Perfect weather made for as near perfect conditions as we’ve ever seen at The Masters during Saturday’s third round. Luckily for the remaining field the rain held off at least for the day. Championship Sunday will be a different story as tee times have already been adjusted to start earlier, go off on both the 1st and 10th tees and be set in threesomes.
Records were challenged throughout the day at Augusta National as for the first time in tournament history four players shot 8-under rounds of 64 on the same day. One of those men was 29-year old Tony Finau who currently sits as one of the three co-leaders at 11-under par. In his sophomore outing at Augusta Finau also tied to course record with a 30 on the front nine.
Joining Finau in the final pairing Sunday also at 11-under will be the four-time Masters winner Tiger Woods. However, despite stellar play by both challengers they’ll both be chasing the two-stroke leader Francesco Molinari. The 2018 Open champion quietly rose up the leaderboard and into sole possession of the lead thanks to four straight birdies on the back nine. Last Word on Golf has your top highlights and Masters moments from Saturday’s third round at Augusta National.
Finau catches fire
Making just his second Masters start, Tony Finau showed that he can be a true contender no matter the course. After starting his third round with four birdies over the first seven holes Finau nearly holed his 261-yard approach shot for an albatross. An eight-inch tap in would give him an easy eagle and a 6-under start for his round.
From 261 yards, @tonyfinaugolf hits his second shot on to 8 inches for an eagle on No. 8 that gives him the solo lead at 9-under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/XKv0uUncZF
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Already on a tear Saturday, Finau stepped up to the par-5 13th on a mission. With still 11-feet to navigate he sent the putt home for his fifth birdie of the day to move into the early solo lead at 10-under.
Five birdies and an eagle brings @TonyFinauGolf to 10 under par and the solo lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/jVeJsEt1hL
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
It’s been said the secret to winning at Augusta National is successfully scoring on the par-5’s. Finau did just that Saturday going 5-under across the four par-5’s including a birdie at the 530-yard 15th.
Six birdies and an eagle.
The lead is now two strokes for @TonyFinauGolf.#themasters pic.twitter.com/ogXohbZhTC
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Woods continues to turn back the clocks
Seeking his first major championship since 2008, and his first green jacket since 2005, Tiger Woods continued to ignite the gallery once again Saturday. Following an unfortunate bogey at the 5th hole, Woods fired back at the par-3 6th for birdie to get back to 6-under. Just one hole later a spot on approach would lead to the second of three straight birdies for the 14-time major champion.
Tiger Woods is heating up.#themasters pic.twitter.com/5XqxvwQbXE
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
On the heels of four straight pars Woods woke the crowd up once again as he rounded Amen Corner with his fourth birdie of the day.
A Tiger Woods roar at Amen Corner echoes through Augusta National. pic.twitter.com/uwp4mcU5Wm
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Few moments at The Masters elicit the overwhelming roar of the gallery like a lead tying putt by Tiger Woods. That was exactly what he heard with back to back birdies at 15 and 16 to get to 11-under.
Tiger Woods is tied for the lead at #themasters pic.twitter.com/dC2JEODVSC
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Saturdays other top shots around Augusta
Francesco Molinari’s stealth like precision around the course often flies under the radar until it’s too late. The Italian did exactly that Saturday at Augusta as all eyes were focused on Woods and his crowd roaring run. Molinari quietly made four straight birdies beginning from 12 through 15 to propel himself into a two-stroke lead.
Three birdies in a row gives @F_Molinari a one-stroke lead going to the par 5 No. 15. pic.twitter.com/jULkWfVXnt
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Perennial PGA Tour fan favorite Rickie Fowler has yet to make the big push for the lead but has kept himself in contention thanks to shots like his chip-in eagle at 13 on Saturday.
Eagle on No. 13.
At seven under par, @RickieFowler pulls within two of the lead. pic.twitter.com/Vt04QKUQEA
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Saturday may not have been the picture perfect round for Brooks Koepka after capturing a share of the lead over both Thursday and Friday. But an eagle at the par-5 15th helped spark the three-time major winner down the stretch.
.@BKoepka leaps to ten under par with an eagle at No. 15 #themasters pic.twitter.com/Y3d8X5vfhO
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Making a steady run Saturday with a 5-under round of 67, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson drained his 45-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th.
A 45-foot birdie putt on No. 16 for @henrikstenson brings the Swede to two under par for tournament and four under par for the day. #themasters pic.twitter.com/AXBEO5cOt5
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
Despite a less than ideal Masters campaign in 2019, Rory McIlroy has refused to go quietly especially after confidently finishing his par-5’s Saturday at 15 for eagle.
Eagles are flying on No. 15. @McIlroyRory converts a nine-foot putt for three on the final par 5 of the course. #themasters pic.twitter.com/WsFz5NcbaH
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2019
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