Mother Nature was unable to impede Brooks Koepka’s progress. Next, an endurance challenge. If the 32-year-old is to wear the Green Jacket for the first time, he will have to endure a prolonged round on Sunday at Augusta National, as play was suspended shortly after 3 p.m. on day three due to flooded putting surfaces. Koepka, who will resume his third round on the seventh green, leads Jon Rahm by four strokes. Thirteen under plays nine under. This appears to be a two-horse race, with the outstanding amateur Sam Bennett trailing by three strokes. Koepka is determined to cut the number of competitors in half. His charisma has returned.
Koepka stated, “I’m not too concerned about playing 29 holes or however many holes remain.” “It’s in the contract. Given that it is the master, I am confident that I will be up for it. Consequently, I do not believe anyone should have a problem with that.
It was extremely challenging. The orb is standing still. It is drizzling and extremely frigid outside. It makes it more difficult. You’ve got to make some pressure shots. You anticipated that the day would be challenging. You must simply persevere and attempt to salvage something.”
Koepka’s birdie on the second hole is sandwiched between five pars. Rahm had a more dramatic start, gaining a stroke on the second hole before bogeying the fourth and fifth.
On the seventh, he will return to a 9-foot birdie putt.
After 36 holes, for the first time in Masters history, two players had attained double digits under par. Rahm was among the group that had to complete their second round on Saturday morning. He shot a 69 after opening with a 65.
“Adrenaline kicks in when you’re in the position we’re in,” Rahm said of what lies ahead. “Tomorrow will have favorable weather conditions and a probable soft golf course. I am feeling happy, feeling strong, and want to keep it going.”
History indicates that Rahm will win the Masters on the birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros, another Spaniard. Yet Koepka, who currently competes on the LIV tour, has a point to prove. His move to the independent tour prompted numerous claims that his time as a top-tier competitor was over.
Bennett, a Texan of 23 years, is having the time of his life. When asked if these were the most difficult weather conditions he had ever encountered, he sneered. “No,” Bennett said. “In college golf, you endure everything. I’m simply attempting to enjoy myself. I feel relaxed out there.” Bennett is two over through six holes of the third round, but he attributes this too technical issues rather than anxiety.
Matt Fitzpatrick has discreetly dropped to minus 5 after 11 games.
He is joined in scoring by Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, and Collin Morikawa. Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose are among those at minus four. Conditions deteriorated swiftly after lunch, but Masters officials remain confident that they will be able to conclude this major on Sunday as planned. To the victor, $3.24 million and a well-deserved break. Since 1983, The Masters has not necessitated a Monday conclusion.
At three under, Scottie Scheffler requires a miracle to successfully defend his title. In the storm, Jordan Spieth retreated, playing eight holes in three over to fall back to minus two. Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, and Hideki Matsuyama all contribute to the same total. Dustin Johnson imploded, accumulating a triple bogey seven at the 11th during a stretch of 13 holes played at six over par.
Tiger Woods cut by one stroke, at three over, but quickly gave the impression that he wished he had not.
Woods, who began the third round on the 10th hole, double-bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes to fall to last place in the field when play was suspended. Woods is six strokes over par for the round and nine strokes over par for the tournament. Is all of this truly worthwhile? The severity of his physical suffering becomes more evident with each stroke. Larry Mize and Sandy Lyle said their poignant goodbyes in Augusta on Saturday morning. It is not an exaggeration to assert that Woods is swiftly approaching a forced retirement.
Fred Couples made Masters history by advancing to the third and fourth rounds. As Couples, now 63, continued, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau were eliminated early. Thomas wasted two strokes on the final two holes, sealing his fate. Rory McIlroy’s failure to cut was verified, as expected. Thursday marks the beginning of McIlroy’s participation in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. There will almost certainly be a new name on the Master’s honor register by then.
