The Masters 2024: Frustrated Jon Rahm stalls on move day with defending champion left miles off pace at Augusta… as Tiger Woods goes backwards in disastrous third round

From Jon Rahm, a man with a need for speed, the only progress to observe on move day was that he didn’t go backwards.

What a curious return to Augusta this has been for Spain’s former world No 1, whose defense of the title remains desperately underwhelming.

His third-round 72, which kept him at five-over-par, could be seen through the lens of a hard-baked course that gave precious few scoring opportunities to the early starters, but there the reasons for the mitigation are a little dry.

He roared, he grunted, and he even started mocking himself during this loop. All of the latter could be found in generous sprinklings on the par-five second hole as he found the fairway from the tee for the first time in three days and raised his arms in celebration.

Having had a pretty miserable week for Rahm, he then launched his second shot into the greenside bunker and continued his string of pars on a hole that has been the second easiest on the course.

Spain’s former world No. 1 shot a third-round 72 to keep him at five-over par for the week

It has been that kind of trip for the Spaniard. He arrived here with a point to prove after his defection to LIV, which of course has also raised the usual questions about whether these resort courses are adequate preparation for Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau’s form thus far may cut that debate off at the knees, and yet Rahm is a different beast.

It has long seemed that this fiery character feeds on intensity. That he needs it. Week-to-week, he doesn’t receive as much of that heat at LIV, so you could reasonably ask if he came to the Masters a little undercooked, but there’s also a thought about whether he’s sensitive to changing perceptions of Hey M.

When he walked a few holes near him on Saturday, there was no overt negative reaction from the galleries to Rahm, because this country club is not that kind of place. But as a proud champion of tradition for so long, then cashing in on a £400m offer to join a start-up, there has been speculation in the game that he is the type to worry about being seen as a sold out.

Such is Rahm’s quality, you suspect he’ll adjust and return to his best in the majors before long, but it won’t be this one. That was indeed demonstrated here, where there was no time to waste if he were to reset his chances.

Rahm arrived at Augusta National with a point to prove after his defection to LIV Golf

In one respect the weather helped – it was far milder than the 40km/h gusts we saw on Friday when Rahm pondered whether play might have been called off, especially with sand flying from the bunkers and lining the putting surfaces. But while the skies were calmer, the greens had been sucked dry by that wind and then baked by the sun on a much warmer Saturday.

Scoring was therefore limited, but it is equally true that Rahm did not take his chances, which included six-foot misses on both the fourth and 13th greens. His drive was mostly sharp, his approaches were a little loose, and as such he faced a significant number of opportunities in the 15-foot range. The only one that went underground came on the 17th, his single birdie of the day, which evened out his blip at seven when he birdied his second.

To reiterate, Rahm will be back. He is too good to stay quiet for long, and it can be noted that several of those who went to LIV have felt a little awkward on their first return to the big stage. But when a player of that caliber returns cards of 73-76-72, it’s necessary to raise an eyebrow.

He was less than pleased. “Friday was terrible but today I gave myself plenty of chances,” he said. ‘I just haven’t made them. Fortunately, one made it to 17 to have the only birdie of the day. I think if you came out today and somehow shot 67 or lower, you give yourself a little bit of hope. But it’s a tough track out there. Anything under par is a good round. Everything in the 60s is great.’

Tiger Woods finished 10 over par for his round and now sits 11 over par for the tournament

Woods shot back-to-back double bogeys on seven and eight while struggling on Saturday

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy’s miserable Friday was marginally corrected on his third round, with the four-time major winner shooting a 71. He will begin his final round at three over par, which is a world away from where he wanted to be . this annual survey of his career-slam credentials.

Earlier in the week his wedges were problematic, but on Saturday the putter seemed a little cold. However, he stopped some of the bleeding with a front-nine 36.

“It felt better today,” he said. ‘It was nice to make some birdies. A couple of years ago I went out (on Sunday) and shot a good score and if the conditions stay the same and you get four, five or six shots, you move up the rankings. It’s still pretty tough out there. So I’ll try to do more of the same, make a few putts and see if I can finish on a positive note.’

This week just hasn’t been his story. Friday belonged to Tiger Woods, who broke the record by making the cut for the 24th time in a row in terrible weather. His display of will was extraordinary as he reached the weekend.

That said, Saturday was somewhat more forgettable – he went 10 over for his round and now sits 11 over for the tournament. This trip around Augusta included back-to-back double bogeys on seven and eight, then four straight shots down the stretch.