[Masters] Scheffler's 'Unstoppable Momentum'... 'How Far Will the Rising Trend Go?'

Maintains 1-Under Par Lead by 1 Stroke in Round 3
Morikawa 2nd, An Byeonghun 9th, McIlroy 21st
Kim Siwoo 41st, Kim Juhyung and Woods Tied 52nd

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) is on a roll.

Scottie Scheffler is making a chip shot at the 1st hole of the 3rd round of the Masters. [Augusta, USA=EPA·Yonhap News]

On the 13th (local time), at Augusta National Golf Club (par 72, 7,555 yards) in Augusta, Georgia, USA, during the third round of the 88th Masters, the first major tournament of the year (total prize money $20 million), Scheffler recorded 1 eagle, 4 birdies, 3 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. He shot 1-under-par 71 to maintain a one-stroke lead (7-under-par 209). This is his chance to wear the Green Jacket for the second time since winning the Masters in 2022.

Scheffler reduced his score by one stroke in the front nine with 2 birdies and 1 bogey, but lost 2 strokes on the 10th hole (par 4) when his second shot hit the green and bounced backward. He seemed to falter further with a bogey on the 11th hole (par 4), but made an eagle with a 9.5-meter putt on the 13th hole (par 5). After exchanging a birdie on the 15th hole (par 5) for a bogey on the 17th hole, he added another birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4).

Scheffler has entered 7 tournaments this year, finishing in the top 10 six times, including 2 wins. His worst result was a tie for 17th at the American Express in January. He said, "The greens were hard and the green speed was fast, making it a very difficult round, but I am satisfied with today's performance," adding, "The final round will be even tougher than today," showing no signs of relaxing.

Collin Morikawa (USA) moved up to second place (6-under-par 210) by shooting 3 strokes under par. He has 6 PGA Tour wins and is a major champion, having won the 2020 PGA Championship and the 2021 Open Championship. Max Homa (USA) is in third place (5-under-par 211), Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) is fourth (4-under-par 212), and "The Hulk" Bryson DeChambeau (USA) is fifth (3-under-par 213).

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), who is chasing the career Grand Slam, is tied for 21st place (3-over-par 219). Tiger Woods (USA) collapsed with an 82, 10-over-par, dropping to a tie for 52nd place (11-over-par 227). He is 18 strokes behind Scheffler, making his dream of a sixth Green Jacket virtually out of reach.

From Korea, An Byeong-hun exchanged 3 birdies for 3 bogeys and is performing well in a tie for 9th place (1-under-par 215). An's best Masters finish was a tie for 33rd in 2017. Kim Si-woo is tied for 41st place (7-over-par 223), looking to climb the leaderboard. Kim Joo-hyung, who lost 5 strokes, is tied for 52nd place.