Woods struggles, Scheffler leads in Masters final round

Tiger Woods experienced his worst performance at the Masters, significantly reducing his chances of success on a tough third day at Augusta, where Scottie Scheffler leads by one stroke heading into the final round, eyeing his second green jacket.

Despite calmer conditions compared to the stormy winds on Saturday, Augusta’s challenging layout was evident, with only Collin Morikawa managing a sub-70 score — his 69 brought him to six under overall, placing him just one behind Scheffler.

Woods recorded a 10-over 82, a stark contrast to his historic 24th consecutive Masters cut made the previous day, following a grueling 23-hole Friday. He admitted the physical toll was significant, compounded by the aftermath of leg injuries from a 2021 accident. Woods noted his performance was hampered by poor shots and missed opportunities on relatively straightforward putts.

Despite this setback, the five-time Masters champion affirmed his readiness to tackle the final round, even after such a disappointing day.

Historic final rounds at the Masters are legendary, and this year’s tournament promises to be no exception with a tight leaderboard. Five players are within four strokes of the lead, each showing some vulnerability during a demanding third round.

Scheffler, the world number one and current leader at seven-under, encountered trouble with a double bogey on the 10th and a bogey on the 11th, although he managed to recover somewhat with an eagle on the 13th.

Max Homa, starting the day tied for the lead, ended in third place two strokes behind Scheffler, having failed to secure any birdies and bogeying the 12th for a 73. Bryson DeChambeau, also a leader at the day’s start, fell to fifth place with a 75, putting him four shots behind.

Scheffler described the day as notably challenging, while Homa found his round frustrating yet rewarding, given the difficult conditions. Meanwhile, Morikawa had a strong showing with a three-under 69, placing him in second, and Masters newcomer Ludvig Åberg ended three shots behind in fourth after shooting two under. No rookie has clinched the title since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.

The final round is set to begin at 9:15 a.m. ET on Sunday, with Scheffler and Morikawa as the last pair to tee off at 2:35 p.m. ET.