Feel-good moment of the day – Knox has a knock with Day
This story won’t exactly tug on your heart strings but it’s always a nice tale when a marker gets to play in a major. You might remember this Augusta member from his rounds with Sergio and Rory and on Saturday he had a knock with Jason Day.
And he can play having won the Georgia Mid-Amateur three times as well as holding the course record from the member tees… with a 61.
The 54-year-old has a habit of outscoring the Tour stars, ask Rory how he got on, but Day got the better of him. Knox was out in 39, he was given a couple of short ones to keep the pace of play up, and he dropped another couple for a 77 to Day’s 69.
Spare a thought for – Ernie Els
Sunday will be Els’ final competitive round at Augusta National. On Saturday he dropped to the bottom of the pack after an 83, though he did hole a monster putt at the last. A bit like Greg Norman it just wasn’t meant to be in Georgia for the South African – from 2000 to 2004 he was never outside the top six – and he will say goodbye in Sunday in front of a lot of family and friends.
He might be remembered by some for that putting horror show last year, most of us should recall all the good times which were all performed with class and style.
“If you can’t win it in 23 goes, maybe you should try something else,” Els said with a smile.
Best shot – Jordan Spieth
For someone who has a record of 2-1-2 at Augusta there is plenty of talk about Spieth’s so-called demons. Last year he made his infamous quadruple at the 12, one round and 12 months later he made a nine at the 15th. Two quadruples in two rounds.
So we all sit up and get a bit more anxious than normal every time he stands on the 12th tee or the middle of the 15th fairway. On Thursday he spun his approach off the front and then made more of a mess from there.
On Saturday he did this…
How would @JordanSpieth handle 15 today at #theMasters?
There's your answer. pic.twitter.com/bKqp6WKclg
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 8, 2017
Worst shot – Charley Hoffman
The top-right pin at the 16th is most likely the dullest flag ‘location’ of any in world golf as a series of mid irons find their way to about 40 feet away from where players generally two putt. The only problematic miss is to the right which leaves a sticky chip.
So Charley Hoffman, who was joint leader at the time, takes the honours here after dumping his tee shot into the drink. No doubt he was aiming for the heart of a very large green and the resultant five dropped him off the top spot.
Jon Rahm’s effort at the 12th was leading the way up until Hoffman’s stinker. You can talk all you like about swirling winds and what not but the Spaniard’s tee shot barely made the bank.
Best bit of luck – Sergio Garcia, second to 13
This has already been referred to the Spaniard’s ‘Couples Moment’ after his long iron somehow stayed on the bank of Rae’s Creek instead of getting wet. Similar to the American he chipped and putted but, for Garcia, it was for a birdie.
With a puff of the cheeks he knew he had got away with one. If he wins it will be replayed for years, if he doesn’t it will be forgotten about by Monday morning.
Best image – Jon Rahm
Fancy that for your third shot?
Best dressed – Adam Scott
It was only a matter of time before this hunk of love topped this category. Sid Waddell once said of Steve Beaton: “He’s not Adonis, he’s THE donis.”
He could have been talking about Scott.
Even with the possible big no-no of a top button fastening – he hasn’t, has he? – he was still Best in Show on Saturday and it’s likely that he’s saved his best outfit for Sunday so expect the Aussie beauty to double up.
Got dressed in the dark – Matt Kuchar
Likewise Kuch, as long as he was going to play all four days then he was nailed on for one of these. I don’t suppose the Floridian really puts a lot of thought into his style but he’s only 38 – I know – and he is a multi-millionaire so you might argue that he could look a bit less ‘October Texas Scramble’.
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