AUGUSTA, Ga. – Even though the wind subsided as the leaders played the back nine, Augusta National played as difficult as it had all week during the third round of the Masters.
Here are some of the numbers:
• The scoring average was 75.719, more than a half stroke higher than Friday (75.022) and more than a stroke and a half more difficult than the opening round (74.090). It is the highest single-round scoring average since the third round in 2007 (77.350).
• Incredibly, nine holes surrendered three or fewer birdies in Round 3. That includes the 455-yard first hole and the 459-yard 18th, both of which yielded only a pair of birdies.