Masters 2014 Round 3 wrap-up
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With 15 players within five shots of the lead, this is proving to be one of the most open Masters Tournaments in history…
Seldom on the eve of the final round has the final outcome been so unpredictable. We knew that without Tiger and Phil around for the weekend, a whole bunch of new stories were going to unfold. But, with 15 players within five shots of the lead, and 23 within seven shots, the owner of the 2014 Green Jacket really is anybody’s guess.
The thing about Augusta National on Masters Sunday is shots can come and go in the twinkling of an eye. The combination of final-day Major pressure and the extraordinary back nine here, means that there will be plenty of players fancying their chances tonight.
Bubba Watson seemed to go into meltdown, halfway through his third round; but managed to cling on by his fingertips – making very good pars at the final two holes – to share the lead, despite a 74. That has to be a huge disappointment; not least because he can so easily reach all the par-5s in two.
Bubba is tied at the top with Jordan Spieth, a close friend from his Bible reading classes. Spieth is unusual in that he is at the top of the leaderboard, despite never having played here before; and we all know that can’t happen unless your name is Fuzzy.
Spieth was asked if there is an age-cap he puts on calling other players ‘Mister’. He said he always does it to people who are older than him. He was asked how he would refer to his playing partner tomorrow. “Mr Watson,” was his tongue-in-cheek reply, “because it will mess with him.”
“That’s fine by me,” was Bubba’s retort. “When I hit it past him that will be OK!”
“Tomorrow is about seeing how I can control my game and emotions out on the golf course,” said Spieth, “against guys that have even won here recently. So, they have been in a position that I haven’t; but I don’t think that that gives them an advantage in any way.”
“I’ve won one,” replied Bubba. “So I’ve got that going for me. Even if I play bad tomorrow, I still have a Green Jacket, so that’s the positive I have to go for. But we’re all going to be nervous tomorrow. We all know what it would mean to our careers, and for our status to move forward in the game. So, it’s going to be tough for everybody, not just the guys that have never won a major.”
But both Watson and Spieth must watch they don’t get drawn into a matchplay duel, because there is enough talent close behind them to catch their attention.
A shot back, Kuchar comes into this week in terrific form, having lost in a playoff six days ago, and finished 4th a week before that. And the Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, shot a 66 on Saturday, which was the best round of the Tournament. And Lee Westwood, three back, will fancy his chances of picking up his first major championship.
As always, Masters Sunday looks like being an absolute classic.
Leaderboard
-5 (211) Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth
-4 (212) Matt Kuchar, Jonas Blixt
-3 (213) Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ricky Fowler
-2 (214) Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Thomas Bjorn
-1 (215) Justin Rose, Kevin Stadler, Fred Couples, John Senden
L (216) Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter
+1 (217) Kevin Streelman, Adam Scott
+2 (218) Jason Day, Chris Kirk, Steve Stricker, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Russell Henley, Jimmy Walker
+3 (219) Rory McIlroy, Bernhard Langer, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen. Jamie Donaldson
+4 (220) Martin Kaymer, Bill Haas, Steven Bowditch, Hnter Mahan Vijay Singh
+5 (221) Jose Maria Olazabal, Darren Clarke, Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, Billy Horschel, Thongchai JaideeThorbjorn Olesen, Brendon de Jonge
+6 (222) Oliver Goss (a), Francesco Molinari, Nick Watney, K J Choi
+7 (223) Sandy Lyle, Mike Weir, Brandt Snedeker, Stephen Gallacher
+8 (224) Joost Luiten, Larry Mize
