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There was a final hole drama of the third round at the Masters, opening up the prospect of an exciting final day.
Scottie Scheffler, who appeared to be going in with a commanding lead, hit a quirky tee shot on the 18th hole, sending his ball flying into the bushes on the left.
The newly crowned No. 1 in the world eventually found his ball, which landed deep in the foliage, and had to drop to play his next shot.
He was able to make an extraordinary shot to get his ball close to the green, but the penalty meant he ended up with a bogey on the final hole, eventually charting a one-under par 71 on Saturday.
It means the American golfer is three strokes ahead of second-seeded Cameron Smith, who rose the standings with his own excellent round of 68.
With only 18 holes to go at Augusta National, Scheffler has a chance to win his first major and continue his excellent form.
Scheffler is the hottest guy in golf.
Last month, he was named the world No. 1 after a stunning trajectory that saw him win three PGA Tour events in five starts.
So when he entered the 2022 Masters, a tournament where he had his best result last year when he tied for 18th, the 25-year-old was one of the gallery’s favourites.
And he rewarded those convictions, earning himself a five-shot lead after 36 holes.
Despite being in charge of the Masters, the pressure never seemed to deter Scheffler as he laughed and joked with caddy Ted Scott during his third round on Saturday.
He radiated composure as he quickly added to his overnight eight-under score, leaping to 10-under on the third hole.
A brief outburst on the fourth hole meant he fell back to nine-under, but a blistering stretch of golf – in which he showed all his qualities – helped restore his lead as he moved to 11-under.
All the while, Smith was making his move. The Australian player started the day two-under, but improved greatly after a disappointing Friday when he showed a glimpse of his best on the famous course.
The 28-year-old finished six-under – the only score under 70 on the day – to move into second with Scheffler still on the track, putting himself in the running for the green jacket.
But just when it looked like everything was lining up for Scheffler’s big lead heading into the final day, some minor fissures began to appear in his typically unwavering play.
Successive bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes reduced his lead to just three, with two holes left.
Just one hole later, he recovered magnificently and claimed a vital birdie on the penultimate hole to extend his lead again to four.
Just when it looked like he was running away with his mind, his quirky ride on the last hole made it even more enticing.
Although he could have lost his head and become confused, he remained calm and collected to save a bogey and maintain his lead.
With only 18 holes to go to determine the winner of the most prestigious golf major, Scheffler remains in pole position to claim his debut Masters title.
