Saturday at the 71st Masters dawned with record low temperatures, in the 20s, and ended with record-high third-round scores. The good news? After several years of rain-plagued play, the course remained dry throughout the tournament.Saturday at the 71st Masters dawned with record low temperatures, in the 20s, and ended with record-high third-round scores. The good news? After several years of rain-plagued play, the course remained dry throughout the tournament.
Amy Mickelson (right), wife of the defending champion, gets ready to follow her man's third round, with Tricia Smith, wife of Rick Smith, Lefty's longtime swing coach.Amy Mickelson (right), wife of the defending champion, gets ready to follow her man's third round, with Tricia Smith, wife of Rick Smith, Lefty's longtime swing coach.
Mickelson began his defense of the Masters -- and pursuit of a third green jacket in four years -- with a 76 on Thursday, but battled back with a 73 on Friday. Consistency was a problem though, and his results showed it: For the week he hit only 50 percent of fairways and greens in regulation. He carded another 73 on Saturday, to remain in the hunt.Mickelson began his defense of the Masters -- and pursuit of a third green jacket in four years -- with a 76 on Thursday, but battled back with a 73 on Friday. Consistency was a problem though, and his results showed it: For the week he hit only 50 percent of fairways and greens in regulation. He carded another 73 on Saturday, to remain in the hunt.
Wearing a black sweater he bought with his own money in the Members' golf shop just before his third round (cost: $155, no discount), and coming off a red-hot 70 on Friday, Stuart Appleby reeled off three birdies in his first four holes to make the biggest move on Saturday. He gave three strokes back with a triple on No. 17, but still finished with a fine one-over 73.Wearing a black sweater he bought with his own money in the Members' golf shop just before his third round (cost: $155, no discount), and coming off a red-hot 70 on Friday, Stuart Appleby reeled off three birdies in his first four holes to make the biggest move on Saturday. He gave three strokes back with a triple on No. 17, but still finished with a fine one-over 73.
Playing in his third Masters, English fashion-plate Ian Poulter holes a par putt to start his Saturday round. In a tip of the sartorial hat to three-time Masters champion Sam Snead, Poulter wore a Twilby-style topper throughout the week. Poulter shot 75-75-76, then a 70 to finish T13, his best showing.Playing in his third Masters, English fashion-plate Ian Poulter holes a par putt to start his Saturday round. In a tip of the sartorial hat to three-time Masters champion Sam Snead, Poulter wore a Twilby-style topper throughout the week. Poulter shot 75-75-76, then a 70 to finish T13, his best showing.
Japan's Shingo Katayama stays loose with some distinctive stretches on the second hole Saturday. He parred the hole, but like most of the field, struggled on the day, 80, with six bogeys and one double. He ended the tournament T44, against a T27 showing last year.Japan's Shingo Katayama stays loose with some distinctive stretches on the second hole Saturday. He parred the hole, but like most of the field, struggled on the day, 80, with six bogeys and one double. He ended the tournament T44, against a T27 showing last year.
Justin Rose of England started his third Masters with a 69 and remained high on the leaderboard through the weekend. He bettered the field average on Saturday with a 75, and on Sunday, after birdies at 15 and 16, had the last, best chance to catch Zach Johnson. A double bogey on 17 sealed his fate, and the 71st Masters. With a T5 finish, he'll get another chance next year.Justin Rose of England started his third Masters with a 69 and remained high on the leaderboard through the weekend. He bettered the field average on Saturday with a 75, and on Sunday, after birdies at 15 and 16, had the last, best chance to catch Zach Johnson. A double bogey on 17 sealed his fate, and the 71st Masters. With a T5 finish, he'll get another chance next year.
Through Saturday's play, Zach Johnson of Cedar Rapids was best known for his first Ryder Cup appearance last year and being just one of several Ryder Cup rookies playing well at the 2007 Masters. Having started his third round at even par, he was more than holding his own when a three-putt from close range at 16 Saturday dropped him to four-over for the tournament. He finished with a 76, which placed him in the third-to-last group teeing off on Sunday afternoon.Through Saturday's play, Zach Johnson of Cedar Rapids was best known for his first Ryder Cup appearance last year and being just one of several Ryder Cup rookies playing well at the 2007 Masters. Having started his third round at even par, he was more than holding his own when a three-putt from close range at 16 Saturday dropped him to four-over for the tournament. He finished with a 76, which placed him in the third-to-last group teeing off on Sunday afternoon.
Tiger Woods surveys the slope of the par-3 16th green on Saturday, standing about on the same line of his miraculous chip-in in 2005. He parred the hole all four rounds, but was four-over on the par-3s for the week.Tiger Woods surveys the slope of the par-3 16th green on Saturday, standing about on the same line of his miraculous chip-in in 2005. He parred the hole all four rounds, but was four-over on the par-3s for the week.
Henrik Stenson tosses his golf ball in the creek on the 15th hole during the third round. The big-hitting Swede opened strong, with a 72 (and finished with a 72) but bogeyed the par-5 15th on Saturday, en route to a 77. After missing the cut last year in his first Masters appearance, Stenson finished T17, eight strokes behind Zach Johnson.Henrik Stenson tosses his golf ball in the creek on the 15th hole during the third round. The big-hitting Swede opened strong, with a 72 (and finished with a 72) but bogeyed the par-5 15th on Saturday, en route to a 77. After missing the cut last year in his first Masters appearance, Stenson finished T17, eight strokes behind Zach Johnson.
Tiger Woods takes it high on his second shot on the 17th hole during the third round, on his way to a bogey 5. He later said his downfall at the 71st Masters was his bogey-bogey finishes in the first and third rounds.Tiger Woods takes it high on his second shot on the 17th hole during the third round, on his way to a bogey 5. He later said his downfall at the 71st Masters was his bogey-bogey finishes in the first and third rounds.
Wisconsin Jerry Kelly watches a putt on the 18th green during the third round. Kelly followed up a 69 on Friday with a 78 on Saturday, but finished strong with a 70 on Sunday, good enough for a tie for fifth place. "I can't tell you how many times I've practiced when it's been below freezing," he said. "I mean, that's a normal occurrence for me."Wisconsin Jerry Kelly watches a putt on the 18th green during the third round. Kelly followed up a 69 on Friday with a 78 on Saturday, but finished strong with a 70 on Sunday, good enough for a tie for fifth place. "I can't tell you how many times I've practiced when it's been below freezing," he said. "I mean, that's a normal occurrence for me."
