Mark Schlabach
Multiple Authors
AUGUSTA, Ga. — After his first over-par score on the Masters in three years knocked him down the leaderboard Friday, world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler rebounded with a career-best spherical at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday to climb back into competition.
Scheffler’s bogey-free, 7-under 65 in the third spherical was his greatest rating in 27 rounds in the Masters.
The career-best spherical may need been even higher if a number of extra of Scheffler’s putts had fallen, however he wasn’t in speaking about it after being requested what he felt it might have been.
“That’s just a terrible question,” Scheffler stated. “Next question. Awful.”
By the top of the day, Scheffler trailed defending champion Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young by 4 strokes, however he felt like he had accomplished sufficient to provide himself an opportunity to win a 3rd inexperienced jacket on Sunday on the ninetieth Masters.
“It wasn’t maybe that bad, but it definitely could have been lower,” Scheffler stated. “But like I said, I did what I needed to do. [I] went out and executed to give myself some opportunities. More of that tomorrow, and I think I’ll be in a good spot.”
Scheffler matched his greatest rating to par in a serious championship. He was additionally 7 below in the second spherical of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland when he captured his fourth main title in July.
After a 2-over 74 in the second spherical left him at even par after 36 holes, Scheffler did not wait lengthy to make up floor Saturday. On the par-5 second, he hit his method to six ft and sank an eagle putt.
Following 4 pars, Scheffler closed the primary 9 with three straight birdies. He made a 7-foot putt on No. 7, a 3-footer on No. 8 and a 4-footer on No. 9. His method shot on the par-4 ninth hit the cup and almost went in for an additional eagle.
He made the flip at 5-under 31.
“I hit it really nice today,” Scheffler stated. “I felt like I was very sharp with the irons. Got it up there; gave myself a lot of opportunities. I felt like I took advantage of those on the front nine, and then back nine I did a lot of good things. [I] was really, really close to seeing a lot go in.”
Scheffler made two birdies on the second 9, rolling in an 8-footer on the par-4 eleventh and a 10-footer on the par-3 sixteenth.
He had extra probabilities to get nearer. He narrowly missed an 8-footer for birdie on No. 10. On the par-5 thirteenth, he hit a mud ball right into a greenside bunker and settled for par. On the 14th, he barely missed one other birdie putt on the excessive aspect.
“I stroked it really nice,” Scheffler stated. “The greens here are challenging. The margins are small. I mean, I rolled it really nice today. I’d be interested to see what the stats are. I’m sure they’re still positive, but when you have that many birdie looks, I think sometimes you wish they could all go in.”
On the 18th, Scheffler hit his tee shot below a tree on the left aspect of the golf green, leaving himself an ungainly lie. He punched out to 101 yards, after which spun his method shot back to 9 inches to avoid wasting par.
On Sunday, Scheffler must attempt to win the Masters whereas coming from behind. In 2022, he entered the ultimate spherical main by three strokes and received by the identical margin. Two years later, he had a one-stroke lead and prolonged it to 4.
He’ll must chase down a handful of the world’s greatest golfers to do it once more.
“I think that’s what great players and great competitors do, is they’re able to rise to the occasion,” Scheffler stated. “I think when you look at the biggest tournaments, you’d be hard-pressed to find another tournament that’s bigger than this one, especially for myself.
“When you come right here, I feel that is why it is such a fantastic check. Because not solely do you need to conquer this golf course, you need to conquer altering circumstances, a tough nation membership golf course … however you even have to overcome your nerves as effectively to get it accomplished round right here.”
