Scottie Scheffler moved a step closer to a second Masters title in three years, grabbing a one-shot lead after a thrilling third round at Augusta National.
The world No 1 went into the weekend part of a three-way tie for the lead and briefly jumped two ahead with two birdies in his first three holes, only to fall two behind after dropping three shots in two holes at the start of his back nine.
Scheffler recovered to eagle the 13th and pull level with Collin Morikawa before grabbing the solo lead with a birdie on the next par-five, and he then cancelled out a bogey at the 17th to birdie the last and head into the final day on seven under.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scottie Scheffler’s eagle at the 13th sends him back to the top of the leaderboard at Augusta National.
The 2022 Masters champion holds a slender cushion over Morikawa, looking to complete the third leg of the career Grand Slam, with overnight co-leader Max Homa two back ahead of Masters debutant Ludvig Åberg.
A closing hole-out from Bryson DeChambeau keeps him within four of the lead going into the final day, when Rory McIlroy will start 10 back after a third-round 71 and Tiger Woods resumes in a share of 52nd after carding a 10-over 82 – his worst in a major as a professional.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bryson DeChambeau kept his hopes of winning The Masters alive by sensationally holing out for a birdie on the 18th hole to close out his third round.
Scheffler stays on top after rollercoaster Saturday
Scheffler – going out in the penultimate group – missed with his approach to the opening green but chipped in for a stunning birdie, then took advantage of a favourable break in the trees at the par-four third to drain a 35-footer and move to eight under.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scottie Scheffler once again leads The Masters after shooting a one-under-par 71 during the third round at Augusta National.
Morikawa made a three-birdie start and found himself within one of the lead when Scheffler failed to get up and down to save par at the fourth, with the two-time major winner then cancelling a bogey at the sixth to take advantage of the eighth and move tied-second with Homa.
Scheffler reached the turn one ahead after squandering opportunities at the eighth and ninth but gave the chasing pack hope with an unexpected double-bogey at the par-four 10th, where playing partner Nicolai Hojgaard made a third straight birdie to jump into a one-shot lead.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scottie Scheffler made a double-bogey on the 10th hole at Augusta National to fall two shots back from the lead at The Masters during the third round.
Both players dropped a shot at the 11th, keeping Scheffler two behind, while the logjam at the top temporarily became five players when Åberg followed a first-nine 33 with a birdie at the par-five 13th.
DeChambeau slipped back with successive bogeys, Åberg dropped a shot at the next and Hojgaard went on a five-bogey run, while Homa also slipped back with a blemish at the par-three 12th as Scheffler pulled level with Morikawa by draining a 30-foot eagle at the 13th.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bryson DeChambeau double bogeyed the 15th hole during the third round of The Masters at Augusta National as he lost ground on leader Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler took advantage of the par-five 15th to temporarily regain the solo lead but slipped back to six under as he missed a nine-footer to save par at the 17th, only to fire his approach to eight feet at the last and make the closing birdie to secure the 54-hole advantage.
“Proud of how I played today,” Scheffler said. “It was a good fight out there. The golf course was extremely challenging. The greens were very firm, very fast, and it was extremely difficult again today. So probably looking for more of the same tomorrow.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scottie Scheffler claims he’s confident with how he’s playing ahead of the final round at The Masters, where he takes a one-shot lead into the final day
Hope for those chasing Scheffler?
Morikawa made pars on each of his closing 11 holes to sign for a three-under 69 and ensure he will join Scheffler in the final group, with halfway co-leader Homa in third after a one-over 73.
The Masters – Live
Sunday 14th April 3:00pm
DeChambeau’s hole-out birdie at the final hole closed a three-over 75 and pushed him fifth ahead of Hojgaard, Xander Schauffele and Cameron Davis, with England’s Tommy Fleetwood one of four players sharing ninth spot.
McIlroy said he would “give it a go” on the final day, where he has the same 54-hole deficit as when he finished runner-up in 2022, although his hopes of completing the career Grand Slam look likely to be over for another year.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy claims he felt better about his game on Saturday at The Masters after shooting a one-under-par 71 at Augusta National but admits he’s disappointed with a lack of birdies.
Defending champion Jon Rahm carded a level-par 72 to stay on five over, while Woods’ faint hopes slipped away as the high of securing a record-breaking 24th consecutive Masters cut was followed by the low of carding the worst round of his major career as a professional.
Woods was level par after five holes of his round but dropped six shots in his next four, with four consecutive bogeys from the 14th seeing him drop back to 11 over for the tournament and leaving just four players below him on the leaderboard.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch the story of Tiger Woods’ worst round at a major tournament as he shot a ten-over-par 82 at Augusta National in The Masters.
Who will win The Masters? Watch Featured Groups live on Sunday from 3pm via the red button or log in to the Sky Sports app, with live build-up on Sky Sports Golf from 3pm ahead of full coverage from 6.30pm.
Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW
NOW TV image
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and so much more.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland