Brooks Koepka leads by two from Jon Rahm as Viktor Hovland gives chase going into final round of The Masters
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Published 09/04/2023 at 16:01 GMT
The Masters looks set to finish as normal on Sunday evening, which is an achievement given the terrible weather of Friday and Saturday. The final round looks set to boil down to a shootout between Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka. The latter returned on Sunday morning to complete his third round with a four-shot advantage, but Rahm ate into it - as did Viktor Hovland.
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The final round of The Masters looks set to be a battle between Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland after they put distance between themselves and the chasing pack in the third round.
Players returned at 8:30am local time to complete their third rounds, after Saturday’s play was called off due to a waterlogged course.
Koepka slept on a four-shot lead overnight, but with two blows of the putter on Sunday that advantage was halved.
When the leading group returned to complete the seventh hole, Koepka missed his par putt and Rahm rolled his in for a birdie.
Rahm was a little wayward early on following the resumption, but his putter bailed him out on a number of occasions.
Koepka hit arguably his worst tee shot of the week on the 10th and found himself blocked out by a tree. He chipped out sideways before hitting a glorious third and rolling in the putt for an unlikely par.
The 12th has often played a big part in the outcome of The Masters on Sundays in years gone by. There will be two instalments this time, and at the first time of asking Koepka made a bogey - which allowed Rahm to get within one.
With the likes of Patrick Cantlay and Matt Fitzpatrick unable to build on the momentum they found on Saturday - and amateur Sam Bennett treading water - Rahm and Koepka began to look at each other in a manner which suggested they felt it was boiling down to match play for a major title.
Rahm blinked on the 13th, which has been a gift of a par five down the years. Augusta lengthened the hole, with the aim being to see it played as it used to be before players were able to send the ball over 300 yards off the tee.
In the cold conditions, it was being played as a genuine three-shot par five. Rahm laid up with his second, but played a poor third and raced his opening putt seven feet beyond the hole. The return putt shaved the hole and with Koepka making a routine par, the lead was back to two.
Another mistake came from the wedge of Rahm on 16, as he came up short of the bunker on the par three and left himself completely stymied. He did well to get his second within 10 feet, but missed the putt to slip three behind Koepka.
There will be swings in momentum through the fourth round, that is for certain. After being firmly in command it was Koepka’s turn to falter as he three-putted from 20 feet on the 17th to allow Rahm to get back within two.
As the two leaders started to show signs of frailty for the first time, Hovland emerged from the pack to suggest it could be a three-way battle for the title.
The Norwegian went on a blistering run of birdies on the back nine, as he climbed to eight-under thanks to a round of 70.
Hovland shaved the hole for birdie on 18, but finds himself within one of Rahm and three of Koepka after the leaders carded 73s.
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