[ad_1]
There isn’t a lot that may fluster Scottie Scheffler.
The American got here into Augusta Nationwide this week because the favorite to win The Masters and the No 1 golfer on this planet whereas on the identical time, away from the course, his spouse is anticipating their first youngster imminently.
He confronted a primary spherical impacted by rain delays and threats of storms, a Friday with winds that ruined many rounds after which on Saturday treacherous, quick, greens and a leaderboard that was continuously shifting round him.
However the man searching for a second Masters title after his triumph in 2022 ended the third spherical with a one-stroke lead over compatriot Collin Morikawa.
“I’m happy with how I performed at present. It was a superb combat on the market. The golf course was extraordinarily difficult. The greens have been very agency, very quick, and it was extraordinarily tough once more at present. So most likely searching for extra of the identical tomorrow,” stated Scheffler after ending his spherical with an eight-foot birdie putt to regain the solo lead.
“It was very difficult on the market. However it’s a Main championship. I don’t assume Augusta desires their golf course to be very straightforward,” he quipped.
REPORT: Scheffler grabs Masters lead
Along with his trademark calmness, the 27-year-old coped with the blow of a double-bogey on the tenth and bogey on the eleventh by bouncing again with an eagle on the thirteenth.
Whereas others round him noticed their rounds run away from them, notably Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who suffered 5 straight bogeys on the again 9, Scheffler was his attribute calm self.
Scheffler is never demonstrative throughout play however he reacted to his eagle with an impassioned fist pump that indicated the putt’s significance.
“I’d say [it was] extraordinarily necessary. That’s why I believe you noticed a little bit of emotion there from me on 13 as a result of it was an necessary time within the event. And it was good type of turning my Saturday round,” he stated.
Eagle for Scheffler. He returns to a tie for the lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/3mWXrXVTL6
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2024
Scheffler, with eight wins on the PGA Tour, is massively revered by fellow gamers and the broader {golfing} group however, maybe due to his subdued fashion, has but to turn into a agency fan favorite.
Extra followers had began to get behind him by the point he bought out of issue in a difficult place within the pine needles on the third and bought up and down for an unlikely birdie.
It was noticeable all through stretches of his spherical that Scheffler had his head down, as if looking at his footwear.
“I do my finest to attempt to keep in my little world on the market,” he stated. “And generally once you get little surprises … simply attempting to do my finest to remain within the second. So perhaps that’s why my head was down a bit extra.”
By the point he bought to Amen Nook, it could not have been “Scottie Mania” however there was actual help for the modest Texan.
He can anticipate rather more of that on Sunday as he appears to turn into the 18th golfer to have gained a number of Masters titles and stated that regardless of his generally withdrawn demeanor on target, he enjoys listening to the help.
“I attempt to feed off the power from the gang just a little bit. It’s good strolling onto these tee containers and getting a pleasant ovation,” he stated.
“I double 10 and bogey 11, after which we have been strolling up that tee on 12 and everyone type of stands up behind the tee and begins cheering me on. It’s a very nice feeling to have the gang behind you. I attempt to embrace that as a lot as potential on the market.”
With out the corporate of his pregnant spouse Meredith, Scheffler has some shut associates and outdated faculty buddies staying with him on Saturday night time.
He stated he expects to have meals delivered and perhaps play some playing cards however he additionally has plans in place ought to there be an necessary name from Meredith.
“I undoubtedly have a strategy to get house fairly rapidly,” he stated. “I’ll be obtainable to go house then every time I have to.”
© Agence France-Presse
[ad_2]
Source link
