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
Masters TV channel: How to watch golf major at Augusta
The best golfers in the world descend on Augusta for The Masters, the first men’s major of the year.
12 months on from pulling on the famous green jacket, Jon Rahm returns to defend his title with intrigue added by his blockbuster defection to the breakaway LIV Golf series.
Negotiations continue between the PGA Tour and LIV’s Saudi Arabian backers over a possible partnership but for now all eyes will be on the course as Rahm and his fellow rebels take on those who have remained on Tour.
They include 2022 winner Scottie Scheffler, the dominant player in men’s golf this year and the favourite for victory.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Masters TV channel: How to watch golf major at Augusta
Everything you need to know ahead of the first major of the year
Tiger Woods suffers unwanted Masters milestone in third round
A day after setting a tournament record in The Masters, Tiger Woods suffered an unwanted milestone at Augusta National.
Woods insisted he could challenge for a 16th major title after playing 23 holes on Friday to make a record 24th consecutive cut, but slumped to a third round of 82 instead.
The 48-year-old’s previous worst scores both came in 2022, when he shot 78 in both the third and fourth rounds.
Woods followed a bogey on the fourth with a superb birdie on the difficult fifth, but then bogeyed the sixth and ran up a double bogey on the seventh.
The 15-time major winner also made a double bogey on the par-five eighth for the first time in his career and dropped another shot on the ninth in a front nine of 42.
Tiger Woods suffers unwanted Masters milestone in third round
The 48-year-old’s previous worst scores both came in 2022, when he shot 78 in both the third and fourth rounds.
Masters tee times: Round 4 groups and schedule
We’ve reached the final day at the Masters and Scottie Scheffler, world No.1 and current leader, will be paired with Collin Morikawa when they head out on Sunday evening for one final round.
The American is looking for his second green jacket at Augusta National, following his triumph in 2022, and currently has a one-shot lead over his final-day partner. Max Homa is a further shot back on five under ahead of Sunday’s action, with Swedish debutant Ludvig Aberg still in the running on four under.
Rory McIlroy was one of those to suffer disappointment before the weekend and couldn’t haul himself back among the contenders after a one-under round on Saturday left him T21, while Tiger Woods made a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut at the tournament, only to then suffer a torrid day yesterday, clocking a round of ten over.
Woods will be with amateur Neal Shipley for Sunday’s final round, while Cameron Davis and Nicolai Hojgaard are also paired for the final day.
Here’s the full list of tee times ahead of the fourth round of the Masters.
Scottie Scheffler takes one-shot lead into final round of Masters
World number one Scottie Scheffler will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Masters after a rollercoaster third day at Augusta National.
Bidding to win a second Masters title in three years, Scheffler carded a third round of 71 to finish seven under par, a shot ahead of fellow American Collin Morikawa, whose 69 was one of just two sub-70 scores on Saturday.
Max Homa is two shots off the lead after a 73 containing 17 pars and one bogey, with Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg a shot further back, the 24-year-old having only turned professional 10 months ago.
Aberg and Ryder Cup team-mate Nicolai Hojgaard both have the chance of becoming the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win on their Masters debut, with Hojgaard briefly holding the outright lead following a hat-trick of birdies from the eighth.
But Hojgaard then bogeyed the next five holes and will start the final round five shots off the pace.
Masters 2024 prize money: How much does the winner get?
The Masters is back as the best golfers in the world return to Augusta for the first men’s major of the year.
Jon Rahm is the defending champion and will bid to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back titles.
Rory McIlroy resumes his quest to win his first Masters title and complete the elusive career slam, while World No 1 Scottie Scheffler comes into the tournament as the favourite.
Scheffler was the Masters champion in 2022, joining an illustrious list of golfing greats to have won the green jacket.
But the Masters has also produced its fair share of unlikely winners - who are guaranteed life entry for the tournament if they claim victory.
See the Masters prize money here.
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