World No.1 Scottie Scheffler delivered an impressive performance at Augusta National, carding a career-best round of 65 during the Masters, placing him in a strong position heading into the final day. The seven under par round was notable for being bogey-free, but one reporter’s line of questioning provoked a sharp response from Scheffler.
After his stellar display, a journalist posed a rather unusual question, asking what Scheffler felt his score “could have or should have been.” The golfer quickly dismissed the inquiry, stating, “That’s just a terrible question. Next question. Awful.” Despite the reporter’s misstep, Scheffler completed the day in a tie for seventh at -7, four strokes behind the leaders, Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young.
Scheffler’s front nine was particularly outstanding, marked by a 31 – his best start across his appearances at the Masters, which include two previous victories. He eagled the par-5 second hole and continued to put pressure on the leaderboard, although he missed some key birdie opportunities with errant putts during the back nine.
Reflecting on his performance, Scheffler admitted, “It wasn’t maybe that bad – but it definitely could have been lower.” He emphasised his focus on executing well and giving himself chances, acknowledging the importance of consistency moving into the final round.
Although he had strong approach shots throughout the round, conversion was an issue; he missed several short putts that could have extended his momentum. Despite these setbacks, Scheffler felt he was striking the ball well, particularly with his irons, and gave himself numerous opportunities to score.
The golfer’s resilience showed as he ended with a birdie on the par-3 16th but faced a near miss with an 8-foot putt on the following hole. Even on the final hole, despite a tricky position near a tree, he secured par with a tap-in, wrapping up a solid but perhaps underappreciated round.
In summary, while Scheffler showed tremendous skill and tenacity, his reflections highlighted a desire to improve and capitalise on opportunities as he looks ahead to the Masters’ conclusion.