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5 Things We Learned On Day 3 At The Masters

Published

10 years ago

Apr 9, 2016

If we learned anything about Augusta National on Saturday, that knowledge falls under the heading of Whoda Thunk It. Reliable golfers made unreliable swings and received irreconcilable outcomes. Young guys played like old men, while oldsters rediscovered their youth. Let’s start with the leader.

Jordan Needs Some Love From His New Driver

Don’t let his comments from early in the week fool you. That replacement driver is not Jordan Spieth’s best friend.

I hit probably five or six balls with the four heads and chose what I thought was the best. Obviously not ideal, but I hit balls obviously this morning before the round, and everything seemed fine. It worked out in today’s round. I did hit a lot of 3-woods today, but my driver didn’t cost me anything.

It did on Saturday, though. Spieth made bad swings with it on Nos. 17 and 18, giving three strokes back to the course in the process. Throughout his third round, the defending champion wore his own 50 shades of something, ranging from the wretched (doubles on Nos. 11 and 18) to the beautiful (birdies on five holes) to the clutch (sizable par putts on at least four others). The question on everyone’s mind are: Which Spieth will show up tomorrow?

Watch @JordanSpieth birdie No. 2 to extend his lead early in the third round of #themasters.https://t.co/D2Gy3n5ZHX

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2016

Related: Jordan Spieth WITB 2016

Wind, Mighty Wind

Forget how it influences shots in the air; fear your ball rolling away, as happened with Billy Horschel. Every year, it seems, we have a rules issue on the 15th hole. This year, we all learned to mark our ball quickly and leave it marked, and that you might have to go back across a water hazard to play your next shot. Between us, isn’t Horschel’s look priceless?

This just seems unfair. The wind blew Billy Horschel's ball in the water at the #Masters https://t.co/FwRB8sKHdD https://t.co/u6nct6aRNd

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 9, 2016

Speaking of that pond (and its neighbor on No. 16 as well), why doesn’t it have a name? Rae’s Creek has a name. Time for a contest or two.

Jason Day and Company, What’s The Story?

Jason Day is as hard to predict as the speed and break on Augusta’s greens. At times he seems ready to take over the tournament, while at others he appears lost. We’ve seen him in the thick of things late Sunday afternoon in Georgia, but now we expect something more. And maybe he does too, which accounts for the instability.

Watch @JDayGolf sink a 69-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to move into a tie for third. #themasters https://t.co/QWAjYcHpqf

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2016

In that same category, we might as well place Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy and yes, even Jordan Spieth. Can you say roller coaster?

Old Guys Still Got It, Langer Edition

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Was Bernhard the only guy to say “You know, if I just take my fist off my chest, I can keep putting this way?” None of us really think he’s going to pull on a Green Jacket for a third time tomorrow, but ever since Tom Watson nearly got it done at Turnberry in 2009, we’ve been thinking that a senior just might win a junior major.

Watch Bernhard Langer chip in from more than 40 feet on No. 14 to move into a tie for third. #themasters https://t.co/BToNJmAwDu

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2016

From Fuzzy To Smylie

Let’s be honest, no one thought a guy called Fuzzy could win a major, yet there he was in 1979, pulling on an avocado jacket, thanks to a guy named Sneed. Zip ahead 37 years and a lad called Smylie is in Sunday’s final pairing with the defending champion. In his post-round interview with Jim Nantz, Smylie let us know that he drives a 2008 Nissan ~~Beater~~ Murano and that he still lives at home with the folks. Yup, sounds just right for the guy who should host next year’s Champions Dinner. Have a look.

Watch @SmylieKaufman10's 3-under-par 69 in under 3 minutes. #themasters https://t.co/FP7C5zZIbn

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 9, 2016

Click here to see the leaderboard through 54 holes at the 2016 Masters. Who do you think will slip on the Green Jacket come sun fall tomorrow?

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

14 Comments

Chuck D

Apr 11, 2016 at 2:07 am

Yeah, because Lang’a is still putting with an illegal putter and questionable technique! Dude’s forearm and wrist is STILL contacting his body, period. And I can not understand why the players,
or the powers that be have not called him on it. It was more than obvious this weekend.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 11, 2016 at 5:00 pm
  
  The putter is not illegal. The putter can be any length . The technique is not illegal, as he is not contacting his body.
  
  Reply Report comment
Forsbrand

Apr 10, 2016 at 1:16 pm

Maybe that’s the answer 37″ driver shafts no need to lengthen courses?

Reply Report comment
Ronald Montesano

Apr 10, 2016 at 11:41 am

That’s a very British/Australian/Kiwi accent thing. I hear it all the time from comedians from those lands.

Reply Report comment
Bif

Apr 10, 2016 at 2:03 am

I need my ProTracer. Now. Now. Now. And now.

Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Apr 10, 2016 at 4:23 pm
  
  Bif your a visual aide kinda guy.
  
  Reply Report comment
MarkB A

Apr 9, 2016 at 11:45 pm

Matsuyama = very impressive.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 10, 2016 at 11:42 am
  
  He was for me, too, until the last three holes. I think that the winner will either get waaaay out front early and watch everyone else collapse, or watch everyone else collapse while tied. I don’t see a Schwarzel happening this year.
  
  Reply Report comment
PT

Apr 9, 2016 at 10:09 pm

Where is my ProTracer!!!! I can’t live without it. Masters failed yet again with the telecast, just in prior years. And how can they NOT broadcast the entire round of the final groups????

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 10, 2016 at 12:07 pm
  
  I’m guessing that Pro Tracer is a proprietary concern, owned by the PGA Tour. Or, it might be leased by the PGA Tour and not something the Masters is interested in utilizing. They like to keep things streamlined and might see Pro Tracer as something associated with PGA Tour, or simply some extra noised they can do without.
  
  Reply Report comment
MarkB A

Apr 9, 2016 at 9:41 pm

Bernhard Langer is ageless. Most guys drop off rapidly on the Champions Tour but Langer is 58 and is still winning.

Reply Report comment
- Bs
  
  Apr 9, 2016 at 10:05 pm
  
  Only because of the broomstick. He would have been long gone if that thing was never allowed in the first place
  
  Reply Report comment
  - If
    
    Apr 10, 2016 at 12:30 am
    
    Duh obviously he is
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Ronald Montesano
    
    Apr 10, 2016 at 11:38 am
    
    Bs,
    
    What you are asking the USGA to do, retroactively, is legislate against length of a golf club. If a drive can be 48 inches long, why not a putter or a 5 iron? If you are asking the USGA to legislate against maximum length, is legislating proper length the next step? If so, how does that impact Bryson DeChambeau and his same-length irons?
    
    Reply Report comment

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