If he could get on the board Sunday, he’ll become the first Masters rookie to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
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Billy Horschel had perhaps the day’s most exasperating moment, when he chipped onto the 15th green and watched in horror as a gust of wind kicked in and blew the ball – which was stationary a moment earlier – back off the green and into the water. Rory McIlroy is trying to make history. It’s tough to swallow that. I felt I righted the ship over the last seven holes, but I had a lot of chances coming in and didn’t take any. “So it’s mixed feelings right now”.
The 58-year-old German posted a third-round 70 for a 1-under-par total to surge within two shots of leader Jordan Spieth at Augusta National.
World number one Jason Day was upbeat about his Masters chances as he was kept in the hunt on Saturday.
Jordan Spieth (11-10) – You’re barely getting more than even odds on Spieth at this point.
He sits just three shots back of world No.2 Spieth, who dropped three shots in his final two holes to rejuvenate the chasing pack.
“Understand this is the position I wanted to be in after 54 holes and not think about the finish to today’s round”, Spieth said. The hole played more than a half-stroke over par.
“It’s not going to be fun tonight for a little while”, he said. It is the third year in a row he has led after three rounds, something only Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have done.
For the second day in succession, gusting winds, which were forecast to ease later in the day, and glass-like greens ensured scoring was proving incredibly hard.
“I’ve been saying it’s going to happen sooner or later”, said Langer, mindful that two other players over 50 – Davis Love III and Larry Mize – also made the Masters cut.
Spieth finished a round over par at Augusta for the first time in his three Masters appearances. He would be the oldest major champion by 10 years.
What ensued over the next half hour promises to turn Sunday into a much different experience than he enjoyed a year ago at Augusta National.
At five under, last year’s wire-to-wire victor had pulled four clear of playing partner McIlroy, who was out in 38. Julius Boros was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.
“I’ll put my feet up, get some rest, and hopefully have a late tee time”, Langer said with a smile.
Spieth was wayward off the tee on a blustery day and had to rely on his brilliant short putts – he took only 30 putts in testing conditions – to stay out in front.
He had back-to-back double bogeys on 15 and 16 and finished with a 7-over 79, missing the cut by one. He still was only two shots behind. She gave birth last week.
“I started it. maybe 6 feet left of the hole and just got it up there really, really high”, McIlroy said. But Spieth bogeyed No. 17 and made a clumsy bogey on No. 18, signing for a 1-over 73 that brought a handful of contenders back into the mix with one round to play.
Spieth had a four-shot lead as he stood on the 17th tee on Saturday.
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And three holes later, it was gone.
