Koepka Extends Lead to Four Before Weather Washout, Marathon Sunday Ahead at Masters

The final group played six holes of Round 3 before persistent rain forced a suspension for the day at 3:15 p.m.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – With rain continuing to fall and the course conditions becoming more unplayable, the third round of the Masters was suspended for the day at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Temperatures dropped some 30 degrees from Friday and players were greeted with cold, rainy conditions on Saturday morning, with Brooks Koepka holding a two-shot lead over Jon Rahm at the start of the third round.

Masters officials grouped the players in threesomes and sent them off of both tees in an effort to try and finish the third round and get the tournament on schedule.

But conditions continued to get worse.

Through six holes, Koepka – a four-time major champion – is at 13 under par, having made one birdie and five pars. Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champ, made two bogeys and a birdie to stand at -9, four shots back.

Sam Bennett, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, dropped two shots and is at 6 under, seven strokes back.

“It’s obviously super difficult,’’ said Koepka, who has won two U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. “Ball’s not going anywhere. You’ve got rain to deal with, and it’s freezing cold. It doesn’t make it easy.

“You’ve got to make some pressure putts. You know it was going to be a difficult day. You’ve just got to grind through it and try to salvage something.’’

Koepa did that, increasing his lead from two shots to four and not dropping any. Rahm, who closed the gap two shots during the completion of the second round on Saturday morning, birdied the second hole but made bogeys at the fourth and fifth to fall to 9 under par.

“Obviously when we walked up to the seventh green it was clear to us that that green had been wet for awhile," Rahm said of the conditions before play was called. “They had been squeegeeing it for awhile. I understand they're trying to push us to play as many holes as possible, but it was very apparent when they tried to get the water out that it just wasn't going to happen in our case.

“You can't really say it was late because I don't blame them for wanting us to play as much as possible. Now the elements are what they are. Early this morning it was very cold. We enjoyed a couple holes without any rain, but there was a couple, those two holes at the end, 17 and 18 were two absolute monsters. Very happy to finish those even par.

“Kind of kept it going the rest of the day. You know, just too bad I couldn't save at least one par on 4 or 5. On 5, actually I hit two good putts and it is what it is, right, that hole's playing extremely long. Five hundred yards in pouring rain is going to be very long. So very happy with the way I finished. I made a great swing on 6 and great two swings on 7. So feeling confident, playing good golf and there's a lot to be played."

Tiger Woods made the cut on the number at 147, 3 over par, but was 6 over par through 7 holes in his third round, starting on the back nine. Phil Mickelson is tied for eighth through nine holes at 4 under par.

For the leaders, the possibility of a long day exists Sunday.

“I’m not too concerned about playing 29 holes or however many holes we've got left,’’ Koepka said. “It's part of the deal. I'm pretty sure I'll be up for it considering it is the Masters. So I don't think anybody should have a problem with that."

The third round will continue at 8:30 a.m. ET Sunday. The final round is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. with twosomes going off the first and 10th tees.