Classy stroke puts Scheffler in box-seat at Masters

The final round of the Masters got underway at warm, sunny Augusta National late on Sunday night (AEST), where Scottie Scheffler began with a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa and a two-shot advantage on Max Homa as he chases a second green jacket.

Fast-forward to Monday morning and Scheffler has continued to remain in the lead at nine-under par, as both Homa and Morikawa battled it out behind him at 10-under.

Morikawa is trying to win the third leg of the career grand slam. Homa is trying to win his first major championship.

Tiger Woods finished with the worst score of his professional career, with the five-time champion playing his 100th round at the Masters with Neal Shipley – the only amateur to make the cut at Augusta this year – and bowed out with grace in front of the fans.

Tiger Woods thanks the crowd at the 2024 Masters.

The fierce winds that made Friday such a grind are gone now. But temps were expected to hit the mid-80s, and a golf course that was already playing firm and fast could become even tougher as the day wore on and it dried out even more.

Six players had at least a share of the lead at one point during a wild third round Saturday, and there was a five-way tie for the lead early on the back nine.

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Scheffler made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 1-under 71 that left him with the lead over Morikawa, the two-time major champion who has largely disappeared from the elite in golf.

Scottie Scheffler is surging towards a victory at the Masters.

Morikawa made two tough pars to finish off a 69 on Saturday, making him the only player to break par all three days at this Masters. Morikawa hasn’t had a top 10 since the first week of the year, but he believes he found a swing key on Monday, and his switch of putters have the first round has put him in position to win the green jacket.

Homa has gone 32 holes without a birdie and was only two behind after a round of 17 pars and one bogey for a 73 on Saturday. Xander Schauffele has gone 25 holes without a bogey, leaving him five back after his third-round 70.

Australia’s Cameron Smith remained just out of the picture as the tournament reached its climax, despite a strong performance in the final round.