For most of the week, Scottie Scheffler looked poised to become a major champion. He was in complete control of his game and no player in the field could get close to him. Cameron Smith, after opening birdie-birdie on Sunday, was able to get within one shot. But the Texan’s lead was quickly restored after the Aussie made bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4.
As the day went on, Rory McIlroy began to make a charge. On the final hole, McIlroy’s drive found the fairway bunker. He then left his approach shot out to the right and found a greenside sandtrap. The result of his third shot, however, was ruined.
Nick Faldo just couldn’t help himself. McIlroy’s bunker shot was not shown live on CBS but the roar could be heard over the telecast. Faldo said he didn’t want to spoil the outcome but that “something incredible has just happened.”
The spectacular shot finished off a bogey-free 8-under 64 for the Northern Irishman, and at that moment, got him within three shots of the lead.
Faldo went on “The Dan Patrick Show” Tuesday and called the slipup a “rookie mistake.”
“I got caught up for that split second and I reacted. You’re right, I got it all wrong for a split second,” Faldo said.
McIlroy’s playing partner, Collin Morikawa, made his bunker shot for birdie from the same bunker just moments later. A series of events that will surely go into Masters history books.