Scottie Scheffler cards career-best Masters round as Shane Lowry hits historic second ace

After not really firing on all cylinders as he opened with rounds of 70 and 74 in the company of Bob MacIntyre, the world No 1 wasted no time moving through the gears in the third round. From the top of the hill, he knocked a fairway wood to six feet at the second for an eagle. It was the third one he’d made there over the years.

Four pars followed before he then birdied the seventh, eighth and ninth, almost holing his approach there, to be out in 31. Just before halfway leader Rory McIlroy headed out under a baking-hot sun, Scheffler’s name had appeared on the giant leaderboards around Augusta National.

The 2022 and 2024 winner also picked up a shot at the tough 11th, where a crisply-struck iron shot was dispatched to eight feet.

On Friday, Scheffler had found water with his second shot at the 13th then did exactly the same at the 15th, costing him a bogey-6 on each occasion. Birdies would have been welcome as he returned to that part of the course but, instead, pars went down on the card.

As had been the case the previous day, Scheffler was long with his approach at the 15th. He’ll be aiming to get his irons dialled in for one final crack at that on Sunday.

Not long after Shane Lowry had raised the biggest roar of the week nearby as he made a hole-in-one at the sixth, Scheffler knocked his tee shot at the 16th to ten feet and celebrated it being sent straight into the hole with a wee fist pump.

He was up against a tree with his tee shot at the 17th and did well to advance it. From around 100 yards, he stiffed the next one. This was the sort of golf that had made him the game’s dominant force since just before claiming the first of those Green Jackets.

A par to finish saw him sign for a bogey-free 65 - his best effort here in 26 rounds - and a seven-under total. More of the same will probably be required in the closing circuit.

“That's just a terrible question,” replied Scheffler, who has become a bit more prickly, to being asked what his score could have or should have been. “Next question. Awful.”

Responding to another question, he then answered the first one. “It wasn't maybe that bad, but it definitely could have been lower. I did what I needed to do. Went out and executed to give myself some opportunities, and more of that tomorrow, and I think I'll be in a good spot.”

Lowry, incidentally, created history with his ace. Having also made one at the 16th in the final round in 2016, the Irishman became the first player to make multiple Masters holes-in-one.

Speed of greens prove talking point

The speed of the greens, meanwhile, continued to prove a talking point. On Friday, American Andrew Novak reckoned that water had been put on the putting surfaces overnight. “Yeah, I three-putted four times early today because I was not prepared at all for how slow the greens were,” he declared.

Watching on TV, former world No 1 Lee Westwood reckoned that was still the case for the penultimate round. “Still looks a bit too receptive out there for a Saturday at The Masters,” he opined on social media.