Koepka, Rahm set for showdown; Woods withdraws
AUGUSTA, April 9
Brooks Koepka will take a two-shot lead over Jon Rahm into the final round of a Masters Green Jacket showdown on a marathon day of high drama at Augusta National that could be a watershed moment in the LIV Golf and PGA Tour feud.
But what had appeared to be a two-horse race has turned into a threeway battle as Norway’s Viktor Hovland staged a back-nine charge to get within three of the leader.
After two days of interrupted play caused by lashing rains and ferocious winds that toppled trees, the field of 53 returned to the water-logged course to complete the third round with LIV Golf standard bearer Koepka four clear of Spaniard Rahm.
But just seconds after the horn sounded to resume play Koepka saw that advantage chopped in half when he took a bogey at the seventh while Rahm rolled in a nine-footer for birdie. Neither Rahm or Koepka would card a birdie on the back-nine, both finishing with 1-over 73s.
Four-time Major winner Koepka, who started the third round on Saturday two ahead, will go into the fourth round with the same advantage sitting top the leaderboard on 11-under.
“I started yesterday at two. I don’t know what else to say. I’m in the same spot,” said Koepka, who has held a share of the 54 hole lead at a Major three times and won all three.
Hovland made it considerably more interesting. Trailing by 10 at the turn, the 25-year-old ran together five consecutive birdies from the 11th for a 2-under 70.
The final day at Augusta was played without golf’s biggest name after Tiger Wood’s withdrawal 75 minutes before third-round play resumed. Woods, the last of 54 players to make the cut, was limping down the 17th fairway on 6-over through seven holes when play was called off on Saturday due to bad weather.
The 47-year-old American has won the Masters five times, most recently in 2019, but he has struggled since his car crash in 2021. Woods announced he was withdrawing due to a foot injury.
“I am disappointed to have to WD (withdraw) this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis,” Woods said on Twitter. “Thank you to the fans and to The Masters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!”
Plantar fasciitis is tissue inflation that causes pain in the heel. — Reuters
