health much love and support. Good luck to the players today!</p>— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1645032270414114818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote>","url":"https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/1645032270414114818","id":"1645032270414114818","hasMedia":false,"role":"inline","isThirdPartyTracking":false,"source":"Twitter","elementId":"a0793e07-d12e-4e6c-bc14-11da87058746"},"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement","media":"allImages":["index":0,"fields":"height":"5184","width":"8640","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/8640.jpg","index":1,"fields":"isMaster":"true","height":"5184","width":"8640","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg","index":2,"fields":"height":"1200","width":"2000","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/2000.jpg","index":3,"fields":"height":"600","width":"1000","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/1000.jpg","index":4,"fields":"height":"300","width":"500","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/500.jpg","index":5,"fields":"height":"84","width":"140","mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/140.jpg"],"data":"alt":"Tiger Woods watches on the 13th hole before withdrawing.","caption":"Tiger Woods watches on the 13th hole before withdrawing.","credit":"Photograph: Matt Slocum/AP","displayCredit":true,"role":"inline","imageSources":["weighting":"inline","srcSet":["src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=547056f451b1900abfbc522e25646b0f","width":620,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=882873b5e1347c72b2739bf265d73a87","width":1240,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=00144f8be8333222e5556d60ca4d8ca7","width":605,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=179f6ff2b64e7cdc6b611805bf817484","width":1210,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c98e269e98edb5ba179049836b4c7699","width":445,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0f1e01320524f4ab9548f110f56bdf2c","width":890],"weighting":"thumbnail","srcSet":["src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=953bad0f9cfdb413819e0d97eac19b89","width":140,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=03b2a995a98cf7b9955f00712af5f3b9","width":280,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1e9351f0d9e3d4dd3da1227552471b23","width":120,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b457bf88f318cdf727daf70dbb7e8060","width":240],"weighting":"supporting","srcSet":["src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=81b2d02cb373f94ebf1db88317b0fa86","width":380,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8d016b1f0196771131e00c412420583d","width":760,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6a5565ae4305e0778173a61063cc311f","width":300,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=c75a1f54c530651054e1505397246243","width":600,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=547056f451b1900abfbc522e25646b0f","width":620,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=882873b5e1347c72b2739bf265d73a87","width":1240,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=00144f8be8333222e5556d60ca4d8ca7","width":605,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=179f6ff2b64e7cdc6b611805bf817484","width":1210,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c98e269e98edb5ba179049836b4c7699","width":445,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0f1e01320524f4ab9548f110f56bdf2c","width":890],"weighting":"showcase","srcSet":["src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e1caacecd53745253d020505a02a413c","width":860,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6c75d7421381acc1f498d2cfc46b89bd","width":1720,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=392e4dd2768564af6ee868f25cee595c","width":780,"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30c51a5af4f014f403fdc9549debee85e425d234/0_288_8640_5184/master/8640.jpg?width=780&quality=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Woods withdraws from Masters with injury before third round resumes","prefix":"Related: ","role":"thumbnail","elementId":"b1d9458f-e2df-44c0-a410-de994d7d9c96"],"attributes":"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false,"blockCreatedOn":1681043435000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"08.30 EDT","blockLastUpdated":1681066300000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.51 EDT","blockFirstPublished":1681043696000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"08.34 EDT","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"08.34","title":"Tiger withdraws","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Sun 9 Apr 2023 15.08 EDT","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Sun 9 Apr 2023 08.15 EDT"},"id":"643161b38f08495ac86ca4ec","elements":["_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p><strong>Good morning Augusta National! </strong>Yesterday the heavens opened and this happened …</p>","elementId":"de606147-eb7c-4c13-9999-7bdff0c0fed6","_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2023/apr/08/the-masters-2023-second-and-third-round-live","text":"The Masters: third round suspended for day – as it happened","prefix":"Related: ","role":"thumbnail","elementId":"a1912007-b0d7-4621-b562-0d61872b4ef2","_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p>… and now a Homeric, but hopefully dry, super Sunday awaits us. The third round resumes at 8.30am local time (1.30pm BST) with the final round expected to begin at 12.30pm local (5.30pm BST). We’ll get going the minute the players do. In the meantime, here’s how the top of the leader board looked when the hooter went last night …</p>","elementId":"aec8f1bb-fab3-4ef4-bc97-0244b949bae5","_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"<p><em>-13: Koepka (6)<br>-9: Rahm (6)<br>-6: Bennett -a- (6)<br>-5: Cantlay (13), Fitzpatrick (11), Morikawa (7), Hovland (7)<br>-4: Rose (9), Henley (9), Mickelson (9), Niemann (9), Young (8), Day (7)<br>-3: Scheffler (12*), Fox (11), Woodland (9)<br>-2: Schauffele (12), Matsuyama (11), Reed (10), Lowry (9), Burns (9), Spieth (8)</em></p>","elementId":"531c64af-978d-43ba-8a42-0c49a5c8e0d9"],"attributes":"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false,"blockCreatedOn":1681042500000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"08.15 EDT","blockLastUpdated":1681041113000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"07.51 EDT","blockFirstPublished":1681042500000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"08.15 EDT","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"08.15","title":"Preamble","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Sun 9 Apr 2023 15.08 EDT","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Sun 9 Apr 2023 08.15 EDT"],"filterKeyEvents":false,"format":"display":0,"theme":2,"design":10,"id":"key-events-carousel-mobile"}">
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There’s only one problem with the putts left by Cantlay and Hovland: a huge 90-degree left-to-right turn halfway to the hole. Hovland gets his to six feet, but he pushes his birdie putt right and has to make do with par. He’s -8. Cantlay’s effort is much better, and he’s able to tap his second one in for a birdie that cancels out that opening bogey. He returns to -6. Meanwhile birdie for Xander Schauffele at the par-three 4th, reward for knocking his tee shot to four feet; he’s -4.
Cantlay and Hovland take turns to whistle fine seconds into the par-five 2nd. Had the course not taken on so much water over the last couple of days, both shots would have rolled out in Louis Oosthuizen albatross style. But it has, and they don’t. Still, they’ll have good looks at eagle, and more realistically will take two careful putts for birdie. Back on the tee, Koepka crashes a monster down the middle, but Rahm sends his drive bobbling towards trees on the right.
The early pace of play is a wee bit slow. Hovland and Cantlay have only just crashed their drives down 2. Up on the green, Henley screws his wedge to a couple of feet and holes out for a birdie that brings him up to -6. That leaves Koepka and Rahm sitting together on a wooden bench by the 2nd tee. They’re having a laugh and a chat. So much for the big PGA-LIV rivalry. You could Photoshop in some tinnies and a couple of propped-up fishing rods, and that’s two pals out enjoying the spring sunshine on Easter Sunday.
Updated at 15.02 EDT
Sahith Theegala keeps on keepin’ on! He curls in a 40-foot right-to-left swinger on 10 for a birdie that negates his first dropped shot of the day, a bogey at 9. He’s -4 for both round and tournament. Meanwhile birdie for Collin Morikawa, who joins the group at -5 in a tie for fourth behind the leading trio.
Rahm bumps his chip up from the right of 1. It’s an aggressive effort that nearly pays a birdie dividend, but instead of dropping, the ball skates the left-hand lip before rolling eight feet past. Over to Koepka, who lags up from 60 feet to a couple. He’ll make par. So it’s back to Rahm, whose eyes will have lit up when watching Koepka’s tee shot sail off over the trees, but now needs to make a right-to-left curler to stay in touch. In it goes. A big putt. He made a fair few of those this morning; well, there’s another.
-11: Koepka (1)
-9: Rahm (1)
-8: Hovland (1)
Koepka is so far wide left, and so far back on the 9th fairway, that he can send a 5-iron over the trees between the holes. He takes advantage of his good fortune to find the left-hand portion of the green. Rahm meanwhile shoves his approach into the swale to the right of the green. And up on 6, Cam Young comes up short of the green at the par-three, then leaves his chip six feet shy. But he nails the putt to remain at -5.
The final match of the 2023 Masters takes to the course. Brooks Koepka plumps for a 3-wood for safety … and sends a huge hook onto the 9th fairway! That’s an appalling, nerve-addled start. He pulled quite a few to the left earlier today; he’ll need to fix that and quick. Jon Rahm, encouraged right at the get-go, whips his tee shot down the right-hand side of the fairway. Meanwhile up on the green, Viktor Hovland steers in his right-to-left slider for a brilliant par save – that medicine he took in the trees seems oh-so sensible now – but Patrick Cantlay, having come up short with his second, starts with a bogey. Throw in birdie for Cameron Young at 4, and the early fourth-round leader board looks like this:
-11: Koepka
-9: Rahm
-8: Hovland (1)
-5: Young (5), Woodland (4), Henley (1), Cantlay (1)
Viktor Hovland likes a swashbuckling shot, but isn’t taking any risks so early in his round while in contention on Masters Sunday. He punches conservatively – sensibly – through the biggest gap trees and back onto the fairway. He then fires his third straight at the flag, only for the spin to take him back 20 feet. He’ll have some work for par.
The 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland opened with birdie. Now he makes another at 3, deserved reward for bumping a clever pitch up the bank, using the camber of the green to gather his ball, right to left, towards the hole. A couple of feet away. In goes the putt, and he moves to -5. He’s alongside Shane Lowry, who makes it two birdies from two holes at the first par-five.
The penultimate match takes to the 1st tee. Viktor Hovland’s opening drive is wild, a big hook to the left. Over the trees. It could have reached the 9th fairway. Patrick Cantlay’s tee shot is a much smoother affair, and he finds the left-hand edge of the fairway. Up on the green, Hideki Matsuyama chips close only to miss the short par putt he leaves himself, and slips to -4 immediately. Meanwhile it’s back-to-back birdies for Phil Mickelson, who cracks his second at 7 to four feet, tidies up, and rises to -3.
The defending champion Scottie Scheffler seems determined to go out in style. Having birdied 2, he lobs up from the bottom of the hill at 3 to six feet and makes his putt. Another birdie and he rises to -4. In the match ahead, Joaquin Niemann adds to his birdie at the opening hole with another at 4. He’s -4 as well. Back on 2 it’s birdie for Jason Day; he’s, yep, -4. And joining them all on that mark is Sahith Theegala, who cards his fourth birdie of the day at 8. There’s usually one player who springs from the pack on Sunday, posting low to finish high – see Rory last year, for example – and the 24-year-old debutant could be just the man this time around.
It won’t be long before the serious contenders take to the course. In the meantime, Phil Mickelson keeps the patrons entertained by nearly slam-dunking his tee shot at the par-three 6th straight into the cup. The ball pitches a couple of feet to the left of the hole and stops dead. He tidies up for his birdie, and the three-time champion, 53 years old in a couple of months, moves to -2. Given his lack of form over on the LIV tour, this has been a magnificent performance from the veteran Californian.
Some start by the 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry, too! He creams an iron from 170 yards to a couple of feet, nearly holing out for a spectacular eagle. A kick-in birdie is a more than acceptable start to a round on Masters Sunday, though, and he tidies up to move to -4.
The final round
Here we go, then … and there are a couple of the early starters who could sell their scores on the first few holes to the leaders for cash money. Sahith Theegala, making a fine fist of his Masters debut, has birdied 1, 2 and 4 and is currently -3 through 7. Cameron Young, who threatened to stay the distance before his third round of 75, opens with a pair of birdies that takes the Match Play runner-up to -4. And the 2016 champion Jordan Spieth has birdied 1, 2 and 5: throw in bogey at 4 and he’s -3 for the tournament.
Updated at 14.04 EDT
The fourth-round tee times … are here. This blog will reactivate at 7pm, when the final round of the Masters gets going. See you then!
1.27pm (6.27pm BST): Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
1.36pm (6.36pm): Gary Woodland, Jason Day
1.46pm (6.46pm): Justin Rose, Shane Lowry
1.55pm (6.55pm): Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed
2.05pm (7.05pm BST): Collin Morikawa, Sam Bennett (a)
2.14pm (7.14pm): Hideki Matsuyama, Russell Henley
2.24pm (7.24pm): Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay
2.33pm (7.33pm): Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm
Updated at 12.17 EDT
… so Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm go into this final round as favourites. But those in the chasing pack will fancy their chances, especially if the mano-a-mano grind saps the leading pair’s energy. You can make a case of that having happened in round three: Koepka and Rahm both shot one-over 73s, taking chunks out of each other and allowing the likes of Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Henley to close the gap with their under-par efforts. A reminder that big fourth-round comebacks have been known at Augusta National: Jack Burke Jr. won from eight back in 1956, Gary Player from seven in 1978, Fuzzy Zoeller and Nick Faldo from six in 1979 and 1996 respectively. So let’s rule nothing out. Anything and everything is on the table. It’s on! Fourth-round tee times coming up …
Will Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka fight it out for the Green Jacket? Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Updated at 12.09 EDT
The 54-hole leader board
-11: Koepka
-9: Rahm
-8: Hovland
-6: Cantlay
-5: Matsuyama, Henley
-4: Morikawa, Bennett (a)
-3: Schauffele, Reed, Rose, Lowry, Woodland, Day
-2: Scheffler, Fitzpatrick, Niemann, Young, Im
-1: KH Lee, Fox, Moore, Mickelson, Spieth
No mistake. Rahm pops his par putt in, and he’ll be in the final match with Koepka in a couple of hours. He signs for a 73 as well, and ends the third round at -9. Meanwhile it’s a fine round of 76 by the low-amateur elect, Sam Bennett. Not quite up there with his two 68s, but still damn fine work by the 22-year-old up-and-coming Texan. He goes into round four at -4. Meanwhile Im Sung-jae ended with par for a best-of-round 67. He’s -2.
Updated at 11.52 EDT
Koepka rams his par putt in, and he signs for a 73. He’s -11. A big putt coming up for Rahm in more ways than one. Obviously he’ll not want to drop a shot. But if he does bogey, he’ll not be in the final group with Koepka, as Hovland is already home and hosed at -8.
Koepka judges his 55-foot putt up (and almost off the right-hand side of) the green very well indeed. It stops four feet short, a little tester for par, but that’s pretty good from where he was. Over to Rahm, who nudges his putt onto the green, Morikawa style. That stops four feet short as well, and given he’ll be once again tickling downhill, Rahm has the tricker test.
Koepka’s second into 18 finds the green, but he’s well short of the flag. He’ll have a tricky two putts up and over the ridge. Rahm responds by sending his approach over the flag to Morikawa Country. He’ll need a delicate putt or chip from there, as we’ve just seen. Big couple of shots coming up! They could shape the whole tournament.
Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka both lash their drives up the 18th fairway. Up by the green, Collin Morikawa hits an outrageous putt from the top of the bank behind. He tickles it down the slope, and the ball almost grinds to a halt. One last joule of energy squeaks it onto the apron, upon which it rolls out another 15 feet to kick-in distance! Just the most amazing touch and feel! A proper moment of Masters wow and flutter. Par, and he signs for an otherwise disappointing 74, going into the final round at -4. Meanwhile Viktor Hovland, pin high in two, is this close to raking in a 25-footer across the green, but the ball turns right at the last, refusing to drop by the width of a dimple. Nevertheless, he’s signing for a two-under 70, and will compete seriously for the Masters in round four!
-11: Koepka (17)
-9: Rahm (17)
-8: Hovland (F)
From 25 feet, Koepka leaves his birdie putt three short. That’s uncharacteristically timid. A chance for Rahm to make up some ground from 15 feet. For a while, it looks as though his birdie putt is tickling in … but then it breaks to the left dramatically! Rahm can’t believe it. Koepka doesn’t learn the lesson, though, and prods with great uncertainty at his par putt, which dies to the left and stays out. Bogey. Big moment for Rahm … and in goes his par saver. All of a sudden, quite a few big names are within range!
-11: Koepka (17)
-9: Rahm (17)
-8: Hovland (17)
-6: Cantlay (F)
-5: Matsuyama (F), Henley (F)
-4: Morikawa (17), Bennett -a- (17)
Koepka and Rahm both find the 17th green in regulation. Neither are particularly close to the pin, but Rahm is half the distance inside his opponent. Meanwhile the 2020 runner-up Im Sung-jae is going along very nicely indeed: the birdie he makes at 8 is his sixth of the round, a bogey at 17 the only blemish so far. If he pars his last, the 9th, he’ll be signing for a best-of-round 67. He’s currently -2 for the tournament, and seriously ruing his second-round 76.
A fine par save for Viktor Hovland on 17. Out of position from the get-go, he can only wedge his third from the front of the bunker guarding the approach to the green to 15 feet. But he tickles in the gentle left-to-right slider and punches the air modestly. That’s a massive momentum saver. He remains at -8, just four off the lead, though he’s just sent his tee shot at 18 towards the right-hand side of the fairway, so he might not have a straight route into the green.
Collin Morikawa shakes hands with Viktor Hovland on the 18th. Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Updated at 11.51 EDT
Jon Rahm opens up his lob wedge and goes at his ball in the manner of prime Phil Mickelson. He does exceptionally well to flop high over the sand and stop his ball eight feet past. Brooks Koepka splashes delicately from the bunker and nearly holes out. Par. Rahm underhits his par putt, and suddenly the gap is three again.
-12: Koepka (16)
-9: Rahm (16)
-8: Hovland (16)
So having earlier mentioned how Brooks Koepka had been taking care of business at the par-fives this week, he’s subsequently only parred both of the ones on the back nine. An illustration of how much longer, and tougher, the course is playing after all that rain. He doesn’t seem completely happy with his game today, and now he dumps his tee shot at 16 into the bunker to the right of the green. You’d think advantage Rahm, but he takes one hand off his club as he sends his tee shot wide of that bunker. He’s left himself a downhill lie and a shot over sand. Oh, and he’s short-sided too. On Sky, Sir Nick Faldo suggests anything within six feet for Rahm would be sensational.
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 14th as his lead goes back to three shots. Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Updated at 11.23 EDT
No sixth birdie in a row for Viktor Hovland. But it’s a fine par at 16, after pushing his tee shot wide right of the green. A delicate up and down to scramble, and he remains at -8. Meanwhile Brooks Koepka chips close from the bank on 15 to salvage his par, while Jon Rahm needs three putts to get down from the best part of 100 feet. A par for the Spaniard as well, but it’s the US star who will feel better given the way that all panned out.
-12: Koepka (15)
-10: Rahm (15)
-8: Hovland (16)
-6: Cantlay (F)
-5: Matsuyama (F), Henley (F)
Under normal, bone-dry conditions, that ball of Koepka’s was gone. But it’s clear the nerves are beginning to kick in already, with both Rahm and Koepka dicing with wobbly blue bother. And it’s only the third round! Imagine the pounding their tickers are going to take when they come around again later!
Heart-in-mouth time for Jon Rahm, who like Viktor Hovland before him, only just gets over the drink at 15 with his second. His ball comes to rest on the front-right corner of the wide green, and he’ll have a monster eagle putt. Two putts for birdie is far from certain. Meanwhile Brooks Koepka, having found the trees down the left from the tee, lays up and wedges in. His ball lands by the flag, but spins back and for a second looks like rolling all the way down the slope and into the drink. But the wet turf saves him. The ball sticks on the bank. It’s not quite Fred Couples on 12 in 1992, but it’s something. A huge break for Koepka!
Five birdies in a row for Viktor Hovland! His second into 15 only just gets over the water – laughing, he performs the breaststroke mime as he wanders down to the green – but from there he takes two putts to move to -8. Just the two more, and he’ll be matching the record set by Steve Pate between 7 and 13 in 1999 and matched on exactly the same holes by Tiger in 2005.
Viktor Hovland plays a shot on the 12th. It’s five birdies in a row for the Norwegian. Photograph: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Updated at 10.54 EDT
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