The Masters: Scottie Scheffler takes narrow lead into final round

AS IT STANDS -7 Scheffler; -6 Morikawa; -5 Homa, -4 Aberg ; -3 DeChambeau  SELECTED OTHERS  – 1 Fleetwood; +3 McIlroy; +5 Rahm ; +11 Woods

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Scottie Scheffler edged closer to a second Green Jacket after an utterly compelling third round at the Masters. 

The world No.1 responded emphatically to three dropped shots in two holes, an eagle at the 13th and a birdie at the last taking him one shot clear of Collin Morikawa heading into a tantalising final round.

Scheffler’s Sunday playing partner Morikawa has set up the chance to complete the third leg of a career grand slam after a near flawless three-under 69 on another demanding day at Augusta National.

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Meanwhile, the cavalry is in position for a Sunday charge. Overnight leader Max Homa battled resiliently with 17 pars and one just one blemish, the Californian’s superb sand save at the last leaving him two adrift.

Ludvig Aberg, the Swedish phenomenon playing in his first major, is three back and could become the first Masters debutant winner since Fuzzy Zoeller back in 1979 after a third round 70.

Bryson DeChambeau was staring at a bogey on 18 but produced an epic Masters moment with a dramatic hole-out birdie to jump to three-under, just when it looked like he had played himself out of contention.

Fellow Ryder Cup hero Nicolai Hojgaard briefly held the outright lead at seven-under, but collapsed with five straight bogeys on the back nine. The Dane has Xander Schauffele and Australia’s Cameron Davis for company at minus two.

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But the man to beat, as so widely predicted, is Scheffler heading into a potentially epic Masters Sunday.

The Texan had fallen three shots behind Hojgaard after going double bogey-bogey on 10 and 11, but played his last six holes in three-under to edge ahead.

The conditions weren’t as treacherous as an ‘almost unplayable’ Friday, but firm greens and tricky pin positions meant birdies came at a premium in a fascinating major test.

Tiger Woods did manage two birdies, but also created a piece of unwanted history as he signed for his worst ever score around this fabled venue.

The five-time champion carded two double bogeys in his 10-over-par 82 as his ailing body suffered from a marathon 23-hole Friday.

Rory McIlroy is 10 shots behind Scheffler after a 71, while defending champion Jon Rahm is five-over after a level-par 72.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.