We don’t even have to recap the chaos that Friday brought at Augusta National and the 2023 Masters Tournament, so let’s get right to Saturday.
We’ve now completed the second round, and the third round is under way, with groupings of three playing from split tees.
Follow along as we track the third round of a very wet, gross, cold day at Augusta National.
3:15 p.m. - Play Suspended for the Day
No more golf today. Masters play has been suspended for the day due to weather and course conditions.
Brooks Koepka holds the lead at 13-under through 6 holes. Jon Rahm is four shots back at 9-under through 6. Sam Bennett is 6-under through 6.
Due to inclement weather conditions, the third round has been officially suspended for the rest of the day as of 3:15 p.m. EDT.
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2023
Further information will be announced once available.#themasters2:55 p.m. - Dustin's Wild Ride
Dustin Johnson started the third round at a respectable 1-under. Nothing to write home about, but a decent paycheck headed his way.
But the third round has been… wild. He started his round on the back nine, and just went out and did this: bogey-triple bogey-par-birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey-bogey.
Somehow he’s managed to par 1, 2 and 3 to calm down a bit. But he’s 5-over tied for 51st right now.
2:35 p.m. - Moving Day
It’s Moving Day at The Masters, but the only direction players seem to be moving is down.
Brooks Koepka gained a stroke earlier, but he’s stood still since. But he leads by four, as Jon Rahm gave another one back and is 9-under now.
That’s the only situation where someone is within 7 shots of the leader. If you’re a betting person, you’re probably not going to get better odds on Koepka right now.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is one of the few “big” movers in the right direction right now, as he’s 3-under on his front 9, to put him 5-under overall.
On the other end of the board, Tiger Woods is 2-over on the round, and 5-over overall. He’s just happy to be golfing on the weekend again.
Moving day at the Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/rn3JD9WfQl
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20232:15 p.m. - Rahm Drops One
Jon Rahm has dropped a shot on 4, and is now 10-under for the tournament. Brooks Koepka is back to a 3-shot lead.
After missing the green and hitting a poor second shot, Rahm bogeys the par-3 fourth. Koepka gets up and down from a greenside bunker for par.
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 8, 2023
Koepka, -13
Rahm, -10#TheMasters1:55 p.m. - Jordan and Phil Again
We talked yesterday about the always-adventurous Jordan Spieth. You’ll never guess what ended up happening after being in this situation. Yep, a miraculous bogey that could have easily been MUCH worse.
This can only be one guy. pic.twitter.com/tIWBH49Htk
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) April 8, 2023And HELLO PHIL MICKELSON!
Phil is quietly 2-under on his round through six holes today, and suddenly is tied for fourth at 6-under. Koepka (-13), Rahm (-11) and Morikawa (-7) are the only golfers ahead.
Phil Mickelson is on the move. #themasters pic.twitter.com/HX1jhzz6ve
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20231:40 p.m. - Rain Worsens
The rain has picked up considerably at Augusta National, and it’s already impacting shots all over the course. Fortunately, the wind isn’t too bad currently, so it could be worse…
But Brooks Koepka just birdied the second hole, and he’s now at 13-under. Unfortunately for him, Jon Rahm did the same thing and is two back at 11-under.
And Sam Bennett blinked again. Another bogey and he’s now 6-under, in a pack of golfers tied for third.
1:20 p.m. - Bennett Blinks
After his second round, amateur Sam Bennett said he wasn’t nervous going into the weekend in contention at the Masters.
But his bogey on 1 just now said maybe that was a lie. Or it was Augusta National just trying to fix the simulation. Either way, he had been the only golfer to birdie 1 in each of the first two rounds.
He’s now 7-under, 5 shots back of Brooks Koepka, who parred the first.
1:10 p.m. - Everybody Is On the Course
Considering how things could have gone, somehow, remarkably, every golfer is on the course now for the third round.
Our leader group of Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Sam Bennett just teed off on 1. Tiger Woods, Sungjae Im and Thomas Pieters also just teed off, but over on the 10th hole.
At the top of the board – just under our top 3 anyway – things are getting interesting.
Justin Rose is 2- under through 3 holes, and 6-under overall. Cameron Young is in trouble on 2, but birdied 1, and is also at 6-under. Patrick Cantlay has calmed down a bit, but is 3-under through six holes, and is 5-under overall.
If the rain can stay away, we might actually be able to get this whole third round in today.
12:55 p.m. - Cameron Young With Incredible Birdie
Cameron Young just had a remarkable shot from off the green on 1 to get a birdie.
He sent his second shot over the green, and looked like he would be lucky to save par. Instead the ball rolled in and he’s now 6-under and tied for fourth.
The first roar of the round courtesy of Cameron Young. #themasters pic.twitter.com/zP6CrgUfDR
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 202312:18 p.m. - Cantlay Moving Up
Among the early golfers to tee off in Round 3, Patrick Cantlay is making the most noise.
Cantlay shot 71-71 in the first two rounds, but is already 2-under after three holes in the third round to get to 4-under overall. He’s currently tied for 10th. (UPDATE: Another birdie on 4, and he’s now 5-under.)
Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele and Sepp Straka are all 1-under so far on their third rounds.
11:30 a.m. - And Away We Go
The third round has begun, with groupings of three, playing from split tees.
Our first golfers start at 11:30 a.m. and our last groups go off at 1:06 p.m.
11 a.m. - Groupings Coming Soon
We have learned that the third round will be groupings of three, instead of traditional pairings. Times and groups have not been announced yet, but as soon as they are, we’ll get them to you.
For the first time in #TheMasters history, two players are double digits under par through 36 holes:
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) April 8, 2023
Brooks Koepka -12
Jon Rahm -10
They’ll play together in Round 3.10:45 a.m. - Third Round Pins Released
If you thought maybe the folks at Augusta National would be kind to the golfers because of the weather, looking at the pin locations for the third round should remove any thought of that.
Hole locations for the third round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/iabTzQGUwQ
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 202310:33 a.m. - Heartbreaking End for JT
Justin Thomas making a bogey on 17 helped a host of guys get moved into the cut line at 3-over. Unfortunately for him, another bogey on 18 pushed him over that cut line. So, while he helped others, he ended up costing himself.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm has just finished his round with a bogey on 18 as well. He’s 10-under and in second place alone.
We’ll be back in just a few minutes to wrap up this second round, and get you all set for the third round later today.
10:10 a.m. - Rahm!
Conditions are absolutely miserable on the course right now, but Jon Rahm is powering through it. He just chipped in for birdie on 17, after giving back a shot on 16, and is right back to 1 shot behind Brooks Koepka.
And on Tiger watch, Justin Thomas just bogeyed the 17th. He’s at 3-over and the cut line slides to 3-over with him. So Tiger Woods is back in for the weekend, unless Thomas manages a birdie on 18.
9:57 a.m. - Tiger On the Edge
Tiger Woods has never missed the cut at The Masters as a professional, but now he’s dangerously close to doing so. He’s looking to tie the record for most consecutive cuts made.
Tiger bogeyed the 18th hole and is 3-over currently. That’s one shot outside the cut line as it stands. But… if just one of the golfers at 2-over currently on the course (Sungjae Im or Justin Thomas) move to 3-over, the cut line will slide as well. Thomas is in the trees on 17, and Im is on the green on 16.
9:39 a.m. - Rahm Within 1
Jon Rahm of Spain reacts to his putt on the 14th green during the continuation of the weather delayed second round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Jon Rahm keeps on doing the thing. He just dropped a birdie on the 15th hole, and is now just one shot back of Brooks Koepka, at 11-under.
Tiger meanwhile, just gave one back at 17, and is 2-over. Currently that has him in the field for the third and fourth round. But he doesn’t have much wiggle room.
Moving to 11 under and one back of Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm birdies No. 15. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vIaFiIvKSV
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20239:20 a.m. - Walk and Talk With JT
We’re loving these interviews with the golfers on the course. Still a bit shocked Masters folks allow it.
Moving day with Justin Thomas. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ZrqRjzn57I
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20238:50 a.m. - Goodbye Larry
Augusta native and Masters legend Larry Mize is also playing in his final Masters.
Thank you for all the years of wonderful memories Mr. Mize. Augusta thanks you.
Making his 40th and final Masters appearance, the 1987 champion Larry Mize takes in the moment on No. 18. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1ICbTf7ARe
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20238:35 a.m. - Tiger on Edge, Movement Up Top
Tiger Woods is currently 2-over, through 13 holes, and that’s right on the number to make the weekend cut.
But he’s had two makeable birdie attempts already today, and missed both of them. Tiger is going to have to start making some of those if he wants to play the rest of the weekend.
It's always jarring to see Tiger on a golf course with nobody else in the frame. pic.twitter.com/M31kBxuxVM
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) April 8, 2023Meanwhile, up top, Cameron Young is making a little bit of a move. He just birdied the 12th, and is now 7-under, in solo 4th place.
And as we type, Jon Rahm inches closer to Brooks up top, also getting a birdie on 12. He’s now 10-under, just two back of Koepka.
8:25 a.m. - A Look at the Leaders
At 8:20 a.m., let’s take a look at where things stand with the golfers on the first page of the leaderboard.
Fortunately for many of them, second round play is already over, so they’ll be just watching things from the warmth inside until this afternoon.
- Brooks Koepka leads at 12-under, after rounds of 65 and 67.
- Jon Rahm is at 9-under, through 11 holes. He’s 2-under on his second round.
- Amateur Sam Bennett is 8-under, after rounds of 68 and 68.
- Collin Morikawa is 6-under, after rounds of 69 and 69.
- Cameron Young is 6-under, through 11 holes. He’s 1-under on his second round.
- Viktor Hovland is 5-under, through 12 holes. He’s 2-over on his second round.
- Jason Day is 5-under, after rounds of 67 and 72.
- Sam Burns is 5-under after rounds of 68 and 71.
- Jordan Spieth is 5-under after rounds of 69 and 70.
A big pack of golfers are at 4-under and tied for 10th. There’s a lot of movement happening already.
8:20 a.m. - Goodbye Sandy (Again)
Sandy Lyle got stuck on 18 when play suspended yesterday. So we get another opportunity to say goodbye to this golfing legend.
A day later, Sandy Lyle completes his Masters career. #themasters pic.twitter.com/etyDipXR4X
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20238:13 a.m. - Couples Breaks the Record
Yes, it’s early in the day, and some crazy stuff could still happen, but Fred Couples looks like he will be playing in the third and fourth round.
Couples, who just finished his second round at 1-over for the tournament, is currently within the cutline, which will make him the oldest golfer to ever do that in the Masters.
8:02 a.m. - And Away We Go
Golfers have wasted no time at all getting back to action.
Jon Rahm has already set himself up for a birdie on 10, and Tiger Woods has hit a shot close on 12 as he sits 2-over on the day, right on the projected cut line currently.
Play has resumed. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vxgcuIt7bp
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 20237:45 a.m. - Weather
Lots of rain fell on the course overnight, but it’s light right now, and there’s a chance to maybe get some golf in this morning.
Winds are still problematic, and after three trees fell down Friday, I’m sure Augusta National folks will be cautious today.
It’s also quite cold out there today. It’s not going to be a pleasant one for these golfers.
Light rain now at Augusta National but rain chances remain close to 100 percent. The second round resumes at 8 am (ET). pic.twitter.com/wvgnNdg1ib
— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) April 8, 20237:32 a.m. - Oosthuizen Withdraws
Louis Oosthuizen wasn’t going to make the cut after the second round, he was 7-over with one hole to play in it. But nonetheless, he decided not to come back and play that one hole this morning, withdrawing “due to injury.”
He’s the third player to withdraw, joining Kevin Na and Will Zalatoris.
Due to injury, Louis Oosthuizen has officially withdrawn from the Masters after completing 17 holes of his second round. #themasters
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2023
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