5 storylines you gotta know for the third round of the 2020 Masters

It seems impossible, and yet here we are: After nine months of waiting, we’ve reached the halfway point of the 2020 Masters. Well, almost. But take heart! The good news is that we have two more full days of glorious golf at Augusta National.

Here are 5 things you need to know for Saturday’s third round.

1. The second round still isn’t over

Because of Thursday morning’s three-hour weather delay, the field is struggling to get back on schedule. The first round was completed on Friday morning, and when the horn blew for darkness on Friday evening, half the field was still on the course in the midst of the second round — some with as many as nine holes left to play. That means we won’t have an official cut — or third-round groupings and tee times — until Saturday morning.

2. The leaderboard is tightly packed

There’s a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard: Abraham Ancer, Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson lead the way at nine under. But there are 16 other players within four shots of their lead — including some who haven’t yet finished their second rounds, like Hideki Matsuyama, C.T. Pan, Jon Rahm and Charles Howell III, which sets the stage for a particularly epic Moving Day on Saturday.

3. Tiger Woods is still hanging around

Currently four under with eight holes remaining in his second round, Woods trails the leaders by five shots. The good news? He still has eight holes remaining in his third round to make up some ground — including two juicy par 5s, Nos. 13 and 15. A few birdies on his way home would put him right back in the mix — and primed to keep the positive momentum flowing into Round 3.

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4. Bryson is on the cutline bubble

Tournament favorite Bryson DeChambeau has had a roller-coaster second round through 12 holes, with four birdies, four bogeys and a triple, courtesy of a mysterious lost ball on the third hole. He’s currently one over and on the wrong side of the projected cut. Like Tiger, however, DeChambeau has those two gettable par 5s left, so if he can avoid disaster, he may still be able to see the weekend. There’s still plenty of golf left to play, after all.

5. Don’t count Rory out — or Brooks!

Rory McIlroy entered the week about as under-the-radar as a player chasing the career grand slam could be. His first round of 75 didn’t help his cause, but whoa, how about that Round 2 bounce-back? McIlroy matched the low round of the day — a six-under 66 — to launch himself back into the conversation. Yes, he still trails by 6 at three under overall, but another round like that on Saturday and anything can happen!

Koepka, too, is lurking. The four-time major champ was T2 last year, and has quietly fired rounds of 70-69 to get to five under and only four shots off the lead. Haven’t we learned by now how dangerous this man is at the majors?

So, who will be leading at the end of what looks to be a very entertaining Moving Day? Time will tell. And the intrigue alone makes Saturday’s action worth watching.