Masters Round 3: Five best shots of the day (and two ugly ones)

Jay Hart
·Senior editor

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rain was supposed to wipe out most of Round 3 at the Masters. Instead, we were treated to an absolutely epic moving day that featured chip ins, eagles, chip ins for eagles (mostly from Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy) and even a whiff.

Here’s a look at the five best and two worst shots of the day:

Patrick Reed’s chip in at No. 15

To this point, Reed had absolutely been living on the par 5s, including an eagle at 13 moments earlier. But when he missed his second shot to the right of the green, eagle was out and birdie was the goal. And then he did this:

Rory McIlroy’s chip in at No. 8

McIlroy had left himself a delicate shot just to get it close and salvage birdie. Like Reed at 15, eagle wasn’t in the plans, until it was:

McIlroy’s birdie at No. 18

This shot didn’t carry a high degree of difficulty, but it was absolutely crucial for McIlroy heading into the final round. Miss it and he’s four strokes back. Make it and he’s three, with some serious momentum.

McIlroy’s sand shot at No. 5

This shot could have sent McIlroy’s round off the rails. Deep in the sand, huge lip to clear, which his ball actually clipped. Just look at his smile afterwards. He knows he got away with one.

Jon Rahm’s flop shot at No. 8

Friday, the always fiery Rahm was slamming his club down in a fourth-hole bunker. Saturday, he was making like Phil Mickelson with an other-worldly flop shot for eagle.

Phil Mickelson’s whiff at No. 1

On the not-so-epic scale was Mickelson showing duffers around the world he’s just like you and me (albeit with a private jet, millions in the bank and a collection of green jackets).

McIlroy’s second at No. 13

McIlroy’s second at 13 was as bad as his 329-yard drive was good. Staring at the surest of eagle opportunities anyone would have all day, McIlroy had a mid-iron to the green. Just as he approached his ball, rain came pouring down. And then he did this, blowing the eagle opportunity and an almost-certain birdie. If he finishes behind Reed on Sunday, McIlroy will be stewing over this one.

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