Hideki in control as Masters looms as two-man shootout
OK, time for a quick check on where things are at.
Marc Leishman managed to save par on the eighth after that errant tee shot, but he’s a helluva long way from being in contention the way things stand. And he’s now only one shot ahead of the next best Australian, Cameron Smith, who is having a good day out with a bogey-free three-under through 14 holes.
But it’s a two-man race at the moment between Hideki Matsuyama and Will Zalatoris.
-12: Hideki Matsuyama (8 holes)
-9: Will Zalatoris (9)
-6: Jon Rahm (17), Justin Rose (8), Xander Schauffele (8)
-5: Marc Leishman (8), Jordan Spieth (10)
-4: Cameron Smith (14), Brian Harman (9)
Masters rookie headed for Hollywood?
Ummm, I think there’s a reason why a few of Will Zalatoris’ fellow pros think the Masters rookie should be in Hollywood. He’s writing a damn good script right now.
Matt Jones disappointed with Augusta return
The next Australian to finish his Masters week is Matt Jones, who is heading straight to the airport to be home with his three girls after an even-par 72 to be at +1.
“It was great to play four rounds, but I should have done better out there,” Jones tells Fox Sports. “I couldn’t have got less out of each round. I just didn’t putt well all week.”
Matt Jones was playing his first Masters in seven years.Credit:Getty
Zalatoris closes the gap as Leishman continues to struggle
There’s movement at the top.
Hideki Matsuyama has missed a shot six-footer for birdie on the seventh hole after an exquisite approach just moments after Will Zalatoris makes birdie on the hole ahead to cut the margin to two shots. Xander Schauffele is finally finding his groove and makes birdie to get back to -5, six behind the leader.
Marc Leishman? Better look away now. It’s all unravelling for the Victorian, who has hit a wayward tee shot into the trees on the pine straw on the par-5 eighth. He’s managed to chop his way out back into the fairway, though.
Cameron Smith? He’s drained a bomb for birdie on the 13th and is now three-under on his round to be -4 for the tournament, just a shot behind Leishman.
Funny game, golf.
Will there be a better shot today?
I doubt we’ll see a better – or luckier – shot all day than this from Tony Finau, the best golfer on the planet who just doesn’t seem to win.
Who can ever forget the American badly hurting his ankle celebrating a hole-in-one during the Par-3 Tournament on the day before the 2018 Masters?
Leishman loses another shot to slip further behind Matsuyama
Hideki Matsuyama’s birdie putt on the par-3 sixth shaves the outside of the hole. That was close, but he still has a three-shot cushion from Will Zalatoris.
Ironically, Xander Schauffele’s tee shot finishes almost alongside Hideki’s but the American misses his birdie putt on the low side. Nothing is going right for Schauffele at the moment.
And there’s more trouble for Marc Leishman, who has surrendered another shot on the seventh hole to drop to -5, six shots behind Matsuyama. It hasn’t been a great morning for those up early hoping to see an Australian win the green jacket for a second time.
But, there’s a loooong way to go.
Ricky Ponting is a handy golfer, too
Everyone’s favourite lefty, American Brian Harman, is still grinding away at -3 for the tournament as he’s about to make the turn. Or is it Ricky Ponting?
Schauffele in all sorts as Matsuyama drains big putt
There’s massive issues for one of the main challengers here with Xander Schauffele failing to get out of a greenside bunker on the fifth hole and winding up with a double bogey six. That’s bogey-bogey-double on his last three holes and he’s back to -4. X can’t really find the spot at the moment, can he?
Just moments earlier, Hideki Matsuyama drains a 10-foot par putt which sneaks in the side door to stay at -11. And there’s a big smile from the Japanese man, too. He knows how big that putt was – and maybe how much work he would have had to save par given it had speed on it.
Will Zalatoris’ birdie putt on the hole ahead is low. That’s a chance he would have loved to have taken. Big couple of minutes for Hideki there.
Rahm on a run, but who is going to stop Hideki?
Every year there’s one man who will make a run on the final day. This year, it’s Spainiard Jon Rahm’s turn.
He only arrived at Augusta National the day before the tournament after becoming a father last week, and he’s caught fire today to be five-under on his round through 14 holes. He’s -5 for the tournament. He might have left his run too late, but it’s one heck of a ride today as everyone else goes up and down.
Xander Schauffele has dropped another shot on the fourth hole to be at -6, in a tie for third with Marc Leishman who has tapped in for par at the sixth hole after a beautifully-judged long birdie putt. And X-man is in trouble on the fifth hole, too.
Hideki Matsuyama is solid at -11 and still three shots ahead of Will Zalatoris. Steady as she goes for the Japanese megastar.
Jon Rahm is making a charge on the final day at Augusta.Credit:Getty
Twenty-five years on, are we over Greg Norman’s final round meltdown?
So, 25 years ago. Where were you?
Before he was famous for posing nude for social media photos, Greg Norman was infamous for one of the greatest meltdowns of all time when he shed a six-shot lead heading into the final round of the 1996 Masters. I was still at school, and am still receiving therapy. I don’t think there’s been a more harrowing sporting experience for Australian fans in living memory.
And it didn’t help the Great White Shark never avenged that loss to Nick Faldo, who every year just rubs it in by sitting in the commentary box and us having to listen to him.
Let’s hope Marc Leishman can atone for it today. If you can bear it, here it is.