Rory McIlroy’s hopes of completing the career grand slam by winning the Masters were fading fast as Shane Lowry enjoyed a dream moment at Augusta National.
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But the reality was more like a dud. Two wild tee shots, two poor wedges and five putts at the end of an already wild ride left Spieth with only a one-shot lead. “You have to try to forget about it and move on”.
Twenty years ago, Faldo also shot a bogey-free 67 in a final round remembered just as much for Greg Norman throwing away a six-shot lead. And tied for 11th, the Irishman still has his work cut out for him on Sunday. It’s not out of the question.
While there are probably more than a few who don’t know of the Birmingham, Alabama, native, neither Kaufman nor his family seemed the least bit taken aback that he’s in in position to actually when the green jacket. I was eight back.
“It’s hard to play with the lead on this course with the condition of it”. I’m going to keep saying that until I believe it…but if he’s got a four-footer for the win, I don’t know.
“I’ve got nothing to lose”, McIlroy said.
That’s what made it so jarring when the 58-year-old walked off Augusta National’s final green on Saturday afternoon, acknowledged the gallery’s standing ovation and finally broke character. He had to play it as is was.
Horschel made the best of it. But he missed the birdie putt, and when he hit into a bunker and failed to save par on the 17th, it was over. Horschel shot 73 to be in a tie for 16th at four over. “Yeah, I’m still there”, the two-time former champion said.
“I didn’t feel anything was off, but I was sort of trying to play upstream”.
A frustrated Horschel let the officials know of his dissatisfaction. “This week I’ve just been so calm”. And I ended with what was a pretty good bogey.
And he did it with a new, non-anchored putting stroke that was forced upon him when the new rule went into effect this year.
The 26-year-old was gifted a way back into contention when Spieth finished bogey, double-bogey to slip to three under, and McIlroy will look to post a testing early target on Sunday. He needed a 10-under 61 in the final round while six players were one shot back. He still uses a long putter, but, by rule, he can no longer press it against his sternum as he takes his stroke. A chance to play defense and stroll through the pines for the final round, the way he did past year en route to his record-tying title, will instead be a battle to stave off 10 players within five shots. I’m excited about the way I played today.
Indeed, we’ll see if Kaufman can become the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win in his first-ever Masters appearance.
Looking more like a British Open, even on a sunny day with temperatures in the 60s, the Masters is posing quite a test for those who made it to the weekend. Both hit the ball a mile. “I’m a late bloomer”.
Jason Day: You can blame McIlroy for us not getting all three of the so-called Big Three in the last two groups, but that last double greatly enhanced Day’s chances.
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Two holes later, he found himself explaining what went wrong. If you told me that at the beginning of the week, I’d be very pleased. But then, who’s counting? “We have (Champions Tour) guys like Davis Love and Vijay Singh and Fred Couples who are still long enough, and these young guys are all staying fitter and they’re going to be in better shape when they turn 50”.
