Scottie Scheffler revives at the Masters with an impressive 65, his best score ever at Augusta – still in the fight!
AUGUSTA, Georgia – On the third day of the Masters Tournament, the two-time champion Scottie Scheffler once again displayed his class at the legendary Augusta National Golf Club, signing off with a phenomenal round of 7 under par, a flawless 65, his best result to date on this iconic course. After a disappointing 74 on Friday, which broke his streak of 10 consecutive rounds at par or better, Scheffler made a statement and showed he means business.
With a total of 7 under par and 209 strokes, Scheffler finished as the clubhouse leader – a scenario that keeps him alive and dangerous in the race for Sunday. Nevertheless, the task will not be easy: the tournament leaders teed off for the third round two and a half hours later and were already setting a faster pace when Scheffler finished. The pressure is all on the Texan.
Interestingly, this 65 was achieved without any birdies on the two par 5s of the back nine, holes 13 and 15, where he only made pars. “It definitely could have been an even lower score,” admitted Scheffler. “But I did what I needed to, executed well to create opportunities and tomorrow is about continuing that. I think I’ll be in a good position.”
On the front side of the course, Scheffler shone with 3 under par on the two par 5s. He made an eagle on hole 2, with a 1.8-metre putt, and a birdie on hole 8, with a putt of just 0.9 metres. He closed the first half of the round with a birdie on hole 9, finishing the front nine in an impressive 31 strokes.
After a tough Friday, Scheffler revealed that the strategy for Saturday was not to force things. “I didn’t want to force anything today,” he explained. “I stuck to the plan, played smart. My average strokes at Augusta until this year was 70.33 and today I managed to lower that.”
With two Masters titles (2022 and 2024), Scottie is now trying to replicate the legendary streak of Arnold Palmer, who won the tournament in even years during the 50s and 60s. The Texan knows that success on this course demands perfection on several fronts, and that mastery only brings more confidence for the final battle. “When you achieve positive results here at Augusta, it only strengthens your confidence. To win this tournament, you have to get a lot of things right. It would be foolish to say I don’t feel confident for the rest of the championship.”
Saturday may have been Scheffler’s rebirth at the Masters, but Sunday will be the true test. With opponents ready and the title at stake, the defending champion is prepared to fight until the last putt.
David Westin, veteran Masters expert and award-winning for his historical contribution at Augusta National, has been following the tournament since 1979 and assures that Scheffler is showing the grit of a true champion. If there’s one name to watch on the final day, it’s Scottie Scheffler.
