Scottie Scheffler–the world’s #1 pro golfer for the past nearly two years and the Masters winner in 2022–shot a one-under par 71 today to take the lead by one stroke over two-time major winner Collin Morikawa in the Masters Tournament with one round to go.
After the leaders completed the front nine, five players were tied for first place at six-under par for the tournament. That made for a lot of excitement. Scheffler was one of them. But then on the par-four 10th hole, which begins the famous Amen Corner, he overshot the green to make a double bogey. Then, on the dogleg par-five 13th hole, he got revenge from baptizing his ball in the creek there yesterday by holing a big breaking putt for an eagle to get back even with the leaders. He made a ten-foot birdie putt on the par-four 18th hole to retake the sole lead.
On the front nine, Bryson DeChambeau had been one of those players tied for the lead. But on the back nine he ran into trouble to fall three or four strokes behind the leaders. Then, he hit a lengthy wedge shot on the final hole for his third shot. The ball spun back and dived into the cup for DeChambeau to finish four strokes behind Scheffler. Sometimes, Bryson looks to me like he’s been in the gym lifting weights too much, since he looks like he’s swinging a sledge hammer instead of a golf club.
That’s not true of Collin Morikawa. His efficient golf swing works really well on tough golf courses like Augusta National Golf Club. His iron game escaped him last year, but it seems to be right on target this week. He will be paired in the last twosome tomorrow with Scottie Scheffler, who is by far the best iron player in the world.
Sweet swinging Max Homa is in third place at five under par, and the young upstart Ludvig Åberg is in fourth place at four under par. Aberg is z rookie from Sweden, and he is really impressive.
With several great players in the hunt, it should be another fantastic Masters Sunday tomorrow, where there may be more pressure to perform in golf than any other place in the world.
[Highly-respected Scottie Scheffler is a Christian who likes to share is faith publicly. He is also a prominent member of the PGA Tour Bible Study that meets at every Tour tournament for the players.]
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