So we gathered our experts to measure if Scheffler could be caught. In addition, after a rough third round, we check in at Tiger Woods and what to expect from another walk and relax around the place on Sunday.
Can anyone catch Scottie Scheffler?
Mark Schlabach: Probably not. See his second shot on Saturday the 18th, after he had to drop for an unplayed lie. Scheffler has never won a major league title, but he is fearless and plays better than anyone right now. He was a bit shaky at the end of the second nine on Saturday, but still left with a 3-year lead. I think Scheffler plays too well to waste it. There will be a lot of pressure on him in the second nine on Sunday. The Texan has been on a heater for almost two months that few golfers have ever experienced, and will likely top it off with winning his first major and a green jacket. Michael Collins: No. Too much must go wrong for him and too much must go right for others to catch him. Not only would Scottie need to make mistakes, he would also need someone to play almost perfectly. No one will. David Cannon / Getty Images Nick Pietruszkiewicz: When he left the 13th green, I would say there is no case. When he made a fuss at No. 14, I would say probably not. But dad in par-5 15th and he in the latter make this thing interesting. It is no longer a Sunday coronation. Will he still win? I still believe it, but it was not the preliminary conclusion, it seemed to be when he left the Amen Corner on Saturday. Tom VanHaaren: Scheffler is the fifth No. 1 player in the world to maintain a 54-hole Masters lead. Greg Norman is the only player in this statistic who did not win when Norman took a 6-point lead in 1996. Scheffler dropped a little in the back nine on Saturday, but does not seem likely to lose given the way he is. played all week.
If so, who?
Schlabach: Again, I’m surprised if someone catches him, but I like Cameron Smith’s chances more than anyone else. He shot a 4-under 68 in the first and third rounds. The Australian has not won a major league title yet, but came out on top in the Players’ Championship, which is as big as any tournament out there (especially when it comes to wallet). They will be in the last pair together, and if Smith can put some early birds in his score, he can at least put pressure on Scheffler. Collins: Nobody. Pietruszkiewicz: Smith has 3 shots behind and Sungjae Im 5 behind. So he is in the ball game. The one I would not rule out yet is Shane Lowry. The seven shots in the hole are many, but crazy things happen around these places when the leaders return home in the second nine. So, yes, Lowry has one more chance. But the best choice is Smith. 2 About VanHaaren: Smith has shot 68 twice this week, so it does not seem entirely acceptable that he can at least challenge it. The 74 he shot between those two laps of 68 is where he worries, but given how difficult the course was, he’s right. Smith now has nine career rounds in the 1960s at Augusta, which breaks the tie more than any player in the last five Masters. So if there’s one person Scheffler doesn’t want to chase right now, it’s probably Smith.
What hole does Scheffler have to survive to get a green jacket?
Schlabach: Are they the first few holes? Scheffler scored No. 1 and No. 3 in the second round on Friday. If he stumbles early and Smith manages to put in red numbers, things can get interesting. But Scheffler is so good around the green and his player was hot, so I’ll be surprised if he does not close the deal. Make your choices and compete for a chance to win $ 5,000! Make your choices Collins: Nos. 11 and 12. Spend two-thirds of the Amen Corner even better and they can start sewing a new green jacket. Pietruszkiewicz: It is 12. It is always 12. Find dry. If the first one enters Rae’s Creek, there is no guarantee that the next one – and the next one – will not follow. VanHaaren: I agree with Mark that he probably goes through the first holes, but it also depends on how close he is to the back nine. He has played 14th in 1 over and 18th in 1 during this week, so if he is close to 14 or 18, maybe that comes to mind throughout.
What do you expect from Tiger Woods’s last fight in this Masters?
Schlabach: Tiger did not look very good after the third round. He admitted that his back was tight in the cold and he seemed to have a much stronger lameness after playing at 18 on Saturday. I do not think he will retire. I think he has too much pride and is too competitive not to end the tournament. I also think he will have a lot of motivation to fix the ship after a 6-over 78 on Saturday, his worst score in 93 career laps at Augusta National. He drove the ball well and was quite good with his irons. It was just a horrible attitude. I think it will be better on Sunday. Michael Collins returns for a brand new season of America’s Caddie. It will take you to the world of golf with exclusive appearances at some of the top golf courses, stories, celebrity guests and interviews with the biggest golf stars. Streaming to ESPN + Collins: I expect Tiger to shoot around 75. I can not imagine the exhaustion he must feel. I say that because you can not create adrenaline. Every day he had to face an accident for which he could not prepare. Sunday will have to do with finding out how far he is from the final strength he will need to win again. Pietruszkiewicz: Survival. Just spend the day. The pain really showed up until Saturday. So, with the weather expected to warm up, he should enjoy a walk in Augusta National and enjoy the achievement and hard work that led him from where he was 14 months ago to where he will be on Sunday afternoon. VanHaaren: I have to imagine he’s been approaching him all week if he hasn’t already caught him. I did not know what to expect to come, given the fact that she is 46 years old, has multiple injuries and surgeries and this is Augusta with hills everywhere. I confess that I was a little optimistic after 71 of the first round, but since then the scores have risen gradually. I know it’s a competitor, but when the body slows down, it slows down.
Which player was the biggest surprise this week?
Schlabach: They must be former champions Danny Willett or Charl Schwartzel, right? Willett had missed the Masters cut in four of his last five starts. He has not finished in the top-20 on tour since he tied for 18th place in the RBC Classic in March 2021. But he is eighth after 54 holes. Schwartzel is ranked No. 172 in the world and has lost the cut seven times in nine touring starts this season. It is a draw for fourth place, but it will probably not be a very important factor on Sunday. However, their performances this week were completely unexpected. Collins: Schwartzel. This guy has lost his last six cuts in a row! There may be many golfers who have used the term “I am close”. But if Charl were to use it, the answer would be, “In what? The car on Friday?” Pietruszkiewicz: I do not like to agree, mostly from the beginning, but Schwartzel had no job being in the last group on Saturday, given the way he played the months and weeks before that. And it hit the whole galaxy on Saturday, but it still has a reasonable score and stays in the mix – something like that. VanHaaren: I agree with Schwartzel. I did not see it coming. Maybe I should not be surprised anymore, but Cam Smith has surprised me too. It just keeps appearing at the top of the leaderboards and has not stumbled. Cam Smith now has nine career rounds in the 1960s in Augusta. Maybe he’s the only one who can catch Scottie Scheffler. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
What was the biggest disappointment?
Schlabach: Choose: Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele or Bryson DeChambeau. Everyone lost the cut. At least DeChambeau is injured. Spieth is probably the biggest concern because his game seems out of place again. The 12th hole in Augusta National still haunts him. Collins: Koepka. For a guy who was not injured, he definitely played like someone he was. Pietruszkiewicz: Rory McIlroy. Sure, he could go out and shoot 67 or better on Sunday and get into the back-to-back top-5, but he never played a role in that tournament. And it seems that this is still happening here. Maybe the place is in his head and he will never leave. But it remains amazing that he keeps coming here and can not do a run. VanHaaren: I know DeChambeau has not played a single ton, but he was defeated by 63-year-old Larry Mize this week. I will relax DeChambeau a bit if he is still dealing with his injury. I was also surprised by Koepka’s performance. I thought this might be a week that we will see him break out again in a big. He had four finishes in the top-10 in 2021 in major categories and has now lost the cut six times this season.
