Irishman’s late surge increases lead to four
As Americans young, old and in their prime faded Saturday at Augusta National, the flag-coded leader board in the 75th Masters took on the look of the United Nations. In the top seven slots are players representing five different continents, none of them North America.
Heading into Sunday’s final round the leader is Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who shot a 70 to move to 12-under par. Four strokes back are Angel Cabrera (Argentina), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa), K.J. Choi (South Korea) and Jason Day (Australia). Trailing by five are Luke Donald (England) and Adam Scott (Australia).
After two days of spectacular play and bold assaults on Augusta’s iconic back nine, Saturday was all about defense as many more players tumbled down the leader board than scaled it. As a result, the exceptions — Cabrera (67), Scott (67) and Schwartzel (68) — profited.
| Leader board |
| Third round |
| At Augusta (Ga.) National |
| 7,435 yards, par 72 |
| Rory McIlroy – 65-69-70 — -12 |
| Angel Cabrera – 71-70-67 — -8 |
| C. Schwartzel – 69-71-68 — -8 |
| K.J. Choi – 67-70-71 — -8 |
| Jason Day – 72-64-72 — -8 |
| Adam Scott – 72-70-67 — -7 |
| Luke Donald – 72-68-69 — -7 |
| Greatness awaits? |
| Despite his tender years, Rory McIlroy is due. The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland has finished tied for third in three of the last five major championships. He has wins on both the European and PGA tours, but his victories (two) are dwarfed by his near misses. Already 27 times in his career, McIlroy has finished in second, third, fourth or fifth place. It’s a resume that points to conflicting conclusions — impending greatness or a failure to close. As he takes a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Masters, McIlroy faces enormous pressure as he tries to become the second player in as many years from Northern Ireland to win a major. “I feel comfortable with my game, comfortable with the way I prepared,” McIlroy told reporters. “All of a sudden, I’m finally feeling comfortable on this golf course. A combination like that, you’re going to feel pretty good and put up some good numbers.” But will he feel like that Sunday? |
“Around here, if it’s crowded, anything can happen,” Scott told reporters. “You can get on a hot stretch and pick up a lot of shots. It was still just Saturday. I was certainly playing a little more aggressive than I might if I was coming down the line on Sunday.”
But the day belonged to McIlroy, 21. He was rock solid Saturday, hitting fairways and greens and doing little spectacularly until he drilled a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 17 to take his four-stroke edge. Before that, McIlroy merely did well to avoid the pitfalls that plagued many of the contenders.
It was a difficult day for several Americans. Four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods (5 under) struggled on the greens on his way to a 74 and trails by seven, while three-time winner Phil Mickelson (3 under) failed to rally for the third straight day, shooting 71.
“I made nothing,” Woods said. “I hit the ball well all day. My [swing] wasn’t the problem.”
While 22-year-old Rickie Fowler (1 under) shot himself out of the tournament with a 76, 51-year-old Fred Couples (5 under) rescued a rough front nine with a solid back to shoot 72 but trails by seven.
Difficult pin placements led to some atrocities on and around the severely sloped greens of Augusta.
The key hole Saturday was No.?13. When Day lined up a 30-foot chip there, he was tied for the lead with McIlroy and thinking birdie. But after chili-dipping his shot, he watched it fail to clear a hump, and it rolled back to his feet. The best the 23-year-old could muster was a bogey 6. Meanwhile, McIlroy tapped in for a routine birdie to take a two-stroke lead.
One American who played well Saturday was long-hitting left-hander Bubba Watson (67). But at seven strokes back, he needs a minor miracle and a major collapse by McIlroy.
“It’s a great position to be in,” McIlroy said. “I’m really happy with the way I stuck to my game plan.”
