Tiger Woods makes unwanted Masters history while Scheffler edges into lead

This was a day when Tiger Woods made unwanted history. This was a day when Scottie Scheffler showed – only briefly – his fallibility. This was a day when Ludvig Åberg provided the final look at golf’s exciting future. It is a shame that this Masters, already one for all ages, has to be closed.

Woods entered the record books on Friday after becoming the first player to successfully negotiate 24 Masters cuts in a row. True to form, the 48-year-old made bold predictions about the challenge for the Green Jacket. We should probably know better by now than to fall under Woods’ spell. Father Time is not defeated by anyone. A poor first nine of 42 was his worst at Augusta National. Things didn’t get much better after that. Woods scored an 82, his worst Masters round with four. Both 78s came in 2022; Woods’ pattern is now undoubtedly one of general decline. When he took the stage for post-round media duties — and to his complete credit, he did — Woods looked emotionally and physically exhausted.

“I didn’t have a very good warm-up and I held it all day today,” Woods said. “I just hit the ball in all the places I know not to hit it. And I missed a lot of putts. Easy, makeable putts. I missed a lot.

“I didn’t participate or play much. I made a putt on the 5th, promptly three-putted on the 6th and chipped in on the 7th. I just got it the wrong way and when I had the chance to turn it around, I didn’t.

Woods insisted there was no prospect of withdrawing from the Masters before round four. “My team will prepare me,” he said. At some point, probably soon, he’ll have to wonder if it’s all worth it. His 100th Masters round will take place on Sunday. There’s no fun to be had in watching him stumble and stumble like this in a venue where he once dominated.

He cut a forlorn figure as the actual tournament raged on in the background. Scheffler, the unflappable Scheffler, surprisingly offered hope to the field with a messy double bogey on the 10th. He proceeded to drop another shot on the 11th. At 5:30 PM local time, Åberg joined the Masters lead for the first time with a birdie on the 13th. It seemed astonishing to think that this was the Swede’s first major appearance. A Scandinavian attack on Augusta had seen Nicolai Højgaard move Scheffler level at the top of the standings. Højgaard painfully made four shots in a row from the 11th tee.

Åberg would also stumble. The 15th offers opportunities. Instead, Europe’s rising star streaked across the green and dropped a shot. He had done the same thing a hole earlier. Åberg remains firmly in the Masters hunt, but will have to come from behind. A 70 put him at minus four.

Scheffler seemed angry that rumors of his death were being whispered. He hit an early 30-foot putt on the 13th to regain a share of the lead at six under par. Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa was now next to him. Scheffler was able to make himself clear by converting for birdie on the 15th. Another, on the last, corrected a mistake on the 17th. Scheffler’s minus seven leads to Morikawa’s minus six after 54 holes. The number 1 in the world signed for a 71.

It would be a foolish endeavor to pick the champion from this fight. Max Homa is five under.

Bryson DeChambeau, a key player for three days, was in a state of panic before teeing off from the 18th fairway and 80 yards for birdie. His tee shot found woods. DeChambeau closed at three under. Watch out Xander Schauffele, one shot further back.

Rory McIlroy will have to wait at least another year to complete the career grand slam. Damage to McIlroy was done during a second round of 77. He was in better form during Saturday’s 71, but Georgia’s problems appear much more technical for McIlroy this time than psychological. In short, he’s not playing particularly well. This has been a theme throughout 2024.

“All I can do is come here and do my best,” McIlroy said. “That’s what I do every time I show up. Some years it’s better than others. I just have to keep showing up and trying to do the right thing. I want to go out and end on a positive note.” Taylor Swift was rumored to be making an appearance in Augusta on Saturday. Ultimately, there was no sighting of the pop icon, but the Masters leaves an annoying blank space on McIlroy’s otherwise illustrious resume.

Jon Rahm, like McIlroy, is playing for places. The 2023 champion is five over after a 72. Rahm has paid tribute to his compatriot José María Olazábal, who made the cut some 25 years after the second of his Masters victories. “He loves this game,” said Rahm of Olazábal. “Why else would he still be here competing and grinding around there. At his age that’s unbelievable. There are a lot of those great players who keep fighting when they don’t really have to, just because they love it so much.” It’s certainly impossible not to be fascinated by this.