Masters 2024: Scottie Scheffler leads as Tiger Woods posts worst round at Augusta National
American world number one Scottie Scheffler hung on to the Masters lead on an eventful third day where Tiger Woods shot his worst score at a major.
Scheffler, who is the hottest favourite at Augusta since Woods in his 2000s pomp, shot a one-under 71 to move seven under and one clear of Collin Morikawa.
Morikawa carded a 69 for six under, with Max Homa (73) next on five under.
Bryson DeChambeau, who jointly led overnight, hit a 75 and is three under, while Woods is 11 over after an 82.
DeChambeau - a home hope like Scheffler, Morikawa and Homa - reignited his bid by holing out from the 18th fairway for a birdie on what had been a chastening day.
But the 30-year-old will still start four behind Scheffler, who ultimately continued his majestic form despite the odd blip on Saturday.
Scheffler, who won the Masters for the first time in 2022, will go out alongside his American Ryder Cup team-mate Morikawa in Sunday's final pairing.
'Rusty' Woods tumbles down the leaderboard
Having made the cut for a record 24th consecutive year, Woods was one over at the halfway stage and, as we have seen so many times over the years, talked bullishly about his chances at the weekend.
The five-time Masters champion, aiming to match Jack Nicklaus' long-standing record of victories, said after round two that he was "right there".
However, that proved overly optimistic as he tumbled down the leaderboard.
The 48-year-old American struggled to find fairways - hitting only five of 14 - and that led to only the third time he had scored 80 or over at a major.
Successive double bogeys on seven and eight did the most damage, with Woods adding six more bogeys on the back half.
Woods had barely played coming into the Masters as he continues to recover from injuries sustained in a car crash in February 2021.
The 15-time major champion has limited his schedule following the life-threatening crash which led to a number of operations, including on his legs and ankle.
Given his lack of competitive action, even making the weekend on one of the most punishing courses in the sport was a credible achievement.
The long-time former world number one looked increasing short of energy on Saturday.
Asked what he has learned about his game, Woods laughed and said: "It's rusty. I just haven't played golf, especially competitively."
McIlroy and Rahm left with too much to do
Every time Rory McIlroy returns to the Masters, there is an extra weight of history which has appeared to become a burden at times over the past 10 years.
McIlroy won four majors between 2011 and 2014 - twice at the US PGA Championship, plus The Open and US Open.
It leaves the Masters as the one he needs to become only the sixth man to complete a career grand slam.
This week, the 34-year-old Northern Irishman's game this week has not been at the levels needed to finally win at Augusta.
He carded a one-under 71 on Saturday, leaving him three over and, yet again, too far back to mount a serious challenge on Sunday.
But the world number two says his mindset will be to go out and "give it a go".
"If the conditions stay the same and you pick up four, five six shots you will get up the leaderboard. I will try to finish the week on a positive note," said McIlroy, who has earned six top-10 finishes in his pursuit of a place in golfing history.
Defending champion Jon Rahm scraped into the weekend after only beating the cut by a shot, but was also unable to shoot the low score he needed to chase down the leaders.
An uneventful round saw the 29-year-old Spaniard bogey the seventh before a birdie on the 17th ensured he signed for a level-par 72, leaving him five over for the tournament.
He said that not challenging for the title on Sunday was a "sour feeling".
"Worse case I'll be a part of the ceremony," added the LIV Golf player, who will put the Green Jacket on the eventual champion as tradition dictates.
More to follow.
