Masters players surprised by 'gettable' Augusta National conditions

Nineteen players post rounds in the 60s on Saturday as scoring average dips to 70.63, the lowest in a third round in Masters history.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:08am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in shades of green, brown, and blue, capturing the dynamic energy and unexpected scoring of the 2026 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.An abstract, cubist interpretation of the unexpected low scoring at the 2026 Masters, where the course conditions proved more 'gettable' than usual for the world's top golfers.Augusta Today

The third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club saw surprisingly low scores, with 19 players posting rounds in the 60s and the scoring average dipping to 70.63, the lowest in a third round in tournament history. Several players, including Rory McIlroy and Max Homa, described the course conditions as 'gettable' and 'pretty easy', contrary to the typical difficulty of Augusta National on the weekend.

Why it matters

The Masters is known for its challenging conditions, especially on the weekend, as Augusta National's greens and course setup are typically ramped up to test the world's best golfers. The unexpectedly low scores on Saturday have raised questions about the tournament officials' strategy for course setup and whether they will further toughen the conditions for the final round on Sunday.

The details

Nineteen of the 54 players who made the cut posted rounds in the 60s on Saturday, led by the 65s from Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young. The scoring average of 70.63 was the lowest in a third round in Masters history, down from 74.65 on Thursday and 72.85 on Friday. Many players, including Max Homa, Rory McIlroy, and Jason Day, described the course as 'gettable' and 'very fair', with the greens still receptive and many pins in attackable positions.

  • The third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • The scoring average of 70.63 on Saturday was the lowest in a third round in Masters history.

The players

Scottie Scheffler

American professional golfer who posted a 65 on Saturday, the low round of the day.

Cameron Young

American professional golfer who also posted a 65 on Saturday.

Rory McIlroy

Northern Irish professional golfer and co-leader after the third round, despite shooting a 1-over-par 73 on Saturday.

Max Homa

American professional golfer who described the course as 'pretty easy' after posting a 71 on Saturday.

Jason Day

Australian professional golfer who shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday, leaving him in a tie for fifth place.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Pretty easy. The front nine is pretty -- I mean, very gettable. I didn't feel like it was too fast, too firm. Obviously the weather is amazing, so it helps.”

— Max Homa, Professional Golfer

“The course was obviously gettable. There was a lot of good scores out there, and the quality of the chasing pack is obvious. There was a lot of guys that shot good scores.”

— Rory McIlroy, Professional Golfer

“I expected to see it a little bit different than what I saw today. I mean, you were hitting shots in there that were spinning. Typically sometimes you get to Saturday at Augusta and they're bouncing. It's really difficult to hold some shots.”

— Jason Day, Professional Golfer

What’s next

Tournament officials will likely further toughen the course setup for the final round on Sunday, as they typically do to provide a greater challenge to the players and crown the Masters champion.

The takeaway

The unexpectedly low scores on Saturday at the 2026 Masters have raised questions about the tournament officials' strategy for course setup and whether they will need to make the conditions more difficult for the final round in order to provide the traditional Augusta National challenge. This highlights the delicate balance the officials must strike between creating a fair test and maintaining the tournament's reputation for extreme difficulty.