For a small man, Rory McIlroy casts a long shadow. On Saturday, it covered every single one of the 52 other men in the field at the Masters, so that even the world’s No 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler, found himself playing in the shade. Scheffler is a popular golfer, and a particular favourite with the fans around here after winning the tournament twice in the past three years, but as McIlroy’s round went on, Scheffler’s gallery started to thin quicker than Jordan Spieth’s hair. By the time he made the turn, you could pretty much take your pick of the positions around whichever green he was on. The centre of gravity was with McIlroy, back on the previous green.
Scheffler was a frontrunner during both of those victories, he led the field from the second round right through to the finish both times. Which means that this year he’s in the unfamiliar position of trying to scrap his way up past McIlroy, and everyone else in his way, into first place. He’s the tortoise chasing the hare. He scored an even-par 72, which left him five under par, and well off McIlroy’s lead.
