The Masters LIVE: Leaderboard and reaction as Scottie Scheffler wins second green jacket ahead of Ludvig Aberg
The pre-tournament favourite and World No 1 coasted to a four-shot victory as his pregnant wife Merideth watched from home expecting the couple’s first child
Scottie Scheffler has won the Masters for the second time in three years after holding off the challenge of Ludvig Aberg and Max Homa to claim the green jacket by four shots at Augusta National.
Pre-tournament favourite and World No 1 Scheffler held a one-shot lead going into the final round but held his nerve on the back nine - even as a surging Aberg and Homa briefly joined him and Collin Morikawa in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
But the 27-year-old American shot three birdies in a row at the turn to pull clear, with Aberg, Homa and Morikawa all getting into trouble with double bogeys at Amen Corner. Scheffler, by contrast, coasted to victory with a near-faultless display, carding another run of three birdies in four down the stretch.
Scheffler, who won his first major at Augusta in 2022, will now return home to Texas and join his wife Merideth, who is expecting to give birth to the couple’s first child later this month. Scheffler said he would have been prepared to leave the tournament early if necessary
The 24-year-old Aberg continued his stunning rise as a professional, meanwhile, as the Swede finished second on his Masters debut. Aberg, who shone for Europe in the Ryder Cup last year, would have been the first-ever debutant victor at the Augusta were it not for Scheffler.
Follow all the reaction as Scheffler claimed his second Masters title at Augusta
Bunker magic from Woods
Woods +16 (16), Shipley +11 (16)
A bogey on the 15th from Woods but some magic from the sand at the par-3 16th, using the slope superbly to bring the ball back towards the hole and almost making a ridiculous birdie.
Shipley knocked in a mammoth birdie on the 15th but he misses out on back-to-back birdies after a great iron shot into the par 3.
Is it Scottie’s to lose?
1935: Scottie Scheffler (-7), Collin Morikawa (-6)
A birdie on the last secured Scheffler a one-shot lead heading into today and given the form he’s in, that might be all he needs. The World No.1 has looked largely unflappable through 54 holes and will be the favourite today.
Morikawa, meanwhile, has snuck up out of nowhere to be in this final pairing. The two-time major champion has endured a quiet season but after three under-par rounds is just one off the lead. Largely due to a resurgence, the American now has a chance to move within one major of winning a career grand slam.
Bogey start for McIlroy
McIlroy +4 (1), Niemann +4 (1)
Not the start either of these two would have been after. McIlroy left of the green, Neimann right - both unable to get up and down to save their par.
They’ll be hoping to bounce back at the par-5 second.
Chip-in for Willett
Willett +2 (1)
Well, that’s one way to get your round up and running. Like Scheffler, yesterday, the 2016 champion chips in from left on the first to make a birdie start to his round.
It’s worth repeating that this is the Englishman’s first tournament start since September last year due to shoulder surgery. A quite splendid return given that and the conditions he’s faced this week.
Homa playing the patient game
1925: Max Homa (-5), Ludvig Aberg (-4)
Max Homa may not have made a birdie in 32 holes but the American is still just two shots back of the lead. That tells you all you need to know about the conditions at Augusta but also his resilience and consistency thru the first three rounds.
Despite his PGA Tour success, Homa’s first major top ten came at last year’s Open. Can he now build on that and capture his first major title?
Aberg, meanwhile, is here on major debut but has shown no signs of being overawed by the emotion. The Swedish sensation delivered another solid round yesterday and will hope to use his elite ball striking to put himself into the record books.
Up and down start for Rahm
Rahm +4 (3)
A superb shot from the sand on three gives Rahm his second birdie of the day after his bogey on the par-5 second. Can he get a run going together and shoot up towards the top ten?
Rory McIlroy admits patience has been tested during disappointing Masters
Rory McIlroy will get his final round underway in about 15 minutes as he looks to mount a final-day charge to end his tournament on a positive note.
McIlroy had not given up hope of challenging for a green jacket despite a birdie-free 77 in extremely testing conditions on Friday leaving him 10 shots off the lead.
The world number two noted that he won the Dubai Desert Classic in January from the same position - albeit while acknowledging the different stature of the events - but could only return a third round of 71 on Saturday to remain well off the pace on three over par.
Here’s what he had to say after Saturday’s round:
Rory McIlroy admits patience has been tested during disappointing Masters
The Northern Irishman shot an improved 71 on Saturday but an Augusta triumph appears certain to continue to elude him
Round of the day from Kim
Kim +6 (12)
There’s a decent amount of red on the board from the early starters but nothing better than Tom Kim who is five under par for his round after three successive birdies on Amen Corner. Impressive stuff.
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Can DeChambeau build on magical Saturday ending?
1915: Bryson DeChambeau (-3), Xander Schauffele (-2)
Bryson had fallen away from the lead after a disastrous back nine yesterday, including a terrible fluffed chip on the 15th. But the American delivered a shot of adrenaline to his tournament hopes after an unbelievable hole out from the fairway for birdie on the 18th hole. He’s four back but don’t count the ‘Mad Scientist’ out yet.
Xander Schauffele went about his business superbly yesterday with 16 pars and 2 birdies. His uber-consistency has kept him in the hunt but he’ll need a dynamite Sunday to chase down Scheffler.
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