Saturday, Round 3

AUGUSTA, GA

"I'm sure that some of the confidence that I took from the Ryder Cup plays a role. I think that event's really good preparation for big moments. You might be nervous on Sunday at a major coming down the back nine, but it's rare that you're just at full nervousness from the first tee shot. So I think it's good preparation in that sense. You learn to deal with pressure right off the bat, and it kind of doesn't go away throughout the whole day. So you do feel like it's just constant preparation for being near the lead at THE PLAYERS or in a major." - Cam Young on how the Ryder Cup experience helped him handle pressure asked by yours truly on Tuesday.

The last 29 Masters winners have all been within four shots of the lead at the start of the final round. Tournament officials let the boys play today as the field was 151 strokes better today than yesterday. Part of that shift in scoring is propelled by the cutline, but overall, it was the lowest round three scoring average ever at The Masters! I'm of course at ANGC, and John Haslbauer is following the action from the Tout House. Take a look below for our thoughts on what happened today and what lies ahead for Sunday at the 90th Masters.

Round 3 summary:

• 1st place: Cameron Young (-11, 73-67-65=205) and Rory McIlroy (-11, 67-65-73=205)
• Scoring averages (Rd. 3):
  • (Rd 3: 70.63, 2025: 72.38, 2024: 74.30, 2023: 73.54, 2022: 74.58, 2021: 72.43
  • First nine scoring average: 35.04, second nine: 35.59
  • Hardest hole: #11 (4.39), easiest hole: #8 (4.35)
  • The Field was 74 under par today with 8 eagles, 225 birdies, 143 bogeys, and 12 double bogeys, no others!
  • There are SIX players within four shots of the lead.
• Strokes gained T2G leaders through round three:
  • Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Justin Rose, Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy
• Betting favorites after Round 3:
  • Rory McIlroy (+146), Cameron Young (+255), Sam Burns (+610), Scottie Scheffler (+910), Shane Lowry (+1200), Justin Rose (+1500)
• Conditions: High of 84 degrees, wind 2-4 mph NE

Sunday sweat

Between the lines...

• "Yeah, I mean, it was very firm the first day. I felt like they softened it pretty significantly yesterday. Today definitely going out early. I was able to get some softer bounces. At least through -- I mean, I was able to spin back a wedge on five. Trying to think where else. By the time we got -- yeah, pretty much by the time we got to ten, it started to firm up, and I would imagine they would continue to get firmer as the day goes on, because the sun is out, and there's not too much wind."- Scottie Scheffler on the course conditions in round three.
• When the leaders make the turn tomorrow, Jim Nantz will utter his famous line, "The Masters begins on the second nine on Sunday." After watching the final nine holes this afternoon, the man who conquers the closing stretch will certainly be our winner. Who are the best players on the second nine this week at Augusta National with a chance to win?
  • Second nine scoring averages for the leaders: Young (33), McIlroy (33.7), Burns (34), Day (34.3), Lowry (34.7), Li (34.7), Rose (35.3), Scheffler (36)
• Rory McIlroy only hit 10 GIRs in round three. If he plans to successfully defend his Masters title and have the Chairman put the jacket on him, then he must improve his ball striking. Tomorrow will be about creating scoring chances under extreme pressure. I'm favoring the best approach players when it comes to matchups and winning the Green Jacket.jacket on him, then he must improve his ball striking. Tomorrow will be about creating scoring chances. I'm favoring the best approach players when it comes to matchups and wining the tournament.
  • SG:APP leaders after round three: Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
• Apex predators, with 18 holes left to play, the two co-leaders share much in common in terms of how they approach the game. The two most recent Players champions, Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, happen to be two of the most imaginative ball-strikers on the PGA TOUR, comfortable working the ball in both directions. McIlroy and Young also happen to be two of the most consistent high-apex approach players in golf, giving them a distinct advantage to hold these increasingly firm greens. (John)
• "I think a couple of them were because of the lies that I had. You know, the ball was above my feet quite a bit, but yeah, I was trying to hilt a draw into the pin on the sixth hole, and I just overdid it. Then on 12 I had a bit of an awkward yardage. I was trying to hit, like, a three-quarter held wedge and just body stopped and went left on me. But everything else, I think for me it's just about keeping my lower body moving. If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, then that should -- that should sort of fix it. But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit." - Rory McIlroy commenting on all of the left misses in round three.
• How Low Can We Go? There are eight players within four strokes of the lead heading into Sunday. With two of the most skilled players in the field sharing the lead, I'm not expecting both players in the final pairing to come back to the field, especially considering how Augusta National Golf Club has leaned (historically) on the scoreable side with its Sunday course setup. I'm drawing the line at -7 as the mark for players who can conceivably win. Keep an eye out for a red-hot World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, to make a charge, as the two-time Masters champion matched Cameron Young for the round of the day Saturday (65), and is now within striking distance, just four back. (John)

Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy tee off at 2:25 pm ET tomorrow. Enjoy the Sunday sweat, this is going to be an epic ending to the best week of the year!

Live Betting - The Masters

Sunday card: C. Young over R. McIlroy (+116 DK) J. Knapp over B. Griffin (-126 DK) J. Bridgeman over S. Straka (-108 DK) Live bet scorecard (4-2)

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