Jon Rahm, against Koepka and the elements at the Augusta Masters

There is no trail that, if nature says enough, can withstand one downpour after another without its greens and waterways suffering. Not even the ideal of excellence in golf, the Augusta National course, a reference in taking care of the smallest detail in the service of the game, with the same attention as advanced technology. But in recent days, so much rain fell on Georgia that this Saturday, with the star party formed by the American Brooks Koepka, the Spaniard Jon Rahm and the amateur Sam Bennett on the green of the 7th hole, the organization ordered a break. Play will resume this Sunday (14:30 Spanish time; at Movistar Golf from 18:00). Everything indicates that the rest of the third round will end and play fourth. At the end of the day, Koepka was leading (-1 in the first six holes of the third round for a -13 total), four strokes ahead of Rahm (+1 in the third round for a cumulative -9). Bennett (-6) and the field of Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland (all -5) have more distant possibilities.

On Friday, the Masters was interrupted after three trees fell in full play. So Rahm had 9 fairways to finish, going -2 on the day for a -9 total, three shots behind the leader, Books Kopeka (-12). But early on Saturday, the Spaniard offered a festival in the rain, on a gloomy day, albeit with no wind to ruin the show. In that quarter, he offered lofty shots like the one that allowed him to birdie at 17 to finish the second round at -3 for a -10 total. Very close to Koepka, two hits, one breath.

After a short rest, Koepka continued his display in the third round, which continued in three-man matches, and with starts at 1 and 10, contrary to the norm at Augusta on the weekend. And the North American, one of the rebels who left the PGA Tour to compete at LIV Golf, the circuit of the Arab capital, scared thanks to one of the basic weapons in the Masters, the putt. He has just one bogey in 42 holes since grabbing the clubs on Thursday. Still, Rahm is hanging on, despite getting involved in an error in his third round. This Sunday the Masters can be yours.

Olazábal and García miss the section, Tiger passes and Bennett, an amateur, makes history

The cut was decided this Saturday first thing in the morning, not on Friday, as is usual. Justin Thomas’ bogey changed his marginal score from +2 to +3. In this way, players like Tiger Woods and Charl Schwartzel, among others, could continue to compete.

There are now 23 consecutive editions in which Tiger has made the cut at Augusta, tying the record held by Gary Player and Fred Couples. Already in the third round, on Saturday, he played seven streets with a partial +6 for a total of +9. Those who failed to make the cut were Sergio García (+5 in the second round for +7 overall) or Chema Olazábal (+5 on Friday for +10 in accumulation).

Before the game resumed on Saturday, one fan had already made history. Sam Bennett, winner of the US Amateur Championship and a player from Texas A&M University, finished the first two rounds at eight under par (68+68). No amateur has shot that low at Augusta after 36 holes since Ken Venturi’s -9 in 1956.