2016 Masters: Saturday Birdies & Bogeys

April 09, 2016

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Birdie: Jordan Spieth

It is the seventh consecutive round at the Masters that Spieth has at least shared the lead, a tournament record. However, to make it an eighth, the 22-year-old desperately needs to fix his driving woes: Despite Augusta National's wide-open confines, Spieth managed to find just eight fairways on the day. Worse, his bogey-double finish bestowed a fighting chance to the rest of the field. Nevertheless, while playing partner Rory McIlroy fell apart, Spieth maintained the status quo, and the defending champ enters the fourth round in an enviable place: The final pairing. -- Joel Beall

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Bogey: Rory McIlroy

In 2011, it was the 10th hole. In 2016, McIlroy unraveled at the 11th. Saturday’s double bogey at No. 11 wasn’t quite as devastating as his 2011 final-round collapse, but the Northern Irishman’s hopes of completing the career Grand Slam were likely thwarted just the same by the double at No. 11. McIlroy didn’t make a birdie all Saturday, narrowly missing his best chance at the 18th hole, while playing in the final group with Jordan Spieth. For all the talk about how great the pairing of Spieth and McIlroy was, the four-time major champion struggled to make any noise, evidenced by disappointing pars on the par-5 second, eight, 13th, and 15th holes. McIlroy had outperformed Spieth by 28 shots in 14 previous match-ups. But this was the most memorable meeting of the two, and Spieth edged him by four. -- Stephen Hennessey

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Birdie: Bernhard Langer

For the 40th time in 113 competitive rounds at Augusta National, Langer broke par, shooting a two-under 70 that moved the 58-year-old up from T-15 to T-3. Langer’s quest to win a third Masters and become, at 58, the oldest golfer to win a major championship will require more of what he showed on Saturday: Steady play off the tee, consistent putting and a little bit of luck, as he beat his playing partner, World No. 1 Jason Day, by a stroke. Langer will rely on experience, but it has been more than two decades since he won his last green jacket. Consider this: For his Masters wins in 1985 and 1993, Langer won a combined $452,000. If he were to win on Sunday, Langer would cash in $1.8 million. -- Ryan Herrington

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Bogey: Bryson DeChambeau

The mad-scientist has all but locked up low-amateur honors at the 2016 Masters. Still, the U.S. Amateur set the bar higher after keeping up with Jordan Spieth in the first two rounds. High expectations, and a five-over 77 in the third round, make his current position eight shots off the lead disappointing. Another hiccup at the 18th hole -- this time it was a double bogey after Friday’s triple -- left DeChambeau with a bad taste in his mouth leaving the golf course. All things considered, DeChambeau has made a name for himself at Augusta National this week. But we started to expect more, and we know he did, too. -- SH

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Birdie: Smylie Kaufman

Few people thought a sub-70 round would be carded in the brutal conditions Saturday at Augusta National, let alone by this 24-year-old playing in his second-ever major championship. Kaufman will tee off in the final pairing on Sunday at the Masters alongside Jordan Spieth. The sensational third-round 69 was highlighted by birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th holes, logging the best round at Augusta since Thursday. Golf fans watched as a giddy Kaufman spoke with Jim Nantz in Butler Cabin after his round. “I’ve never been here before, just seen it on TV and always dreamed about being here,” Kaufman said. Well, he’s in a position to earn a trip back there on Sunday. -- SH

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Bogey: Kevin Na

There's no way to sugarcoat it: Na came out on the business end of his Saturday battle with Augusta National. The final damage: No birdies, six bogeys, two doubles and a triple. Add it up and it equals a 13-over 85, the highest third-round score. And it wasn't like Na just made the cut: At two over, he was very much in the running for a top-10 finish heading into his round. Instead, Na now has a Sunday date with Masters marker Jeff Knox. -- JB

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Birdie: Hideki Matsuyama

He's not a household name yet, but Matsuyama has the pedigree to compete for a Masters title. Though he's prone to bouts of inconsistency, Matsuyama used a deadly approach game to tour Augusta in even-par fashion Saturday. Perhaps it's no coincidence that Matsuyama is playing well: His biggest professional win came at Muirfield Village in 2014, a course that designer Jack Nicklaus has said is heavily influenced by Augusta National. -- JB

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Bogey: Scott Piercy

Piercy was in the second-to-last group on Saturday, and sat just two strokes behind Jordan Spieth. To his credit, Piercy passed through the front side without major issue. The second nine was a different tale: He made back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11, and took a tournament-killing triple on the 15th. Coupled with a bogey on No. 17, Piercy said "so long" to the Masters leader board with a Saturday 79. -- JB

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Birdie: Jason Day

The most-exciting pairing on Saturday turned out to be 58-year-old Bernhard Langer playing alongside World No. 1 Jason Day. Though Langer, 30 years older than Day, edged his playing partner by one shot, Day’s one-under 71 was still one of the best rounds of the day. Just three shots off the lead of Jordan Spieth, Day is right in the mix on Sunday. If he doesn’t make a run, Day will look back to his struggles on the second nine on Thursday and Friday as to why he wasn’t more of a factor at the 80th Masters. -- SH

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Bogey: Sergio Garcia

Garcia fired an opening-round 69, and though he took a few steps back on Friday, remained just four shots off the lead when he teed off Saturday. Eight bogeys and a double later, the Spaniard went from dark horse to afterthought with a third-round 81. Sergio may one day win that elusive major. It will not be this weekend. -- JB

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Birdie: Louis Oosthuizen

The 2010 British Open champ saw his green jacket chances take a hit on Friday with a 77. Yet, on one of the highest-scoring days in modern Masters history, Oostuizen turned in a one-under 71. In the face of the much-discussed wind, Oostuizen hit 13 greens, and kept mistakes to a minimum with three bogeys. "It was a grind," said Oostuizen. He'll need serious help to get into contention, but in a round where others shriveled, Louis shined. -- JB

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Bogey: Danny Lee

Throughout the week, Lee expressed humility and gratitude towards his second invitation to the Masters. And after two rounds, the Greenbrier winner was making the most of the opportunity, tied for third when play began on Saturday. Alas, Lee has struggled on weekends this year, ranking 103rd in Saturday scoring (dropping to 205th on Sundays). The third round at Augusta was no different. Though he had bright spots, Lee had far too many blunders. The result was a seven-over 79, leaving him on the outside looking in. -- JB

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Birdie: Dustin Johnson

Johnson's likely recounting his third round and wondering "what if?" The 31-year-old Johnson had birdie attempts that were this close to going in on Nos. 9, 10 and 12; none found the bottom of the cup. Still, given the leader board is loaded with over-par rounds, Johnson's 72 was one of the better performances of the day. He'll need a lights-out round on Sunday, but DJ remains a major part of the Masters mix. -- JB

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Bogey: Shane Lowry

You could’ve pegged Shane Lowry as a potential sleeper before the third round, having threatened the lead at points over the previous two days. The 2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner bogeyed his first four holes on Saturday, never making any noise at all. Lowry, who started the day at even par, would struggle to a seven-over 79. Instead of having one of the last tee times on Sunday, Lowry will be one of the first groups off. -- SH

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2016 Masters: Saturday Birdies & Bogeys

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Birdie: Jordan Spieth

Bogey: Rory McIlroy

Birdie: Bernhard Langer

Bogey: Bryson DeChambeau

Birdie: Smylie Kaufman

Bogey: Kevin Na

Birdie: Hideki Matsuyama

Bogey: Scott Piercy

Birdie: Jason Day

Bogey: Sergio Garcia

Birdie: Louis Oosthuizen

Bogey: Danny Lee

Birdie: Dustin Johnson

Bogey: Shane Lowry