The chatter
Jordan Spieth, 21, continues a record-setting week of major championship golf.
After establishing a 36-hole scoring mark for the Masters on Friday, he continued his week in the zone at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday.
His 54-hole score of 200, despite three bogeys and a double-bogey hiccup at No. 17 in a round of 70 on Saturday, bettered Raymond Floyd’s 201 in a wire-to-wire triumph in 1976. Tiger Woods matched Floyd in his stunning first victory in the 1997 Masters.
Further, Spieth’s score tied the 54-hole majors’ mark for the U.S. Open (200, Jim Furyk, 2003) and the British Open (200, Rory McIlroy, 2014). David Toms’ PGA Championship record of 196, set in 2001 at Atlanta Athletic Club, remains a majors’ best.
Paul Casey summed up what’s to come Sunday: “Jordan’s got to come backward. That’s the only way. And the only way anybody else has got a chance.”
Twitterati
The most-anticipated pairing of the day was Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, only the second time together in a group since May 2013. While everyone sort of presumed it’s not a favored pairing for either given on-course bitterness and rivalry that grew even as late as 2013-14, Garcia took to Twitter late Friday to assure everyone things are fine:
Sergio Garcia @TheSergioGarcia
It was gonna happen at some point sooner or later! Paired with @TigerWoods tomorrow but don’t you worry guys, I’m sure we’ll both be fine
Garcia shot a 1-under 71 while Woods made a big move with a 4-under 68.
By the numbers
19 The under-par scores at age 21 for both Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth in their first six pro rounds at Augusta National. Both had 29 birdies in those six rounds; Woods had two more bogeys (14-12) but one more eagle (2-1).
Forecast
It should be a fine day for a final round. Partly cloudy with high of 80. Zero percent chance of rain with winds from the east at 10-15 mph.
Final word
“He’s got no scar tissue on this golf course. He played his first Masters last year, finished second. So he’s got good thoughts. He’s got obviously a hot putter right now. So that’s just what you need right around this golf course. So it’s for the guys just behind to kind of chase. The way he’s playing right now and rolling the ball it’s up to him.” — Ian Poulter, after his 67, which could have been a 63 with better putting, on whether anyone can put pressure on Jordan Spieth.
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