Saturday saw South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel move into the top 10, while Sergio Garcia put his third-round demons to bed. Here’s the best and worst parts of the third round at The Masters …, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Birdie
Difficult to choose between the clutch putting of Rickie Fowler, the massive comeback by Jordan Spieth, the round of the day by Justin Rose, and Sergio Garcia keeping himself in the hunt. For all the publicity his majorless run has caused him, for the round he played and for keeping the storyline alive, the birdie goes to Garcia. He has the fewest bogeys of those in the final five pairs and is on track to win, 37 years after countryman Seve Ballesteros did, in what is his 74th attempt.
Par
He could be awarded the birdie, but Charl Schwartzel gets the par for his Masters run and third-round display. The 2011 champion moved into the top 10 with a stunning -4 round, and now sits in the same position he did when he won his first and only Major at Augusta. What he’s done, is as good for him as it is for South African fans watching the event, they now have something to shout for after he destroyed the par 5s on Saturday. If he does it again on Sunday, and adds one or two more birdies to his card, he could be in for an even more famous win, such is the quality of the leaderboard this year.
Bogey
No arguments here as the worst round of the day belonged to Ernie Els. After showing the world his best fighting spirit, the much-loved South African capitulated and shot 83 on Saturday. He opened with a 43, and not even a long range birdie on 18 could see him into the 30s on the back nine. He was in contention for a top 10 finish, and one more crack at the green jacket heading into the third round, now he’s left to play with a marker as the worst-placed golfer of those who made the cut.
