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McIlroy and Young take different approaches to their third shots from the swale at the back of 13. McIlroy putts. A mammoth right-to-left break. It rolls ten feet past, but that’s not a bad result from there. Young opts to chip, and looks to have judged it perfectly. A right to left breaker as well, but not as pronounced. But the greens are baked, and the ball doesn’t stop. His heart in his mouth as it rolls towards the creek! But it stops a few feet short. And he’ll have an uphill look at birdie from 12 feet.
Justin Rose sends an awful second miles left of 14. But he redeems himself with a lovely bump up to tap-in distance. He blows his cheeks out with relief. He remains at -10. Meanwhile up on 15, Scottie Scheffler flays his drive into the woods down the right, then clips a branch while attempting to chip out. His ball remains in the straw … but does it really matter?! Because he spots a window and fashions a fizzer though it, whipping the ball into the centre of 15, from where he’ll have a look at birdie from 20 feet.
Cameron Young’s drive at 13 finds the second cut down the right. He sends his second over Rae’s Creek and into the swale back-left of the green. Then Rory McIlroy, having sent a 350-yard tee shot down the right side of the fairway, shapes to hit a 7-iron … then steps away as someone in the gallery coughs … then pulls his second into the same swale. He’s a bit further from the flag and on the downslope, so there’s a small advantage there for Young. McIlroy can be forgiven if he was thinking about what happened here last year, when he plopped his third into the water. Some fun matchplay shenanigans coming up!
Scottie isn’t giving up just yet. And having been forced to chop out from the trees down the left of 14, he uses the bowl shape of the green to bring his wedge from 57 yards to three feet. Par salvaged. Bogey would have surely put paid to his chances. But at -9, he’s still got an outside chance of making one last run. Meanwhile Xander Schauffele ends his week at -8 after a final round of 68. A return to form for the two-time major winner, just in time for major season.
Coming behind Scheffler, Justin Rose. He fires a stunning iron into the par-five 13th, over the creek from 208 yards to 30 feet. An outside chance for eagle … which he races eight feet past. He fails to get the one coming back, and that’s a careless three-putt par. He remains two off the lead at -10.
Scottie Scheffler hasn’t taken full advantage of the par-fives this week. He’s eagled the 2nd twice, and birdied the 8th twice. But he’s yet to birdie either 13 or 15 this week, bogeying both on Friday, and the 13th costs him again today. He lays up in front of Rae’s Creek, then wedges to 11 feet, but can’t make the birdie putt. Slightly deflated, he then sends his drive at 14 into the trees down the left, and is forced to hack out. Right now, it doesn’t look like the world number one has enough juice in the tank to make the final push. He remains -9 for now.
Young’s birdie effort is always kinking off to the right. A chance for McIlroy to put a bit of distance between himself and the field … and he rolls in the gentle left-to-right slider for birdie! After starting so shakily, he’s regained control of this Masters. But if history teaches us anything … and it does … there is still an awfully long way to go, and there’s many a slip, etc.
-12: McIlroy (12)
-10: Hatton (F), Henley (15), Rose (12), Young (12)
-9: Morikawa (16), Scheffler (13)
McIlroy retrieves his ball after a birdie on the 12th. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 17.31 EDT
Forgive me, the distances aren’t of a piece. Not quite. Rory is six feet 11 inches away, the closest to the hole at 12 today; Young is 14 feet and three inches away, which is still the sixth best result of this final round.
Rory McIlroy with a glorious wedge into the par-three 12th! His ball lands 25 feet to the left of the pin, and guides right to seven feet! The pressure’s cranked up on Cameron Young … who having conquered the island 17th green at Sawgrass to win the Players, knows a thing or two about shots like these. And he follows Rory to similar distance! Another two big putts coming up in this final group … but they’re for birdie this time.
Rory pours his par putt in! That’s a big par saver. Young makes his shorter par putt too. They remain at -11 and -10 respectively. Meanwhile over on 16, Collin Morikawa makes it five birdies in a row after whipping his tee shot to four feet. He’s -9! Out of nowhere!
McIlroy faces a 60-foot putt up to the pin. The drink behind. He’s understandably not going to race his putt at the flag … but he shouldn’t be so timid that he leaves it 13 feet short. Young is a little bit tentative as well, his effort from 40 feet stopping four short. Two big par putts coming up.
Turns out Cameron Young’s drive ended up a little bit too far to the right down 11 for comfort. He’s got overhanging branches to deal with. No problem, though! He works out a low cut that turns into the front of the green and stops 40 feet from the flag. Rory McIlroy, from a better position, but very much mindful of his getting wet here yesterday afternoon, aims for the fat portion of the green, front right. A long way from the pin, but dry.
Russell Henley doesn’t hit his birdie putt on 14. It dies apologetically to the right. Just a par. And it’s just a bogey for Justin Rose at 12; a staunch five-footer limits the damage. Meanwhile it’s four birdies in a row for Collin Morikawa, between 12 and 15. A wee bit too late for the two-time major winner, surely, but this will whistle him up the standings. He’s -8.
-11: McIlroy (10)
-10: Hatton (F), Henley (14), Rose (12), Young (10)
-9: Scheffler (12)
Updated at 17.06 EDT
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young take turns to make two-putt pars from the back of 10. They move on. Both send no-nonsense drives down 11. Meanwhile up on 14, Russell Henley arrows his second straight at the flag, leaving a 15-foot uphill birdie chance. And then back on 12, Justin Rose sends his tee shot long and left of the green, then duffs his chip into the bank. He putts up, and rolls a clumsy effort five feet past. This could end up being very costly.
ShareHatton shoots 66 to set -10 mark
Tyrrell Hatton sends his tee shot at 18 down the middle. Position A. But he pushes his approach towards the bunker on the right-hand side of the green. The ball stops short, and Hatton makes some theatrical gestures that clearly signal the wind was at fault. He gathers himself to chip up to four feet. He’ll have an uphill putt for par and a 66. And in it goes! That’s his second 66 of the week … a wonderful round that was kick-started by a hole-out from 150 yards on 7 … and you never know. You never know. He’s the new clubhouse leader at -10!
Tyrrell Hatton, of England, walks off the on the 18th hole after the final round. Photograph: David J Phillip/APShare
Updated at 17.32 EDT
The final group arrives at the 10th tee … so welcome to the start of the 90th Masters Tournament, everyone! Rory McIlroy, who so famously came a cropper here in 2011, takes 3-wood that leaves him with a long shot in. He sends his ball onto the fringe at the back of the green. Cameron Smith follows him there, a wee bit inside, so he’ll get a read on his putt. Meanwhile up on 13, Russell Henley makes bounce-back birdie, while on 11, Justin Rose’s par putt slithers wide left. Amen Corner takes a little chunk out of the leader.
-11: Rose (11), McIlroy (9)
-10: Hatton (17), Henley (13), Young (9)
-9: Scheffler (12)
-8: Homa (F), Schauffele (16)
Justin Rose finds the centre of the 11th fairway with his drive … but, surely mindful of the watery grave guarding the front left of the green, sends his approach way right. He’s got a huge bunker to negotiate from the bottom of the swale, and that water’s still on the other side. So he does pretty well to land his ball softly in the middle of the green. But he’ll still need to make a downhill 15-footer if he’s to save his par and remain in sole ownership of the lead.
Cameron Young’s long par effort on 9 has a huge right-to-left swing. He does exceptionally well to tickle it down to close range, but that’ll be a third bogey in four holes. Rory can’t make his birdie putt, and wanders off wearing a stoic grin that quickly segues into a grimace. But he’s up on the deal with his playing partner. Meanwhile up on 17, Tyrrell Hatton chips to six feet from the back of 17, a fine effort across the big green, then dribbles in the par saver. He’s so close now to posting something that will ask serious questions of the folk who’ll still be out on the course.
-12: Rose (10)
-11: McIlroy (9)
-10: Hatton (17), Young (9)
-9: Henley (12), Scheffler (12)
-8: Homa (F), Schauffele (16)
Cameron Young has enjoyed his fair share of luck this week. Three big pings back into play from the woods. But he doesn’t get one this time, down the right of 9. He’s forced to punch out from the pine straw, and his ball ends up in a divot. That’s dreadful luck, and he’s not able to get any sort of action on his wedge in. He finds the green, but back right with the pin front left. A very testing two putts for bogey coming up. Meanwhile his partner Rory McIlroy, definitely re-energised, screws his wedge from the centre of the fairway, 135 yards out, to six feet. Potentially another big swing coming up.
Russell Henley makes his first mistake of the day. His tee shot at Golden Bell, the iconic par-three 12th, nearly disappears into the picturesque but dangerous azalea bed at the back. He chips up to seven feet, but gets up and out of the par putt too early. Bogey, and he slips back to -9.
“Be lucky!” Tyrrell Hatton shouts after his ball as he sends it towards the tall pines down the left of 17. And he gets a break. There’s a window to shoot through for the green … but he doesn’t take full advantage, his ball toppling off the back-left, with the flag away on the other side. Still, a chance to get up and down to save his par, which he’d have probably taken when he was making that aforementioned plea.
ShareA 67 for Max Homa
Max Homa birdies 18 for a blemish-free round of 67. His finish of -8 will surely earn him an automatic invite back next year. He could sell his back nine of 32 strokes to the leaders for cash money.
The patrons ooh with concern as Cameron Young sends his chip from the bottom of the swale to the right of 8 onto the bank on the other side. But he meant to do it. He uses the tilt to bring his ball back onto the green, stopping five feet short. That’s a work of genius, and it’s worthy of the birdie that follows. Then Rory’s eagle putt. It’s always coming up short. But it’s close enough for birdie. Both players nudge a shot closer to the leader.
-12: Rose (9)
-11: Young (8), McIlroy (8)
-10: Hatton (16), Henley (11)
Rory McIlroy suddenly looks re-energised. He sends his drive at the par-five 8th down the left-hand side of the fairway … then slings a fairway wood around the trees and into the heart of the green, the ball rolling up to 25 feet. He’ll have a great look at eagle! Cameron Young is off the green to the right. Meanwhile it’s four birdies in a row for Tyrrell Hatton, who fires his tee shot at 16 over the flag, before rolling the eight-footer into the cup! He’s -10, and if he can get home safely, he’ll be posting a number!
McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 8th. Photograph: Brian Snyder/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.32 EDT
Rose turns in 32, leading by two
Another birdie for Tyrrell Hatton! He sends his second at 15 over the back, but only just. His putt up onto the green takes a little bobble and skips to the right, but he tidies up from four feet to move to -9. But he’s no closer to the lead, because back on 9, Justin Rose arrows his second into the green to 14 feet, then rattles a confident putt into the centre of the cup for his fourth birdie in five holes! He hits the turn in 32 strokes, with a two-hole lead!
-12: Rose (9)
-10: Henley (10), Young (7), McIlroy (7)
-9: Hatton (15), Scheffler (10)
… then Rory McIlroy, having wedged over the flag to eight feet, tickles in the downhill putt for birdie! A big momentum shifter, a two-shot swing between the members of the final group, and how quickly the picture can change on Sunday afternoon!
-11: Rose (8)
-10: Henley (10), Young (7), McIlroy (7)
-9: Scheffler (9)
A big mistake by Cameron Young from the centre of the 7th fairway. He dunks his approach into a bunker guarding the front of the green. He can’t get up and down, and that’s two shots gone in as many holes. Before that, he’d dropped just one in 31. The pressure of Masters Sunday, patrons. Justin Rose is the sole leader of the Masters!
ShareJustin Rose shares lead
Along with Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley looks like one of the few players to be actually enjoying themselves out there. He creams his second at 10 from 222 yards pin high, to 12 feet. The birthday boy shares a huge smile with his caddie. Justin Rose seems pretty chuffed as well, because he wedges up from the swale front right of the par-five 8th to four feet. In goes the putt, and the gallery hollers with great feeling. They’d be more than happy to see the three-time runner-up finally get over the line. He’s got a chance! He’s tied for the lead with Cameron Young … but not Henley, who misses his birdie effort on 10 on the low side.
-11: Rose (8), Young (6)
-10: Henley (10)
-9: Scheffler (9), McIlroy (6)
-8: Hatton (14), Burns (7)
England’s Justin Rose acknowledges the crowd after holing a birdie putt on the 8th. Photograph: Mike Segar/ReutersShare
Updated at 16.16 EDT
Back-to-back birdies for Tyrrell Hatton at 13 and 14. He’s -8, and if he can make his way home strongly, could post something that would at least ask a question of the players currently above him.
Rory McIlroy, having sent his tee shot at the par-three 6th over the back, elects to putt up from the swale. He only just gets the ball up on the putting surface. That’s poor, and he’s left with a 15-footer he can’t make. It’s been a miserable weekend for the defending champion so far, and by the defeated look on his face, that doesn’t look like changing any time soon. A man who knows he’s misplaced his mojo and the jig is up? Well, perhaps, but Cameron Young, having lagged up to six feet from 70, lets his par putt slip by on the low side. A slight pull. McIlroy is doing his best to play himself out of this Tournament, and yet he’s not cut adrift just yet.
-11: Young (6)
-10: Henley (9), Rose (7)
-9: Scheffler (8), McIlroy (6)
-8: Burns (7)
-7: Homa (16), Hatton (13)
Scottie Scheffler takes putter from the fringe at the back of 8. He rolls up with confidence, and it looks like dropping … but this one slingshots out to the right. Scheffler high-kicks in frustration. But that’s a par, one he’d have snatched your hand off for when watching his drive disappear into the pines.
Should Cameron Young close this out today, he’ll tie the Masters record for the biggest comeback after 36 holes. That currently stands at eight, set by Jack Burke in 1956. Should either Scottie Scheffler or Russell Henley make it, they’d obliterate the record by four additional strokes. But there’s an awfully long way to go before we consider any of this seriously, and Young lands on the wrong portion of the 6th green, leaving himself 70 feet away; Henley also leaves himself a long two-putt for par, on 9; and Scheffler, though he’s able to advance his ball from the trees on 8, sends his third over the back of the green. Yep, an awfully long way to go.
Cameron Young sends his ball over the back of 5. His chip back up isn’t all that, but he walks in the 15-footer to save his par. Young and Scottie Scheffler are taking turns to make the big saves that win you tournaments like this.
-12: Young (5)
-10: Henley (8), Rose (7), McIlroy (5)
-9: Scheffler (7)
-8: Burns (6)
-7: Day (6)
-6: Homa (15), Hatton (12), Cantlay (8), Lowry (6)
One of the shots of the week from Justin Rose! He’s in the pines down the right of 7. It doesn’t look as though there’s much on, but he manufactures a low cut under the branches and into the heart of the green, a combination of side-spin and the bowl shape of the putting surface taking his ball to the right and back down to tap-in range. He punches the air knowing that’s just a couple of inches away. He’ll be tapping in for a birdie that will take him to -10.
Updated at 15.40 EDT
Scottie puts everything into his drive at the par-five 8th, and loses it way left for the second hole in a row. He drops his driver on the follow-through as his ball disappears into the pines. Danger over there. But up on the green, Russell Henley chips up close from the back and tidies up for birdie. It’s his 37th birthday today, and this could end up being quite the gift. He’s two off the lead at -10!
Scottie Scheffler makes his second outrageous par save in a row! Having sent his drive into the trees down the left of 7, he can only knock his second to the left of the green. His chip trundles 11 feet past, but he strokes the putt coming back into the centre of the cup, and sometimes par saves feel even bigger than birdies. Just ask Rory McIlroy. He remains at -9.
Big bother for Shane Lowry on 5. He sends his drive into the big fairway bunker down the left. Then he catches the top lip of the trap with his second, the ball pinging back and to the left. He does very well to manufacture a low hook from the trees into the front of the green, but he’s left with a putt of over 100 feet, and three more strokes later, it’s a double. At -6, that’s probably his race run.
ShareRory three-putts from ten feet on 4
“Come on Rory.” One of the patrons, crying in exasperation rather than by way of encouragement, as McIlroy pulls his tee shot at the par-three 4th wide of the left-hand bunker. The defending champ gracefully flips his chip over the sand, nearly holing out. However he can’t save his par from ten feet … then lips out with the one coming back from a couple of feet. A par scramble though for Cameron Young from the front, having come up a club too short. A big swing, and it’s seriously Advantage Young now.
-12: Young (4)
-10: McIlroy (4)
-9: Henley (7), Scheffler (6), Rose (5)
The 2015 and 2016 champion Jordan Spieth is the new clubhouse leader. Birdie at the last, the reward for sending his second pin high to 12 feet, and that’s a 68 for one of the most entertaining players on Tour. He finishes his week at -5, and c’mon Jordan, get it done next month in the PGA at Aronimink, complete that career slam.