No.1 has drop on his foes
Scheffler leads Masters
Another contentious ruling propelled world No.1 Scottie Scheffler to the outright lead on a manic moving day at the Masters.
Scheffler was awarded a free drop at hole No.3 after pulling his tee shot left and deep into the pine trees.
Using every inch of his twoclub-lengths relief because an immovable leaderboard was deemed to be obstructing his line, the American placed his ball and found a gap to punch his wedge onto the green – and then drained a 34-foot birdie putt.
Scheffler (-7) cashed in on a similar drop on the penultimate day two years ago on his way to a first green jacket.
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa was Augusta’s biggest mover with a threeunder 69 and will play alongside Scheffler in Sunday’s final pairing.
Cameron Davis (73) is the best-placed of the five Australians, five shots off the pace.
Fellow Aussie Cameron Smith made a costly bogey at the final hole to card an even par 72 – but gives himself a fighting chance.
“I think I’m still in the golf tournament,” Smith said.
“The way that the golf course is playing, I feel really confident with my ball striking, probably the best I’ve felt in a while.
“It’s only one or two their way and one or two my way, and it’s really close. Just gotta keep grinding it out.”
But Smith said attacking pins on Sunday was not the answer. “I mean, you can’t at the moment,” he said.
“If you start playing the golf course that way, I can see where that heads.
“I’ve been down that road before. I’d like to think I’m a pretty smart golfer. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, hitting it to 15, 20 feet, and hopefully they go in tomorrow.”
Rising Swedish star Ludvig Aberg (70) – playing in his first major – and American Max Homa are four under for the tournament, while Bryson DeChambeau (-3) made a miraculous hole out from the 18th fairway to keep his dreams alive.
Tiger Woods, fresh off a 24th-straight cut at Augusta, tumbled out of contention after a disastrous 82 – his worst ever round at the Masters.
Davis said: “I hung in there quite well.
“It was playing tough, but I feel pretty proud walking away with one-over after a few, it felt like, disasters while I was out there.
“I’m giving it everything I’ve got.”
Adam Scott (+4 for the tournament) fired six birdies and survived a triple bogey in an impressive round of 70.
But compatriots Jason Day (76) and Min Woo Lee (75) both battled.