Masters field goes low, sets third-round record for average score - ESPN

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters looked as if it might be a runaway entering the weekend, but when the sun set on one of the wildest Saturdays in Masters history, a dozen players were within six shots of the lead.

Only two players were within six shots of the lead at the start of the third round.

What is left is a dream final-round scenario for the Masters: A championship that any number of high-profile players can win, setting up a potentially dramatic finish.

While Rory McIlroy was spraying his driver, others were bearing down on flagsticks as 10 players shot 68 or better. Birdies at every turn, and eagles there for the taking. Shane Lowry even had a hole-in-one on the difficult par-3 sixth.

The field's average score on Saturday was 70.63 — a Masters record for the third round, besting the previous lows of 70.769 in 2019 and 70.979 in 1986.

«The course is gettable,» Russell Henley said after shooting a 66.

The way things went Saturday, Jason Day said it might be better not to be atop the leaderboard.

«I feel like the guys that are leading right now have all the pressure,» said Day, who is at 8 under. «I'm just kind of, I'm the chaser. Usually the chasers don't really have a lot of the pressure. Guys at the top of the leaderboard always are trying to defend the lead, whereas I'm pushing forward trying to cut into the lead.»

Cameron Young shot a 65 — matching Scottie Scheffler's round from earlier Saturday — to move into a tie with McIlroy. Sam Burns, who is one shot behind the leaders, shot a 68. Lowry also shot a 68 and is two back. Day (68) and Justin Rose (69) had clawed to within three of the lead and Scheffler was tied for seventh, four back and well within striking distance.

«I was aware that [McIlroy] wasn't kind of