Masters Isn't a One-Man Show Anymore

👋 Hey Patrons,

Rory McIlroy had a historic lead heading into R3, but it all disappeared halfway through. The unlikely close competitor happens to be Cameron Young. We will look at why Young already has a chance at history, talk about Shane Lowry’s ace, Spieth’s acrobatics, some key stats from Saturday, and more.

P.S. If you missed out on last night’s coverage, check it out here. This is a detailed coverage of the Saturday round. But expect us to be back in your inbox soon with more breaking news and numbers from the final day.

Let’s get started…

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

WATCH: Scottie Scheffler Snaps at Reporter After Round Three ↗

Koepka’s Wife Issues Statement After Her Masters Outfit Sparked Criticism ↗

Fans Call Phil Mickelson a ‘Liar’ Over His ANGC Remarks ↗

Friday seemed too good to be true. Historic scores, leads, and whatnot. It almost seemed like Augusta was holding back its size and scope. So it decided to humble its leader, Rory McIlroy (-11/T1). On the 11th, his approach hooked into the lake. Just watch bitter disappointment wash over his face as his six-shot edge went up in smoke.

The monster, the creature, and the storm. Is it obvious now?

But the day wasn’t bad for everyone. As Rory's solo show folded its tent on the 11th, Cameron Young (-11/T1) climbed up to grab his first 54-hole co-lead in a major. He is this season's Players Championship winner. That makes it three straight years The Players winner tees it up in Sunday's final pairing at the Masters. Young hit 12 of the 14 fairways and reached 16 greens in regulation.

Last year, Rory took The Players and the Masters. Young has a chance to repeat it. But there is one Scottie Scheffler (-7/T7). He kicked off the third round a full dozen shots adrift, yet stormed into the final round just four back. If he wins, it would mark the second-biggest 36-hole comeback in men's major history.

Meanwhile, Sam Burns (-10/3rd) rolls into the final round just one stroke off the pace. Hot on his heels is Shane Lowry (-9/4th). Justin Rose and Jason Day are tied for fifth. But no matter how you look at it, the Masters just went from Rory’s to lose to everyone’s game.

The Masters Is Better When Every Shot Means Something

Azaleas are blooming. Augusta is unforgiving. And every swing can flip the board. This weekend, trade the Masters on Novig—the sports trading app built for fans who know golf.

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Historic: Shane Lowry knows when to play his cards right. And when to celebrate history. In Round 3, his 7-iron at the 190-yard sixth landed softly on the green before trickling in. Lowry became the first to have two career holes-in-one at the Masters. He turned to the crowd, roaring and firing them up. But it was Harris English’s (-1/T33) reaction that tells you everything. Watch how he honored Lowry.

Rude: Folks love piling on Rory McIlroy—it's the usual circus—but heckling at the Masters? It’s as rare as hen's teeth, yet it happened. In R3 on the 17th, a patron hollered right before Rory's tee shot. It was an obscure nod to Mel Gibson's Ransom. Just watch this moment. Doesn't it grind your gears?

Cool: When tournaments hit a sleepy lull, bet on Jordan Spieth (-1/T33) to spice things up. In Round 2, he hit a patron with his tee shot and then offered him a signed glove. In R3, Spieth showed there is a little innocent child hidden in him. While most pros would have simply skirted around a tributary of Rae’s Creek, Spieth decided to leap over it like a stag. Check it out here.

Saturday’s Result: 71.75% of you said round two was more thrilling than round one.

In case you missed it, we have returned with key stats from round three.

32.2%: That’s Cameron Young’s current win probability, which skyrocketed from 1.4% post-Round 1 to 3.4% after Round 2, and now 32.2%. Rory McIlroy opened R3 as the runaway favorite at 68.9%. But blame the irons. He sat 53rd in SG: Approach and 47th in GIR. That duo tanked his odds to 31.6%. Young’s 27th in SG: Approach isn't flashy, but pairing it with field-leading 1st in GIR means he’s consistently finding the right sections of greens. Here is the proof.

3.93: Augusta has historically favored long hitters, a fact that chairman Fred Ridley decided to resolve pretty soon. This time, though, the course is favoring accuracy over distance. Case in point, our co-leader Cameron Young. In R3, he ranked 4th in driving distance and 7th in accuracy. In fact, long and accurate hitters gained 3.93 strokes on the field. Check out Cameron Young’s drive that set up a birdie on the 16th.

17: Scottie Scheffler vaulted 17 spots up the leaderboard in R3, almost entirely on the strength of his iron play. He gained nearly five strokes on approach alone, ranking 1st in SG: Approach. He ranked 55th on approach this season. Even here, the jump was dramatic. In Round 2, he ranked 55th in SG: Approach and was losing a stroke. Look at this stupendous approach shot from the World No. 1.

We're not alone in this, but we're hooked on Masters munchies. Pimento cheese sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, blueberry muffins... and plenty more. The menu's loaded yet wallet-friendly. That's why they’re must-haves. The Masters flaunts it proudly, too. This year, Augusta upped the ante with a new one.

The Candy Bar is a dark-milk chocolate mashup loaded with caramel, rice crisps, and hazelnut crunch. Teaming up with Bitzel's Chocolate, an Atlanta-area artisan chocolate factory, they've priced it at just $2.25. Sure, the name is a bit plain-Jane, but watch patrons relishing it. Doesn't it look good enough to eat?

The Masters isn’t just a feast for the eyes. It’s a tradition for the taste buds, too. These five fan-favorite bites are as legendary as Augusta itself.

1. Mini Moon Pie: A nostalgic chocolate-coated treat with marshmallow sweetness. Here is how you can replicate it at home. 

2. Pimento Cheese Sandwich: The undisputed icon of Masters concessions. Check out its history.

3. Egg Salad Sandwich: This Augusta classic delivers pure comfort in every bite. A fan decided to pay tribute to it in a unique way.

4. Georgia Pecan Caramel Chocolate Cluster: Rich chocolate, gooey caramel, and crunchy Georgia pecans come together in a sweet Southern indulgence. There’s a poem featuring it.

5. Chicken Biscuit: A warm, buttery biscuit wrapped around crispy chicken goodness. Watch the beauty of it here.

We’re expanding our coverage during the Masters. Expect more frequent updates from Augusta National delivered to your inbox daily.

As always, we are curious to know your thoughts and open to your suggestions. So let us know in the comments below.

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