Masters power rankings: Rose in full bloom as Hoffman falls away
10/10
Justin Rose
Given it was about six months before his Olympic gold medal left his neck, would he ever take the Green Jacket off? That back nine 31, and a best round of the day 67, was mesmeric. Just keep that putter hot for one more day.
9/10
Jordan Spieth
Was as big as 40/1 after his nine. Can you believe he might win this? After a nine? It’s never been done before but Jordan’s just a freak round Augusta. I’m sure all his doubts about the 12th will loom large tomorrow evening. I won’t be betting against him, though.
8/10
Lee Westwood
How costly is that second round going to be? Once again cruised through the back nine to stay firmly attached to the fringes. If only. Two words that could be chiselled onto Westy’s tombstone.
Charl Schwartzel
Where the hell did he come from? He hadn’t merited as much as a shot on the TV until he drained an eagle putt at 15. He won this the last time there was a massive last day pile up, you know…
Ryan Moore
I need a couple of betablockers, my heart’s beating so quickly when Ryan bobs another birdie in the hole. 200/1. I can hardly breathe. Bring it home.
Adam Scott
He’s magnificent, isn’t he? The coolest man in golf. Three birdies and no dropped shots. A third successive 69 might bag him a second Masters title.
7/10
Sergio Garcia
Fred Couples had his miracle moment at the 12th in 1992, has Sergio had his at 13? His Masters hopes seemed about to drown in the water but, somehow, his ball clung to the bank. He bagged a birdie. How crucial will that be?
6/10
Rickie Fowler
If it’s his time in the Butler Cabin, he can look back on a third round where he was brilliant with the putter. The rest of his game, though, will need to step up a gear on Sunday.
5/10
Jon Rahm
Peter Alliss is convinced Rahm’s part of some huge birth certificate conspiracy – “He looks a lot older than 22” – and the Spaniard appeared wiser than his tender years until he dumped his tee shot in to the water at 12 and chucked it all away.
Rory McIlroy
Nothing quite says Guantanamo Bay more than Rory’s orange jump… sorry, trousers. Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. He’d obviously been watching McIlroy’s front nines.
Charley Hoffman
It was all going so well. But he’s not out of it yet.
4/10
Phil Mickelson
So that’s what you get for being conservative. Everyone’s always telling Phil to be sensible and when he flicks an iron from the third he walks away with a double. Having kicked off with two birdies, it completely flattened him.
Thomas Pieters
‘Moving Day’ got lost in translation for Thomas. A double at the 11th sent the Belgian spiralling back into the pack but he’d looked unsettled for most of the day. You feel he’ll need to go very low tomorrow.
Spieth dominates Mickelson in Masters generation game
Masters Social Spotlight: Save your lame apology, Bubba
Masters gallery: Third round pictures
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
