Scottie Scheffler struggles with even-par 72 in Masters third round

Scheffler's flat Saturday leaves him seven shots behind McIlroy as he tries to defend his Masters title.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler of the United States walks along the 18th hole during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025. Photo by Chris Turvey/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Scottie Scheffler struggles with even-par 72 during Saturday’s third round of the Masters, casting doubt on his chances of successfully defending his title at Augusta National. The world number one started the day in contention but finished it seven strokes behind 54-hole leader Rory McIlroy, unable to mount the kind of charge that has defined his recent dominance.

On a warm but demanding afternoon at Augusta, Scheffler’s scorecard reflected the frustration that marked much of his round. Two birdies and two bogeys kept him at five-under 211 through 54 holes, a respectable total but not the low number he needed to stay within striking distance of the leader.

A shaky round with missed opportunities

“At times I felt good. At times I felt bad. I just couldn't really get anything going,” Scheffler said after the round. “I ended up with even, which felt like I had to scramble a lot today, actually.”

That scramble showed up in both his body language and his shotmaking. Though he opened the round with a solid birdie on the par-five second hole, he never truly settled into rhythm. After that early success, his play grew erratic. While he avoided the kind of mistakes that derailed his second round—where he recorded five bogeys, his worst showing in any Masters round—Saturday’s effort lacked the sharpness usually associated with the two-time Masters winner.

“I got off to a good start, but after that I didn't really feel like I gave myself enough opportunities,” he admitted. “The opportunities that I did have, I didn't really quite take advantage of.”

Falling behind the Masters leader

Scottie Scheffler finds himself seven shots behind Rory McIlroy heading into Sunday’s final round. That gap may be too wide for even the world’s top-ranked player to close, especially with McIlroy eyeing a career Grand Slam. Still, Scheffler kept the faith, draining a clutch 10-foot par putt on the 18th to preserve his even-par score and maintain some momentum heading into the final round.

“There’s probably a few putts and shots throughout the day that, if they went differently, I think the day may have turned a little bit,” Scheffler said.

His frustration was clear, but so too was his resilience. Scheffler repeatedly saved par from awkward positions, using his wedge play and short game to stay afloat while his long irons failed to deliver many birdie chances.

“You can only shoot so low if you're going to have to wedge it from 100 yards to make par,” he said.

Battling to stay in the hunt

Despite not producing the fireworks that Masters Saturday often demands, Scheffler avoided a collapse. That in itself is a testament to his ability to grind through difficult rounds.

“Today and yesterday were days where I could have shot myself out of the tournament,” he said. “I battled really hard both days. Today I made some great up-and-downs.”

He pointed to his scrambling on several holes where poor drives left him out of position, emphasizing how his mistakes were often followed by determined recoveries.

“Some of the spots I put myself in, I felt like it was a decent job of only making two bogeys,” Scheffler said.

Eyes on Sunday magic

With one round remaining, Scottie Scheffler knows he’ll need something special to climb back into contention. Augusta’s final nine holes have delivered plenty of drama over the years, and Scheffler hopes he can script some of his own.

“Going into tomorrow, have a good front nine and start moving my way up the leaderboard and you never know what can happen on the back nine,” he said. “Just try to get off to a good start, hole a few more putts.”

Though McIlroy leads the pack and has the added motivation of completing his Grand Slam, Scheffler remains unfazed by who’s ahead of him.

“It doesn’t matter to me who’s on top of the leaderboard,” he said. “I try to shoot the lowest score I can shoot on a given day. And today apparently that was only even par.”

Still a chance, but uphill climb

Scottie Scheffler entered the weekend with high hopes of becoming just the fourth player in Masters history to win back-to-back green jackets, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo in that exclusive club. While that dream is not entirely out of reach, his third-round struggles mean he’ll need a near-flawless Sunday to make it happen.

The 28-year-old’s Saturday at Augusta was emblematic of how challenging this course can be, even for the most in-form players in the world. With its swirling winds, lightning-fast greens, and exacting pin positions, Augusta National demands the best of a player’s game—something Scheffler just couldn’t find for 18 holes.

But with a steady demeanor and confidence in his ability to go low, Scheffler remains one to watch. After all, a strong front nine could reinsert him into the conversation, and if the leaders stumble, his persistence may yet pay off.