Brooks Koepka extends lead before rain suspends third-round play at Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The rain was steady Saturday and so was Brooks Koepka, who widened his Masters lead to four shots over Jon Rahm before play was called for the day.
Koepka was one under par through six holes before the third round was suspended at 3:15 p.m. ET. Even though Augusta National drains remarkably well, the ground was slick and muddy, and the fairway scars were still evident from the three Georgia pines that fell Friday near the 17th tee.
“I’m not too concerned about playing 29 holes or however many holes we’ve got left,” Koepka said. “It’s part of the deal. I’m pretty sure I’ll be up for it considering it is the Masters. So I don’t think anybody should have a problem with that.”
In the Augusta National pro shop is a door that leads to a room filled by the storied green jackets unseen by non-members until the L.A. Times was given exclusive access.
Rahm, having played the first six holes in one over, is in second at nine under. Behind him is amateur Sam Bennett (six under) and four players tied at five under: Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa.
Last in the 54-player field is Tiger Woods (nine over), who was in danger of missing his first Masters cut as a professional. Instead, he tied a record with his 23rd made cut at the Masters, joining Fred Couples — who, remarkably, also made the cut this year — and Gary Player.
The only Masters cut Woods failed to make was as an amateur in 1996.
“I’ve always loved this golf course, and I love playing this event,” Woods said. “Obviously I’ve missed a couple with some injuries, but I’ve always wanted to play here. I’ve loved it.”
Woods was hovering around the cut line, and his situation looked grim when he bogeyed the final two holes. He finished the second round at three over and tied for 52nd, when the top 50 and ties move on.
It looked as if he might miss the cut until Justin Thomas bogeyed 17 and 18, ensuring Woods would move on and Thomas was done.
Among other notable players to miss the cut were Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
At age 63, Couples broke Bernhard Langer’s record for oldest player to make the cut at the Masters.
“I can’t compete with Viktor Hovland or Jon Rahm or anybody, but I can compete with myself, and that’s really why I come,” Couples said. “That’s what I like to do is make the cut here at an older age.”
The third round is scheduled to resume Sunday morning — the forecast is more promising — quickly followed by the fourth round.
The Masters and Augusta National, a tradition like no other, has inspired golf fans to recreate the holes and scenes in backyards all over the country.
Heading into this year’s tournament, there had been rain in 47 of the first 86 Masters, with eight days postponed. Four of those days were made up by scheduling 36 holes in one day: 1936, 1938, 1939 and 2003.
The last time the Masters spilled into a Monday was 1983. Each of the past four years, adverse weather led to schedule adjustments.
“We’re going to have good weather conditions and most likely a soft golf course,” Rahm said.
That figures to make for some low scores and maybe a down-to-the-wire finish.
Said Bennett: “Hopefully the weather, it’s sunny, and the course is going to be soft. So I think it’s going to be gettable.”
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