Fowler joins 4-way tie at the top in Masters

Fore! Bogeys, birdies and pars will be all over scorecards on day three of the 2017 PGA Masters Golf tournament at gorgeous Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

The leaders are Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Americans Rickie Fowler and Charley Hoffman, and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.

A shockingly unlucky break cost Rory McIlroy probably two strokes at the final hole on Friday, leaving him five strokes from the halfway lead at the US Masters. Rose was tied with McGirt until a bogey on 18.

He got up and down from off the green for a birdie, then followed up with a birdie on 15, and holed a pressure par-putt on the last to finish at 6-under.

The 23-year-old American birdied the par-three sixth hole, sunk a 20-foot putt at the eighth and produced a sumptuous iron shot into the ninth green to get to three under.

– Jason Day, who played with Augusta National member Jeff Knox because he was the first player off Saturday morning and is not allowed to play alone.

Justin Rose. Sergio Garcia. Behind him at 1-under are Jon Rahm, Ryan Moore, 57-year-old Fred Couples, and Justin Rose.

Showing he can still keep up with the kids, Couples put himself in contention Friday at the site of his only major championship a quarter-century ago.

It figures to be quite a Sunday shootout at the Masters.

“It’s not easy, because it’s always. having a chance to win a tournament is always exciting”, Garcia said of controlling his nerves as he chances that elusive major title.

But Rose and Garcia finished well to share the lead at round’s end, ahead of a thrilling finale.

Ernie Els may have hit his final shot at the Masters.

Scores should be improved on Saturday.

At this point, there’s no reason not to take the 37-year-old Garcia at his word.

There are so many good choices that it’s sort of overwhelming to pick one. “We’ll see, unless we do something down the road”. But you know, it’s been good. That happened. But I’m still (T-11), six shots back. “You’re going to have to go out and play a good round of golf, and I think there are going to be four or five guys pretty much with the same mindset”. Rod Pampling missed the cut in his first appearance at Augusta in 10 years, carding a 78 to go with his opening 74.

Brendan Steele had the hottest start at the Masters on Sunday.

“I’m hoping to continue the good play”. It would be something that is hard to describe but we still have one day to go.

“Shane (Lowry) hit two balls to the left and we were looking for one, we couldn’t find it, we found the second one”, said Garcia.

Curtis Luck will play with 1987 Masters Champion Larry Mize. Jordan Spieth got his name high on those famous white leaderboards, the only spot he has ever occupied on the weekend at the Masters.

And his Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia, who will “have a great opportunity”.

This week, Fowler feels even more ready to take that elusive step of becoming a major champion. But perhaps the best comeback of this tournament belongs to Spieth.