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LIVE BLOG: Marathon Sunday in Store at The Masters in Augusta

By Brandon Plotnick
Jon Rahm of Spain and Brooks Koepka of the United States look on from the third green during the final round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.

A marathon Sunday is ahead of us from Augusta National Golf Club, where we’ll likely get somewhere around 11-plus hours of golf today, to close out the 2023 Masters Tournament.

Let’s look how we got here:

Back in the first round, things were just going great. Thursday was a little warm, but manageable, and low scores were dropping all over the place.

But then Friday came, and along with it, chaos. Things started off fine enough, with a decent round, and mostly dodging the impending weather. But an afternoon brief delay was just the start of drama. Not long after resuming play, trees fell on the 17th hole, causing play to be halted for the day.

Saturday morning brought us miserable cold, wet conditions, but the golfers soldiered on. Those who had been lucky enough to finish their second rounds on Friday had a significant advantage over those who had to come out in this stuff.

But mostly, we all got through a delirious, long Saturday before play was suspended after hours of downpouring rain.

And now, it’s Sunday, at The Masters. We made it through the third round this morning, and now the final round has already began. So follow along as we sprint to the Green Jacket at Augusta National Golf Club.

  • 7:22 p.m. - Jon Rahm is Your Masters Champion

    The Masters - Final Round jon rahm augusta national

    Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.

    It seemed somewhat unlikely going into the day Sunday, but Jon Rahm ended up running away with the 2023 Masters Tournament, giving him his first Green Jacket at Augusta National. (READ FULL STORY HERE.)

    With the 12-under finish in the tournament, he won his second major championship (the 2021 U.S. Open being the other), and he becomes the fourth Spaniard to win the Green Jacket. Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka finished tied for second, four shots back at 8-under par.

  • 7:08 p.m. - Rahm Up 4 on Last

    Jon Rahm takes a 4-shot lead into the final hole.

    But he just drove it WAY left of the 18th fairway. He’s playing a provisional for a lost ball, just in case. Maybe a little tension.

  • 6:53 p.m. - Bennett's Amateur History

    Sam Bennett may not have had the final round he hoped for at Augusta National, but he still left an indelible mark on The Masters.

    Bennett stumbled a bit on Sunday, but still managed to finish at 2-under for the tournament. Unfortunately not in the top 12 to guarantee a spot in next year’s Masters, but he’s got a solid future ahead of him.

    Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka just got a birdie on 16 to move back into solo second place. He’s at 9-under. Jon Rahm had a par on the hole. He’s up 3.

  • 6:40 p.m. - Koepka Back to T2

    Brooks Koepka finally got a birdie, on the 15th hole, to get back to 8-under, and a tie for second place.

    He’s still four shots back of Jon Rahm, who had a par on the hole. Three holes left to play.

  • 6:20 p.m. - Rahm Now Up 4

    With four holes to play Jon Rahm is up four shots. It’s almost all over but the jacket wearing.

  • 6:05 p.m. - Koepka Finally Birdies... But so Does Rahm

    Brooks Koepka finally got his first birdie of the round, on a miraculous save on the 13th hole. That’s got him tied with Phil for second at 8-under.

    Unfortunately, Jon Rahm birdied the hole as well, and has a three-shot cushion now with five holes to play.

  • 5:45 p.m. - Pulse Check

    Things are getting tense at Augusta National, as everyone has finished at least 11 holes.

    Let’s take a look at where things stand:

    • Jon Rahm still leads by 2, he’s at 10-under through 11
    • Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are tied for second at 8-under. Phil is done for the day, and Koepka is on the 12th.
    • Jordan Spieth is in the clubhouse at 7-under. Cameron Young (through 17) and Russell Henley (through 12) are at 7-under as well.
    • Defending champion Scottie Scheffler has faded back again, and is 5-under through 16.

    We’re down to the closing third of the final round. Let’s see where the magic goes.

    (Woh, as we were about to hit post, Brooks Koepka is falling apart on 12. More on that soon.)

  • 5:15 p.m. - Phil Pheeling Phabulous

    Just as we all predicted, Phil Mickelson is your leader in the clubhouse, as he just birdied 18 to finish his final round with a 65. He’s 8-under, and two shots back of Jon Rahm.

    Phil Mickelson is 52 years old and will almost certainly finish as the oldest player to ever place in the top 5 of the Masters.

    Jordan Spieth had a bogey on 18 that dropped him out of that tie, and he’s 7-under in the clubhouse.

  • 5:05 p.m. - Disaster On Front 9 for Koepka

    For the first time in what seems like…ages, Brooks Koepka is not alone in first or second place.

    Koepka closed his front 9 with a bogey, putting him at 3-over for the day, and he’s now tied for second place with Jordan Spieth.

    And Jon Rahm just came back to them a little too, as he had a bogey on 9, and is 10-under, to lead by two.

    Phil Mickelson and Russell Henley are just three shots back now, at 7-under.

  • 4:55 p.m. - Mickelson is LIVing it Up

    The Masters - Round Three

    Phil Mickelson of the United States looks on from the 18th green during the continuation of the weather delayed third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

    Phil Mickelson just came about an inch away from an eagle that would have shot him up into third place alone. Instead, his birdie on 17 has him tied with playing partner Jordan Spieth at 7-under par.

    Notably, if Mickelson can stay up in the top five, he will become the oldest player to EVER finish in the top five of the Masters. He’s 6-under on his round.

    (We posted this too soon… Jordan Spieth actually birdied that hole. He’s now 3 back at 8-under.)

  • 4:45 p.m. - Rahm Now Up 2

    Jon Rahm now leads by 2 with 10 holes to play. He just birdied 8, and is 2-under on the day.

    Jordan SPieth and Russell Henley sit two back of Koepka at 7-under.

  • 4:35 p.m. - Air Jordan

    The pack in third has lost one member, as Jordan Spieth has vaulted above them with ANOTHER birdie, this time on 15. He’s now 7-under and three back of Rahm, who is in trouble on 8.

    The group at 6-under, also lost Scheffler. Our jinx carries on. But they gained Phil Mickelson and Cameron Young.

    Man there’s a lot going on right now. How can you not love this?

  • 4:25 p.m. - Lucky Sixes

    While Rahm and Koepka battle at the top, there is a big party going on in the battle for third place.

    Six different golfers are tied at 6-under par, including our defending champion, Scottie Scheffler. He’s not gonna come back and win this thing is he?

    Scheffler has company with Jordan Spieth, who has seven birdies on his wild round (he’s given two shots back too), on the 15th hole.

    Gary Woodland is 3-under on his round, and is playing the 11th right now at 6-under.

    Russell Henley, Viktor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay are all on the 8th hole, at 6-under.

    And literally as we type this, a seventh golfer just joined the group of 6-unders. Sahith Theegala just tried to copy the infamous Tiger Woods shot from off the green on 16, and it fell for a birdie.

  • 4:05 p.m. - Down Goes Hovland

    Our leaders got a little more wiggle room (for themselves anyway), as Viktor Hovland just double-bogeyed 6 and dropped back to 6-under. He’s in a pack of golfers four back of our leaders.

    Gary Woodland (through 9) and Russell Henley (through 6) are also 6-under.

    And don’t look now, but Phil Mickelson is now just five shots back, tied for sixth.

    Joining Phil at 5-under are Jordan Spieth (through 13), Cameron Young (through 11), Scottie Scheffler (through 10), Patrick Reed (through 8) and Patrick Cantlay (through 6).

    And as we type this, Jon Rahm has become your solo leader, as Brooks Koepka has bogeyed the sixth hole to drop to 9-under. That’s a bogey on each of the par 3 holes so far for Koepka.

  • 3:55 p.m. - Amateur Standing Strong

    While the pressure seemed to get to Sam Bennett in the third round, he’s been solid and steady so far in the final round.

    The amateur out of Texas A&M is even par through 6 holes on the round, with pars on all those holes. He’s 4-under overall, tied for ninth.

  • 3:40 p.m. - All Tied Up

    Brooks Koepka looked to be running away with this tournament at one point.

    Now he’s lost his entire margin. A bogey at the Par 3 4th has Koepka at -10, right along side Jon Rahm.

    They are both two clear of Viktor Hovland, and three clear of Gary Woodland.

  • 3:27 p.m. - Lead Down to 1

    The third hole could prove to be a turning point. Brooks Koepka scrapped together another par, but Jon Rahm drilled a beautiful birdie putt.

    Here’s the leaderboard right now:

    • Koepka -11 through 3
    • Rahm -10 through 3
    • Hovland -8 through 3
    • Henley -7 through 4
    • Woodland -6 through 7
    • Cantlay -5 through 4
    • Spieth -5 through 11
    • Young -5 through 8
    • Matsuyama -5 through 4

  • 3:10 p.m. - Georgia Pride

    The Masters - Final Round

    Russell Henley of the United States plays his second shot on the first hole during the final round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

    UGA alum Russell Henley has quietly vaulted up to fourth place alone. He’s 7-under for the tournament, after he just birdied his second hole of the day.

    Lurking underneath Henley is Patrick Cantlay at 6-under, and a surging Jordan Spieth at 5-under.

  • 3 p.m. - Jordan Goes Wild

    Jordan Spieth currently sits 4-under through his front nine, but how he got there was pretty crazy.

    Birdie-birdie-par-bogey-birdie-bogey-par-birdie-birdie. A perfect palindrome, as Kyle Porter pointed out.

    Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland just missed a birdie on 2 that would have brought him to a tie for second.

  • 2:45 p.m. - Leaders Save Par

    Somehow, Brooks Koepka drove onto the wrong fairway and saved par.

    Somehow, Jon Rahm flubbed his second shot and saved par.

    Viktor Hovland also had a par on 1, and is still one shot back.

    Cameron Young and Gary Woodland have vaulted up to join the pack at 5-under, alongside Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay.

  • 2:33 p.m. - Fore Please. Now Driving...

    The quest for the green jacket begins in earnest now. Every golfer is on the course, and there appear to be numbers available…at least for a little while.

    Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm have a pack of golfers behind them, waiting for mistakes, and hoping for a little luck of their own.

    Koepka put his drive on 1 WAY left, so there’s already hope in many eyes.

    Rahm didn’t flinch though, putting his drive in the fairway. Remember, he’s down 2 shots now… and double-bogeyed the first hole of the tournament. He’s been brilliant, mostly, since.

  • 2 p.m. - A Showdown is Looming

    Yes, someone other than Brooks Koepka or Jon Rahm COULD win The Masters today. But history tells us that’s not likely to happen.

    So the showdown with these two feels a whole lot like a match-play shootout between two heavyweight championship caliber golfers.

    They tee off at 2:33 p.m. and we’re getting excited.

  • 1:30 p.m. - Sahith and Jordan and Phil, Oh My

    We step away for just a few minutes, and the birdies start dropping. Well, for some players anyway.

    Sahith Theegala is staying red hot, as he’s got birdies on three of the first four holes. He’s now T9 at 3-under overall.

    In one of the more interesting pairings of the weekend, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson are playing together and, that’s always an adventure.

    Spieth started his day with birdies on the first two holes to get to 3-under. And Lefty had a birdie on the second (and some typical wild Phil shots on the first and third), and he’s 2-under for the tournament.

    Meanwhile, pretty much every golfer who has started their round on the back 9 is on the struggle bus today. Starting a round on the 10th at Augusta is never a walk in the park, but when it’s cold and you’re already struggling… good luck.

    Sepp Straka, Tommy Fleetwood and Max Homa are all 2-over on their rounds, just through two or three holes on that back nine.

  • 12:45 p.m.

    We’re going to take a little lunch break while things get going here. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed much yet.

    Though Sahith Theegala had a lovely birdie on the first hole to move to 1-under on his tournament.

  • 12:20 p.m. - Tee Times and Pairings

    We now know our final round tee times and pairings.

    The first groups will go off on hole 1 and 10 at 12:30 p.m.

    Our leaders will hit the course at 2:33 p.m. (See all the pairings here.)

  • 11:50 a.m. - On to the Final Round

    So our final pairing will be Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. We kind of figured that earlier, but it’s now official.

    It is startling though, that with Koepka, Rahm and Sam Bennett playing together, not a single one of them had a birdie anywhere on the back 9 in the third round.

    That’s allowed for things to get a little closer, at least.

    Viktor Hovland went 2-under in his third round, including the wild string of five straight birdies. He nearly had another birdie at 18 that would have put him in a tie with Rahm. Instead he’s one back.

    Patrick Cantlay will play with Hovland in the final round, as he shot the round of the day(s) in the third, going 4-under 68. He’s 6-under for the tournament, five shots back.

    Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Henley will be in the next group back, as both are 5-under.

    And then it’ll be Collin Morikawa playing with Bennett in the fourth from last group. They both finished 4-under, with rough third rounds of 74 and 78 respectively.

    The pairings and tee times will be coming in just a few minutes. We’ll have them for you right away. And be ready, the final round will start soon!

  • 11:35 a.m. - Final Round Hole Locations

    Well this could get interesting…

  • 11:30 a.m. - Koepka's Turn to Flinch

    Brooks Koepka has led at the end of the third round in three different Major Championships. He’s won all of them. With one hole to play, he looks like that will be the case again today… at least the leading part.

    But, he did just give a shot back with a bogey on 17, and is now 1-over on his round. Rahm made par and is 2 shots back.

  • 11:15 a.m. - Rahm's Turn to Flinch

    The Masters - Round Three

    Jon Rahm of Spain reacts to his missed par putt on the 13th green during the continuation of the weather delayed third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

    Jon Rahm flinched on the 16th hole, and it’s cost him dearly.

    Rahm missed a makeable par putt, and he’s now 9-under, three strokes back of Brooks Koepka, who parred the hole.

    Rahm is now just one shot ahead of Viktor Hovland, with 2 holes to play.

  • 10:55 a.m. - Hovland Still Rolling

    Viktor Hovland had a disappointing 3-over round going when he got to the 11th today. He had bogeys on 9 and 10, and looked frustrated.

    Since then he went birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie-par, and suddenly finds himself just four shots back, at 8-under.

  • 10:23 a.m. - Back to 2

    Jon Rahm has a bogey on 13, and Koepka’s lead is back to two strokes.

    They both are even-par on their third rounds.

    Viktor Hovland is quietly getting back into contention, as he’s now at 7-under, through 14 holes. Four straight birdies helped his cause.

  • 10:02 a.m. - Lead Down to 1

    Brooks Koepka had a bogey on 12, and Jon Rahm had a par. The lead is now down to just 1 shot, as Koepka sits at 12-under on the tournament.

    Patrick Cantlay has also finished his round with a 4-under 68, and he’s 6-under for the tournament. That’s tied for third currently. A bogey on 17, after back-to-back birdies, added a sour note, but he’ll be in contention this afternoon.

  • 9:55 a.m. - Scheffler In the Clubhouse

    The Masters - Round Two

    Scottie Scheffler has finished his third round and he’s tied for 17th. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

    Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is in the clubhouse, completing his third round with a 71, which has him at 2-under for the tournament.

    Barring an incredible set of circumstances this afternoon, Scottie will be putting the Green Jacket on someone else.

  • 9:30 - Incredible Par Save

    Brooks Koepka just isn’t flinching.

    Despite putting himself in a horrible position on 10, he managed to save par.

  • 9:13 a.m. - Cantlay Climbs

    Patrick Cantlay just narrowly missed an eagle on 15, but was able to get the birdie. He’s now tied with Sam Bennett at 6-under in third place.

    Koepka and Rahm still sit at 13-under and 11-under through 9.

  • 8:55 a.m. - Rahm Making Noise

    Jon Rahm is not messing around to start his day. Back to back birdies on 7 and 8 put him at 11-under.

    Unfortunately for Rahm, Brooks Koepka got back in on the birdies and got one on 8 as well. He’s now two shots clear at 13-under.

    And just to not feel left out, their third player in the group, Sam Bennett, also birdied the 8th, and is now in solo third, at 6-under.

    (And the dreaded typing curse strikes again, as Rahm just sent his drive on 9 into the trees.)

  • 8:40 a.m. - So, What's the Plan?

    The Masters - Round Three

    Jon Rahm of Spain and Brooks Koepka of the United States look on from the eighth tee during the continuation of the weather delayed third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

    It’s an unusual day at a very chilly Augusta National. The rain has moved out and none is expected today.

    So all of our golfers went back to where they were when play was suspended Saturday afternoon. Some golfers have as many as 11 holes left to play, while some have just four or five left. But we’re playing in groups of 3, so this should move fairly quickly.

    Masters officials expect the final round to begin somewhere around 12:30 p.m. today. We’ll go back to the traditional Sunday pairings setup, but because of time constraints, golfers will go off on split tees, from the 1st and 10th holes.

    Your leaders are likely to be going off at roughly 2 p.m., maybe a little later.

    On the television front, prepare to be frustrated. CBS coverage will go through the end of the third round this morning. But then they won’t come back on until the traditional 2 p.m.-7 p.m. window.

    You can follow along with the multiple live stream options on Masters.com, and of course, stay here with us, as we’ll keep you updated on all the fun as the day progresses.

  • 8:30 a.m. - Where Do We Stand

    Let’s push reset one time, really quickly before things get rolling. Here’s where we are as we head into Marathon Sunday at The Masters.

    • Brooks Koepka leads at 12-under, through 7 holes in his third round (he just bogeyed to start Sunday);
    • Jon Rahm is just 2 shots back, at 10-under, also through 7 holes (he just birdied moments after Koepka bogeyed);
    • Amateur Sam Bennett gave back a couple strokes yesterday, and another one just now and is at 5-under, 3-over on his round;
    • Patrick Cantlay, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland are all also 5-under;
    • Cantlay and Fitzpatrick are both 3-under through 13 and 11 holes respectively;
    • Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the tournament.

  • 8:25 a.m. - Live Play (and Coverage) Resumes

    Are you ready for this? We’ve got a long day of golf ahead of us. We’re ready. The golfers are ready. The broadcasters are ready.

    It’s go time at Augusta National.

  • 7:30 a.m. - BREAKING: Tiger Out

    Not exactly shocking news, but Tiger Woods has officially withdrawn from the 2023 Masters Tournament, before he could resume play on his third round Sunday morning at Augusta National.

    Masters officials said Woods was withdrawing “due to injury” after he completed seven holes on Saturday, in his third round. He was 9-over for the tournament, in last place, after making the weekend cut on the number at 3-over.

    But that had also come after completing his second round earlier in the day, and you could tell with the cold and the rain, that Tiger Woods was feeling uncomfortable at best at the Masters. Television coverage showed the golf legend grimacing in pain, and noticeably limping around Augusta National in the miserable conditions.

    The five-time Masters champion had shot 74-73 in the first two rounds, but was never really comfortable on the course. His making the cut tied the record for 23 consecutive times at The Masters. His only ever missed cut at Augusta National came in his second year as an amateur.

    Play is set to resume for the remaining golfers at 8:30 a.m. today, with final round play expected to commence around 12:30 p.m. When the final round begins, players will go off in twosomes, but will split starts at the 1st and 10th tees.

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