It’s hard to believe, but there are only 18 more holes to play at the 2019 Masters at Augusta National. The good news? It’s going to be a barnburner of a Masters Sunday. Francesco Molinari pulled away from the field, shooting a third-round 66 to to take a two-shot lead at 13 under, but Tony Finau and Tiger Woods are right behind him at 11 under. Also within striking distance: Brooks Koepka (10 under), Webb Simpson and Ian Poulter at nine under, and Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott, Justin Harding and Louis Oosthuizen at eight under. That’s a lot of big-name players. The excitement is palpable! Here’s what you need to know for Sunday’s final round.
1. Tee times have been moved up
The Sunday afternoon forecast is so ominous that tee times were moved up by several hours. Players will now be grouped into threesomes and play off of both the first and 10th tees beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET. The final group will tee off at 9:20 a.m. ET.
2. The best Masters groupings
Here are the five most intriguing groups to watch on Sunday, along with their Sunday tee times (ET).
1. Francesco Molinari, Tiger Woods, Tony Finau (9:20 a.m.)
2. Brooks Koepka, Webb Simpson, Ian Poulter (9:09 a.m.)
3. Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm (8:25 a.m.)
4. Louis Oosthuizen, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler (8:47 a.m.)
5. Matt Kuchar, Justin Harding, Xander Schauffele (8:58 a.m.)
3. How to watch the Masters Sunday
Featured groups streaming begins at 7:30 a.m. ET on Masters.com. You can also watch coverage of Amen Corner beginning at 7:40 a.m. ET and holes 15 and 16 at 8:40 a.m. ET. The TV broadcast is on CBS from 9 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET.
4. Masters weather
The early morning forecast on Masters Sunday calls for cloudy weather throughout the morning, with thunderstorms expected to reach the area around 3:00 p.m. ET. Given the earlier starting time, the hope is that the tournament will be over before the weather becomes a problem. The temperature is expected to range from the low 70s at the beginning of the day to around 80 degrees by the time rounds are complete. The wind is expected to pick up quite a bit from Saturday, and blow an average of 9 to 16 mph.
5. Tiger Woods Masters Watch
Tiger Woods fired an opening-round 2-under 70 at Augusta on Thursday, at one point holding a share of the lead after a birdie at No. 14. And his second round on Friday produced even more fireworks, as he lit up the back nine to get to 6 under par overall — one shot shy of the lead. His third round was even better, as he electrified the galleries with six birdies en route to a round of five-under-par 67. Can he overcome a two-shot deficit to claim his fifth green jacket? Only time will tell.
6. The best storyline of the Masters final round will be …
The possibilities are many, but there’s no question that Tiger Woods claiming his 15th major after an 11-year hiatus would be the sports story of the year, if not the decade. Francesco Molinari could ensure a berth in the World Golf Hall of Fame by claiming his second major title, while Brooks Koepka is seeking to complete the third leg of the career grand slam and become a four-time major champion. There’s also Tony Finau, who scared the Masters record books with a scintillating 30 on the front nine on Saturday. Finau is seeking his first major championship. There are many other names within striking distance, but the Molinari-Woods battle alone makes Sunday worth tuning in for.
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