Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters After Stunning Third Round
Scottie Scheffler Leads Masters After Stunning Third Round...
Scottie Scheffler surged to a four-shot lead at the 2026 Masters Tournament on Saturday, electrifying Augusta National with a bogey-free 65. The world No. 1 is now poised to win his second green jacket in three years, drawing massive crowds and dominating sports headlines nationwide.
The 29-year-old Texan carded seven birdies during his third-round masterclass, including a 30-foot putt on the iconic 16th hole. His 14-under total through 54 holes broke his own tournament record set during his 2024 victory, putting him firmly in control heading into Sunday's final round.
Scheffler's performance sparked immediate reactions across social media, with #Scheffler trending on Twitter as golf fans marveled at his precision. Tiger Woods, who missed the cut Friday, called it "some of the most complete golf I've seen at Augusta" during CBS's broadcast.
The tournament leader faced his only serious challenge from Sweden's Ludvig Ã…berg, who sits second at 10-under. Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled with putting and fell seven shots back, effectively ending his bid for the career Grand Slam this year.
Sunday's final round begins at 2:30 PM ET with Scheffler and Ã…berg teeing off last at 2:50 PM. Weather forecasts predict ideal scoring conditions, setting the stage for potential drama. A Scheffler victory would mark his sixth PGA Tour win in his last 11 starts, cementing his status as golf's dominant force.
Augusta National reported record merchandise sales Saturday, with Scheffler-branded items among the top sellers. Sportsbooks now list him as a 1-5 favorite, the shortest Masters odds since Tiger Woods in 2001. The tournament concludes Sunday evening on CBS.
