Holy moving day, Batman! For little while early in the afternoon on Saturday, the dream scenario was taking shape. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Rory McIlroy were all making charges before Jordan Spieth even teed off. Think that had an impact on the third round grades? See for yourself!
Rory McIlroy
Grade: B+
World Ranking: No. 1
Score: 71-71-68 (-6)
I just can't give Rory McIlroy an A because he bogeyed two of the last three holes. But the brilliance flashed for a moment on the front nine on Saturday. Take his last nine holes on Friday and combine them with with the first nine Saturday, and he shoots a record-tying 63. Now just to have a chance at winning he'll have to break that record.
Henrik Stenson
Grade: B-
World Ranking: No. 2
Score: 73-73-70 (E)
Henrik Stenson had his best day of iron play of the week hitting 14 of 18 greens in regulation. But he had his worst day putting, and it leaves us thinking the 2 under on the day could have been so much better. Even though a top 10 may be out of the question without a heroic final day, a good round shouldn't be out of the question.
Bubba Watson
Grade: D
World Ranking: No. 3
Score: 71-71-73 (-1)
Bubba Watson got started with a triple-bogey on the first hole which included three bunker shots. He surprisingly was one under for the day at one point. But bogeys at the two closing holes mean the defending champ gets a barely passing grade on a perfect day for scoring.
Jordan Spieth
Grade: B+
World Ranking: No. 4
Score: 64-66-70 (-16)
A six-shot lead fell to four in one hole. And just as you were gonna call it a choke, Jordan Spieth hits a flop shot on the 18th hole only a pro whose nerves had to be steady as a concrete foundation could hit. Then to drain the putt -- if you had any doubts about this guy's inner fortitude, you have not been paying attention. If he pulls off the win, that up-and-down may be what he says is the reason.
Jason Day
Grade: C-
World Ranking: No. 5
Score: 67-74-71 (-4)
How in the world do you shoot under par when you only hit five of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens? Sink 28 putts is how! But as impressive as it is for Day to get under par that way, it's not what you can call solid. A teacher would not give me a great grade if I got the answer right and the way I did it was completely wrong. I wonder what will happen if he hits the ball as well as he is putting it on Sunday.
Adam Scott
Grade: F
World Ranking: No. 6
Score: 72-69-74 (-1)
Adam Scott three-putted the final hole for his second double-bogey of the round. Two of his three rounds included 30 or more putts, and Saturday he hit only 10 greens. I'm starting to think it won't matter what length putter he's using. When there are perfect scoring conditions and the man with the best looking swing on tour isn't even hitting greens, that's a fail.
Dustin Johnson
Grade: D
World Ranking: No. 7
Score: 70-67-73 (-6)
Inconsistent is the best way to describe what could have been a great run from Dustin Johnson. I know 3 under on the par-5s at Augusta sounds good, but when you compare it to the 7 under he played them on Friday, it's a disappointment. Combine that with closing the round with two bogeys, and instead of being in contention he's now only playing for pride and a paycheck.
Jim Furyk
Grade: N/A
World Ranking: No. 8
Score: 74-73 (+3)
Almost mercifully, Jim Furyk didn't have to suffer through a weekend where this course plays so long.
Sergio Garcia
Grade: C
World Ranking: No. 9
Score: 68-74-71 (-3)
It's not easy for Sergio Garcia when he plays with Tiger Woods, but he showed something good in shooting 1 under for the day. It was a Garcia we've seen before hitting 15 of 18 greens, which is the most he's hit all week. The 32 putts were also his worst and not what he needed. On Sunday, Garcia will need something special just to get into the top 5. At least he won't have to play with Tiger.
Jimmy Walker
Grade: F
World Ranking: No. 10
Score: 73-72-74 (+3)
Another horrible day of driving combined with two three-putts during a mediocre ball-striking round means another major comes and goes without a top 5 finish for Jimmy Walker. Maybe he can salvage a top 25 with a great day, but his game doesn't look like it's trending that way.
Tiger Woods
Grade: B
World Ranking: No. 111
Score: 73-69-68 (-6)
Oh what could have been! Tiger Woods shot 32 on the front nine, and it looked like the magic was back. He turned a horrible drive on No. 13 into a birdie, and the roar of the Tiger seemed inevitable. (sigh) Once again as fast as hopes rose, they were dashed. Still, with only two bogeys on the scorecard on Saturday, there's no reason to completely give up hope.
Phil Mickelson
Grade: B+
World Ranking: No. 22
Score: 70-68-67 (-11)
Even with his worst driving of the week, it almost played into what Phil Mickelson loves to do so much -- create shots. It worked because he hit 15 greens and made a magical late run, but that putter on the 18th hole kept him from the final group. Doesn't matter what Phil is doing leading up to this week, when he gets here, there is a 90 percent chance for magic.
Ian Poulter
Grade: A
World Ranking: No. 31
Score: 73-72-67 (-4)
Ian Poulter had a bogey-free 67 playing with Darren Clarke, and he even tweeted about playing with Clarke afterward. Poulter said he left some birdies out there, and with 30 putts on the day, he's probably right. Still, starting at 1 over on the day, he moved on moving day!