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Masters 2024 3rd Round Leaderboard |
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-7 Schaeffler (USA); -6 Morikawa (USA). -Five Homa (USA); -Four Aberg (Sweden); -3 DeChambeau (USA); -2 Heugaard (Den), Schauffele (USA), Davis (Australia) |
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Others selected:-1 Fleetwood (English); +1 Fitzpatrick (English); +3 McIlroy (NI), Zalatoris (USA), Hatton (UK), Willett (UK). +5 Laam (Spa); +11 Woods (USA) |
Collin Morikawa says he's “not scared” of chasing world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in Sunday's final round of the Masters at Augusta National.
The two-time major champion shot a 3-under 69 to move up to 6 under par and one stroke behind the leader.
Fellow American Max Homa and talented Swedish debutant Ludvig Aberg are two and three strokes behind, respectively.
“I truly believe in what I can do,” Morikawa said after a frenetic third round in Georgia.
Morikawa immediately rose to prominence when he won the 2020 PGA Championship in his second major appearance.
He backed that up by winning the British Open at Royal St. George's in 2021, but has only won once on the PGA Tour since then.
As the only player to shoot all three rounds under par so far this week, it appears he was able to unlock his game at just the right time.
He will need to be at his best on Sunday in order to thoroughly push Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player who has won two of the past three tournaments.
“We've been struggling the last few years,” Morikawa said. “I had to search, I had to find something. I haven't found it yet.” [always] It was fun, but I really enjoyed learning about the game and learning about myself.
“Scottie is the number one player in the world for a reason, and what he's accomplished is incredible.
“But that doesn't scare me. I still know my best and really believe in what I'm capable of.”
Morikawa will be in the final group with the 2022 Masters champion after Scheffler overcame a rollercoaster round of 1-under 71 (tee-off at 19:35 BST).
He chipped in for birdie on the 1st hole and holed a big birdie putt on the 3rd, but had a double bogey on the 10th and a bogey on the 11th, closing the gap to the leader by three spots.
But when he sank an eagle putt from 31 feet on the 13th, he let out an uncharacteristic roar of victory, birdied the final hole and took the lead for good Sunday.
“There was a little bit of emotion coming from me because it was an important time in the tournament,” he said. “It was good to be able to get a few RBIs back.
“The golf course was very challenging and difficult. I'm really excited.” [Sunday]. ”
For Aberg, who plays in the penultimate group, this is not only his first Masters, but also his first major tournament after only turning professional in June 2023.
He was part of the team that won the European Ryder Cup in October and will enter the final round with a three-stroke lead and looking to become the first player to win since Fuzzy Zoller in 1979.
“I think about it all the time,” he said. “Obviously I’m a competitor and I want to win tournaments.”
The 24-year-old said he had taken “calculated risks” but had “remained disciplined towards his goals” as he made plans.
“I don't think there's any need to avoid it. I try to embrace it and embrace everything that comes with it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, who was the sole first-round leader and halftime co-leader, believes he has a “good chance” to add to his 2020 U.S. Open victory and win his first Masters title.
He missed three three-putts on a rough back nine and fell from the top of the leaderboard to five paces, but he eventually holed from 77 yards for an unlikely birdie to move into fourth place. did.
“It's very difficult to chase, but we're going to do the best we can on this golf course,” he said.
“But I have to make some putts.”
There will be live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app from 20:00, with live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app starting from 18:30.
