Masters Day 3: Rose closes gap to Spieth
Justin Rose is four behind Jordan Spieth going into the final round
![Jordan Spieth leads The Masters by four from Justin Rose](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WGHNAhwxRX4DFhT9HzTzga-415-80.jpg)
Jordan Spieth continues to lead The Masters after three rounds at Augusta, but England’s Justin Rose reduced his advantage to four shots with a superb 67.
Jordan Spieth continues to lead The Masters after three rounds at Augusta, but England’s Justin Rose reduced his advantage to four shots with a superb 67.
Rose started the third round slowly and was two-over-par through the first five holes. But he came alive after that and played the remaining 13 in seven-under-par. He came back in just 31 shots to complete 54-holes on 12-under-par.
Despite Rose’s run, Spieth reached 18-under-par after 16 holes and, at that stage, he enjoyed a seven-shot lead. But after a poor pitch and three putts at the 17th, a double-bogey brought the American back within touching distance of the field.
It looked as though Spieth might compound that error on the home hole. He sliced his approach into the crowd and faced a tough up-and-down. But he played a fine flop shot and then holed the putt to save par.
"I thought two-under would be a good score today but obviously being four-under and closing at two under is disappointing, but it could have been worse and I was very pleased with that up and down on 18,” he said.
Even with the two dropped shots, Spieth’s 54-hole total of 16-under-par is a new Masters record. During the round Justin Rose was aware of Spieth’s progress but he kept his focus on what he was trying to do.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"My caddie and I were commenting that Spieth was already at 18 under par, which was Tiger's record score. Jordan was so far ahead that you were just playing your own game,” he said. "It was nice to stay patient and get rewarded with a hot finish. It's amazing and it put me in with a great opportunity tomorrow now. It's a great lesson, as well, to stay patient, because you never know when you're going to get your run.”
Phil Mickelson also had a good day on Friday. He too fired a 67 and goes into Sunday alone in third place on 11-under-par, five behind Spieth.
Charley Hoffman is fourth, a further shot back after a solid round of 71. He’s been somewhat overlooked as a potential winner of the event owing to the big names surrounding him on the leaderboard. But at just six shots back with one round to go, he’s still in with a chance.
10 shots back in a tie for fifth place, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy might have too much to do to earn victory in the year’s first Major. Both fired third rounds of 68, but both could have finished better. Rory bogeyed the 16th and 18th holes and Tiger played the last five in one-over.
England’s Paul Casey had a disappointing day. He started promisingly with a birdie at the third to reach eight-under, but he played the remaining holes in three over to finish three rounds on five-under-par, in a tie for 10th place.
U.S Masters Leaderboard After Day 3
1 Jordan Spieth (USA) 64 66 70 200 2 Justin Rose (Eng) 67 70 67 204 3 Phil Mickelson (USA) 70 68 67 205 4 Charley Hoffman (USA) 67 68 71 206 T5 Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 71 68 210 T5 Tiger Woods (USA) 73 69 68 210 T5 Kevin Streelman (USA) 70 70 70 210 T5 Kevin Na (USA) 74 66 70 210 T5 Dustin Johnson (USA) 70 67 73 210 T10 Hideki Matsuyama (Jap) 71 70 70 211 T10 Paul Casey (Eng) 69 68 74 211
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
-
How Many Birdies Scottie Scheffler Has Made In 2024
Scottie Scheffler has had an incredible year he has largely dominated throughout, but how many birdies has the World No.1 achieved?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Omega European Masters Tee Times: Round Four
Matt Wallace leads the way at the Omega European Masters as he looks for his fifth DP World Tour win
By Mike Hall Published
-
What Is Rory McIlroy's Open Championship Record?
We take a closer look at the Northern Irishman's results in golf's oldest Major Championship
By Michael Weston Published
-
What Is Tiger Woods' Open Championship Record?
We take a closer look at the 15-time Major winner's record at golf's oldest Major Championship
By Michael Weston Published
-
‘He Is Too Good To Be Remembered As A Choker' - Golf Monthly Writers On Whether Rory McIlroy Can Bounce Back From Latest Major Heartbreak
Following McIlroy's US Open disappointment at Pinehurst No.2 on Sunday, some of the Golf Monthly team discuss what is likely to happen to him next...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Why Tiger Woods’ Masters Week Was Actually A Huge Success
Woods finished last at an event in which he made the cut for just the third time in his near-30-year pro career at The 2024 Masters - but looking at the result here is too short-sighted...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Who Has Won The Most Money At The Masters?
Jack Nicklaus has won the most Green Jackets in history and Tiger Woods is the most successful champion in the modern era - but the answer is neither of those two...
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
What Shoes Is Rory McIlroy Wearing At The Players Championship?
The Northern Irishman was spotted wearing some special edition shoes for the tournament but what are they? We explain all here.
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Phil Mickelson What’s In The Bag? 2024 Update
Lefty is no stranger to tinkering with his equipment line-up and playing with older clubs. Let's see what he's using in 2024
By Michael Weston Published
-
25 Things You Didn’t Know About Sergio Garcia
Get to know 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia better with these 25 facts
By Elliott Heath Published