Two European Ryder Cup teammates made their moves to the top of the leader board Saturday at the 2017 Masters and brought a European flavor to moving day.
Olympic Gold Medalist Justin Rose went out and shot the low round of the day, a five-under par 67 that jumped him into a share of the lead with veteran Sergio Garcia, who has experienced so much heartbreak in major championships. Garcia scrambled, made some clutch putts and was the only one of the four overnight leaders to stay at the top.
Rose and Garcia, in at six-under par 210, will go off in the final pairing on Sunday.
Right behind them will be two of America’s favorites — Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. Spieth zipped around in 68 to get to four-under par, a shot behind Fowler, whose 71 put him a shot off the lead and in the next-to-last pairing with Spieth.
Charley Hoffman, one of the four 36-hole co-leaders, was surging on Saturday. He had it to seven-under par for the championship by the 13th hole but a bogey at the 14th then a double at 16 after his tee shot found the water, cost him three shots coming home and he’d finish with an even-par 72 to fall to four-under with Spieth and Ryan Moore. Hoffman will play with Moore in the third-to-last pairing.
Two Masters winners are lurking as well. Adam Scott’s round of 69 got him to three-under, just three back while Charl Schwartzel’s 68 got him to two-under and within a half-dozen.
Here’s a breakdown of Saturday’s Movers and Non-Movers:
THE MOVERS:
Justin Rose: Rose was the steadiest player on the course Saturday. “It was a joy to play today. Great shots were rewarded. It was perfect. Good golf was rewarded, bad shots were not. I’m not ready to dream “what if” for Sunday. I’m thinking about the first tee tomorrow.”
Jordan Spieth: His only mistake of the day was a three-putt bogey from 60 feet at the 16th hole. “Today I continued my momentum. I shot my goal, two-under on each side. I’m still behind, I recognize that. There are some studs at the top of the leader board who are not afraid to take risks. I need something (tomorrow) like today but finish it off a bit better.”
Ryan Moore: His 69 moved him up to a tie for third with Spieth and Hoffman. He was perhaps the most consistent ball striker on the course Saturday.
Rickie Fowler: He didn’t need to go real low to stay in the hunt. His 71 was good enough. “Be patient,” Fowler said of his mindset. “Today I just made some good par saves to keep the round going.”
Adam Scott: He’s hitting the ball as good as anyone at the top. It will all depend on his putter in the final round.
Charl Schwartzel: Got out early and shot 68 to jump up the board. His experience as a past champion should help on Sunday.
Sergio Garcia: He shot 70 but most important, overcame his “third round jinx” that saw him average 75 on previous Saturdays at Augusta National. “I was fighting hard. I fought hard with what I had. At the end of the day, it was about staying patient.”
THE NON-MOVERS:
Charley Hoffman: He was a mover until the final five holes. He played them three-over par. Worst shot of the day was his pulled iron shot that found the pond to the right of 16. He was the only player in the field to hit it there. Had a chance for the solo lead but his 72 still kept him in it for Sunday.
Phil Mickelson: Perhaps the most disappointing player among the contenders. Shot 74, fell back to two-over par and basically took himself out of contention.
Thomas Pieters: One of four co-leaders coming into the third round. Shot 75 and fell back to one-under par.
Jon Rahm: Shot two-over on the back nine, his 73 dropped him back to even par through 54 holes.
Rory McIlroy: Came out with birdies on two of the first three holes but never got it going after that. Shot 71 and stands at even par.
Fred Couples: Shot 74, in at one-over. Still damn good for a 57-year-old.
Will McGirt: His 74 sent him the wrong way, back to even par.
