Scottie Scheffler made a late charge to contend for his third Masters.
The world number one birdied holes 15 and 16 to move within two shots of the leading Rory McIlroy, but he ran out of holes late and ultimately lost by one stroke.
Scheffler threatened to storm into the lead of the tournament after he birdied the first and third holes, but his momentum completely stalled in the middle of his round.
And that might not all be his fault, as he has the right to be frustrated by his playing partner during Sunday’s play.
Why Scottie Scheffler may be frustrated with Haotong Li
Scheffler and his playing partner, Haotong Li, had diametrically opposed Sundays at Augusta. Both entered the day seven under, but while Scheffler kicked on, Li fell way back into the pack.
Li finished his tournament one over after a disastrous final round of 80. He played the front nine even par, but a triple on 12 and a quintuple bogey on 13 saw him tumble down the standings.
And his play on the 13th hole was nothing short of comical. He fired his approach way left into the bushes, took three shots to hit it out, then he putted from off the green into Rae’s Creek on his way to a 10.
All the while, Scheffler waited for his crucial putt on the green, watching Li make a mess of the hole. This was during a pivotal stretch of holes where Scheffler was looking to make a charge.
Li bogeyed five, six and eight on the front nine, which coincided perfectly with Scheffler’s lost momentum. The world number one was completely unable to find any momentum during his round as he waited for his playing partner to punch out of wherever he found himself.
In truth, Scheffler didn’t play well enough over the course of the week to win the Green Jacket, but on another day with another playing partner, who knows what could have happened late on Sunday?
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