Molinari charges past Woods, Finau to hold 2-shot lead at the Masters
On a day that featured three different players shooting 64 and Tiger Woods making a vintage charge, it was Francesco Molinari who emerged with a two-shot lead heading into Sunday at the Masters.
Molinari, who entered the day as one of five co-leaders, fired a bogey-free 66 to sit at 13-under for the championship, two shots clear of Woods and Tony Finau and three ahead of first-round co-leader Brooks Koepka. The last bogey Molinari made this week was the 11th hole on Thursday, a streak that hasn't been matched in the last 25 years at the Masters.
Here's how the top of the leaderboard looks after 54 holes at Augusta National.
| Place | Player | Total to par | Round 3 score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francesco Molinari | -13 | 66 |
| T2 | Tiger Woods | -11 | 67 |
| T2 | Tony Finau | -11 | 64 |
| 4 | Brooks Koepka | -10 | 69 |
| T5 | Ian Poulter | -9 | 68 |
| T5 | Webb Simpson | -9 | 64 |
| T7 | Matt Kuchar | -8 | 68 |
| T7 | Dustin Johnson | -8 | 70 |
| T7 | Xander Schauffele | -8 | 70 |
| T7 | Justin Harding | -8 | 70 |
| T7 | Louis Oosthuizen | -8 | 71 |
| T12 | Rickie Fowler | -7 | 68 |
| T12 | Adam Scott | -7 | 72 |
Patrick Cantlay and Webb Simpson both served notice early that there were birdies to be had in perfect conditions, coming just one shot from tying the course record with matching 64s. Finau was next man up, blitzing the opening nine for a record-tying 30 on his way to the third round of 8-under on the day.
For a while, it looked as though Finau's score would hold as the solo lead, but both Woods and Molinari made late afternoon charges to give him some company.
After a bogey on the fifth hole, Woods unleashed a trademark performance on the famed course, posting six birdies to finish at 11-under for the tournament. The last four times the 43-year-old sat at that number or better through three rounds at Augusta, he ended up wearing the green jacket on Sunday evening.
To add a fifth to his collection, Woods will need a break in form from the machine that is Molinari. The 2018 Open Champion has now played his last 163 holes at major championships in an astonishing 31-under with only six bogeys or worse.
Expect some fireworks Sunday from a star-studded leaderboard, but don't wait until the afternoon to tune in for the action. With severe weather expected late in the day, tee times have been moved up to begin at 7:30 a.m. ET with players going out in threesomes off both No. 1 and No. 10 tees.
Molinari and Woods will be joined by Finau in the final group of the day heading off at 9:20 a.m. ET.