by This was the day Tiger Woods created unwanted history. This was the day that Scottie Scheffler demonstrated – but briefly – his credibility. This was the day Ludvig Åberg gave the latest insight into the exciting future of golf. It is a great pity that this Masters, already one for the ages, has to come to an end.
Woods entered the record books on Friday after becoming the first player to successfully negotiate 24 consecutive Masters cuts. True to form, the 48-year-old made bold predictions about challenging the Green Jacket. We should probably know better by now than to fall under Woods’ spell. Father Time has beaten no man. A ragged first nine of 42 was his worst at Augusta National. It didn’t get much better after that. Woods signed for an 82, his poorest Masters round by four. Those two 78s arrived in 2022; There is no doubt that Woods’ pattern is now in general decline. As he made his way to the podium for post-round media duties – and to his full credit for doing so – Woods looked emotionally and physically spent.
Related: Different strokes of Ludvig Åberg and Matthieu Pavon tell their stories | Andy Bull
“I didn’t have a very good warm-up session and I just kept going all day today,” Woods said. “I hit the ball in all the places I know I shouldn’t hit it. And I missed a lot of putts. Easy bowels, doable. I missed a lot of them.
“I didn’t compete and I played a lot. I made a putt on the 5th, three-putted the 6th and flubbed a chip at the 7th. I got it the wrong way and when I had opportunities to turn it around, I didn’t.”
Woods insisted there was no chance of a Masters withdrawal before round four. “My team will get me ready,” he said. At some point, probably soon, he has to ask if the trouble is worth it. Sunday to commemorate his 100th Masters round. There’s no pleasure in watching him bark and flail like this at a venue he once dominated.
He cut an uneasy figure with the real competition going on in the background. Scheffler, the unflappable Scheffler, gave the field hope with a messy double bogey at the 10th. He continued to fire another shot at the 11th. At 5.30pm local time Åberg joined the Masters lead for the first time with a birdie at the 13th. It seemed amazing considering this was Sweden’s first major appearance. The Viking attack on Augusta saw Nicolai Højgaard tie Scheffler at the summit of the leaderboard. Højgaard painfully sent four shots in a row from the 11th heat.
Åberg, too, had his stumble. The 15th provides an opportunity. Instead, the rising European star skimmed over the green and fired a shot. He had made a similar hole before. Åberg remains firmly in the chase for the Masters but will have to come from behind to win. 70 left him at minus four.
Scheffler seemed upset when stories of his death were whispered. He homered with an early 31-foot putt at the 13th to regain a share of the lead at six under par. Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, was now by his side. Scheffler managed to convert himself for a birdie at the 15th. Another, the last one, was fouled by an error on the 17th. Scheffler leads Morikawa by minus-seven after 54 holes. Signed the world No. 1 for 71.
Related: Jason Day asked the Augusta officials to remove a garish jersey
Picking the champion out of this melee would be a fool’s mistake. Max Homa is five under.
Bryson DeChambeau, a protagonist over the course of three days, was in panic mode before leaving the 18th fairway and 80 yards for birdie. His tee shot found woodland. DeChambeau was shut out at three under. Avoid Xander Schauffele, one shot further back.
Rory McIlroy will have to wait at least another year to complete the career grand slam. McIlroy was damaged during a second-round 77. He was in better form during Saturday’s 71 but the issues this time in Georgia appear to be much more technical than psychological for McIlroy. In short, he’s not playing particularly well. This was the theme during 2024.
“I can only come here and do my best,” McIlroy said. “That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it is better than others. I just keep showing up and trying to do the right thing. I want to go out and finish on a positive note.” Taylor Swift was heavily rumored to be appearing at Augusta on Saturday. In the end there was no sight of the pop icon but the Blank Space Masters adds to McIlroy’s not-so-illustrious CV.
-
Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
-
If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the latest version.
-
In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
-
Turn on sports ads.
Jon Rahm, like McIlroy, is playing for places. The 2023 champion has five after 72. Rahm has paid tribute to his teammate José María Olazábal, who made the cut 25 years on from his second Masters victory. “He loves this game,” said Rahm of Olazábal. “Why else would he still be here trying to compete and grinding away from there. At his age, it’s incredible. There are a lot of those great players who keep fighting when they don’t really have to because they love it so much.” It would certainly be impossible not to get caught up in this.
