by any means.
McIlroy played in his Nike Lunar Control 4 golf shoes, featuring dark blue and teal colorways, available on Nike’s website for 0. But I’m just, as I said, I’m feeling a little better standing here five behind than I was on the 17th tee. “I’m not quite at their distance, but I try to make up for it in other areas”.
“Look, I know it’s a very big weekend for me”.
McIlroy showed his delight at holing a final putt, which kept him ahead of New Zeland’s Danny Lee and American Scott Piercy, with a celebratory fist-pump. The only others under par after 36 holes were Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and American Brandt Snedeker on 143.
Dustin Johnson birdied all the par 5s for a 71 and was in the group at even par that included U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau, who felt the sting of Augusta on the final hole. Starting the round one shot out of the lead, he fell apart after the turn with a bogey from the trees on No. 10 and a double bogey in the water on the 11th. “It’s another golf tournament I’m trying to win. Let’s play these holes par in from here on out”. Arnold Palmer was atop the leaderboard for six straight rounds in 1960 and the opening two rounds in 1961, though he shared the lead in those last two rounds.
“It’s nearly a different tournament”, Spieth said. “I felt like I played better than 4 over from the fourth hole on”.
“And I did a pretty good job of it, but I can’t be too critical of my round today”.
Phil Mickelson lamented his poor course management after compiling his worst score at Augusta National, a 79, to also miss the cut.
Here are the odds, courtesy of Bovada, for the final round of the Masters.
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It was the first time since the Third Round of the 2007 Masters in which no one recorded a score in the 60s and the hard day brought the field and the outright betting odds closer to Spieth, as he is no longer the lone favorite to win the Green Jacket.
