Moving day at The Masters was filled with compelling storylines, with many of golf’s biggest names lurking near the top of the leaderboard. Several of the game’s superstars—Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and others—all capitalized on relatively benign and rainy conditions to fire at Augusta’s tricky pins and put themselves in an excellent position for Sunday. They’ll be trying to chase down Patrick Reed, who in turn is trying to win his first major, always a challenge when the roars of Augusta reverberate through the property.
Who Made Big Moves?
Patrick Reed
An impressive round, especially considering how hard it is to win your first major. Having local knowledge (Reed played at Augusta State), during the third round he demonstrated he can dominate Augusta like few others in the field, especially after making eagles on the 13th and 15th holes. Reed closed the day at 14-under, three shots ahead of Rory McIlroy. If he doesn’t make any missteps, a major championship might be within reach.
Rory McIlroy
Attempting to complete the Grand Slam of golf’s majors, McIlroy had a stunning front nine, making three birdies and an eagle, finishing with a three on 18 to card a 7-under 65. He’ll start a few shots behind Reed, but if anyone has the power to overwhelm Augusta, it is the Irishman. The two will play together in the final group.
Rickie Fowler
Fowler played arguably the best front nine of the week, making a 25-foot putt for eagle on the par 5 second. He finished the front nine at 5-under par, with three birdies and an eagle, closing the third round with a 65, and 9-under for the week.
Jon Rahm
A bogey-free round with five birdies and an eagle vaulted Rahm back into the mix at Augusta. Attempting to become the second-straight Spaniard to win the Masters (following Sergio Garcia’s win last year), Rahm finished the day at 8-under par.
Tommy Fleetwood
The Englishman, playing with Adam Hadwin went on an incredible run on the back nine, making five consecutive birdies on the back nine to roar up the leaderboard. Fleetwood might be too far back at 6-under, but if Reed stumbles, anything is possible.
Bubba Watson
Attempting to win his third Masters, Watson’s third round was hardly sparkling, but the big hitter remains a birdie machine, and knows Augusta as well as anyone. Watson finished the day at 4-under par in tie for 6th-place.
Others To Keep an Eye on Sunday
Adam Hadwin
Hadwin’s double bogey finish to end the second round seemed to linger into the third round. The only Canadian to make the cut, Hadwin opened his third round with yet another double, before recovering to make a birdie on the second hole. He made consecutive birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to pull even through nine. Hadwin rattled off seven straight pars before making birdie on the 15th hole to finish at even par on the day and even for the tournament. He sits tied in 21st.
Tiger Woods
For Tiger Woods, the 2018 Masters had none of the drama many had anticipated. The third round was more of the same—with Woods struggling right out of the gate.
“Again, I got off to a poor start,” Woods said after his round, finishing the day at even and 4-over par for the tournament.
Woods bogeyed both of the opening holes, with his approach on both the first and second holes finding greenside bunkers. Woods couldn’t get up and down on either hole. He’d recover to hit a tight iron on the par 3 6th hole, and a classy lob into the par 5 8th hole, making birdie in both instances. However, Woods didn’t dominate the par 5s the way he has at Augusta in the past, and made his final biride on the par 3 16th.
What would make Sunday a success? Woods is hopeful he can have a successful final round to at least take something positive away from the week.
“I’d like to get back to even par,” Woods said. “I just need to give myself more opportunities.”