AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Instead of calling Saturday "moving day," let's call it "Mother Nature slaps you across the face, punches you in the gut and rakes your shins day." I was pretty happy nine of the top 10 players in the world made the cut, but only one broke par on Saturday. This doesn't change how I will grade, but after walking around and talking with some of the players, I do have a little bit of empathy. But hey, they all had to play in it right?
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 1
Score: 72-73-71 (E)
Day shot one of only five rounds under par, and the world No. 1 equaled his mark of fairways hit and bettered his greens in regulation from Round 2. He had his least amount of putts so far this week and now has a legitimate shot at winning his second major in a row.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 2
Score: 66-74-73 (-3)
Just when it looked like the defending champ was about to run away with his second green jacket, he makes a bad move late in the day and lets everyone back in the tournament. Twice! Bogeys happens in majors, especially in conditions like we saw Saturday, but double-bogeys are just not acceptable.
Grade: D+
World ranking: No. 3
Score: 70-71-77 (+2)
Two things must change for McIlroy. First, he must find a way to be successful on the 11th hole. Bogey-bogey-double is how he's played it so far this week, and if he's going to win, a par or better has to be on the scorecard on Sunday. Second, he needs to fix his putting. Thirty-four putts on 12 greens in regulation means he doesn't deserve to get a green jacket. On Sunday he needs to have a putting performance of 28 or better if he really wants to win this thing.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 4
Score: 75-75-76 (+10)
He was first out and played with famous Augusta National marker Jeff Knox. Watson shot 4 over in some cold, windy conditions. His ballstriking wasn't bad, but his patience on the greens wasn't there, and it showed with 34 putts on the day. He moved up nine spots, so he gets to play with a pro tomorrow.
Grade: A
World ranking: No. 5
Score: 80-73 (+9) MC
Sitting on the beach at home watching the destruction happening on the course might have been the most enjoyable thing Rickie did all week.
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 6
Score: 72-75-78 (+9)
Stenson had the worst score of any player in the top nine remaining in the field, so he earned the failing grade. He had back-to-back days of terrible putting, which you can't afford on this track. For one of the best ball strikers in the world to only hit 10 greens in regulation might say something about the tough conditions, but I'm not putting all the blame on Mother Nature.
Grade: C-
World ranking: No. 7
Score: 76-72-75 (+7)
One player told me shooting even was like shooting 69 on a normal day. So under the difficult conditions, Adam's 75 should be considered shooting even. Scott did tell me how upset he was with the bogeys at 16 and 17. Should I be impressed with a 75 that included five fairways and seven greens hit? Maybe a little.
Grade: B+
World ranking: No. 8
Score: 73-71-72 (E)
I continue to be impressed by the grinding this man is doing. I've never seen this out of Johnson, especially on a stage this large. On a day that saw many guys three- and even four-putting, Johnson never did once. If he can find a way to take advantage of the par-5s on Sunday, he might just get the major monkey off his back.
Grade: B-
World ranking: No. 9
Score: 69-77-73 (+3)
Three three-putts prevent me from giving Rose the straight B grade. He should have been rewarded more for his scrappiness than going into Sunday six shots off of the lead. Still, Augusta is known for its greens, and Rose has yet to have a round under 30 putts.
Grade: C+
World ranking: No. 10
Score: 76-73-75 (+8)
In the third group out in the morning, Reed dealt with the worst conditions of the day admirably. He, like most, struggled on the greens with 33 putts, but he only had one three-putt for the round. He was great off the tee by only missing two fairways, and his iron play was mediocre, only hitting 12 greens. All he can hope for on Sunday is a good round to build for the future.
Grade: A+
World ranking: No. 1080
Score: 72-73-70 (-1)
If the golf gods have any sense of humor (and I think they do), a 58-year-old man using a broomstick putter will win the Masters on Sunday. And all those people who created the anchor ban will have to fake a smile and say, "That's fine" -- while I laugh at them. Langer is not doing this with smoke and mirrors. He only missed two fairways and hit 12 greens ... but that putter! He only needed 27 strokes with it. Guess the wind didn't bother him!
Grade: A+
World ranking: No. 49
Score: 73-72-69 (-2)
With a round Fuzzy Zoeller would be proud of, Kaufman smiled his way around Augusta National hitting 13 of 18 greens and only taking 29 putts. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, though. His lone bogey came on the 11th hole, but guess what? Twenty-four other players made bogey or worse there. Kaufman now has a serious chance of becoming only the second player to ever win the Masters in his first attempt.
Grade: F
World ranking: No. 27
Score: 72-74-85 (+15)
I actually sent a text message to Na's caddie to make sure he wasn't hurt before writing this. "Nope. Just played poorly," was the text I got back. Five bogeys, two doubles and a triple versus zero birdies is the 85 I'd like to shoot around here someday. Except I'm a 15 handicap and Na is a PGA Tour winner. At least on Sunday morning, he gets to play with Jeff Knox. But if he shoots another 85, he'll probably lose to the amateur by double digits.