MASTERS SATURDAY NOTEBOOK: HATTON SO CLOSE TO BREAKING PAR

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tyrrell Hatton hasn’t broken par very often at Augusta National. Just four times in his 26 career rounds at the Masters going into Saturday.

But the Legion XIII star was in line for a sub-par score through 17 holes, sitting at 1 under for the day. It would have left him inside the top 20 going into Sunday’s final round.

Then disaster struck at the par-4 18th.

He ran his 30-foot birdie putt 3 feet past the hole. His comebacker lipped out and ran 7 feet past, then he missed that bogey putt. The four-putt double bogey left Hatton in disbelief, as he settled for a 1-over 73 that leaves him tied for 21st at 3 over.

“It's tough to take,” Hatton said. “I don't know how I have to play golf around here to shoot under par.”

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Putting up a hill on his birdie attempt, he though the ball would end up a foot short. Then with his next putt, he felt the wind at his back while facing a challenging right-to-left line.

“Obviously I hit it a little bit firm,” he said. “It looks horrific on TV, but if it's a flat putt, it's going a foot past, 2 foot past – not 6 foot, 8 foot past.

“As I said, I don't know what I have to do around this place to get some good fortune and actually shoot under par and get a score that I deserve.”

Hatton’s playing partner was Tiger Woods, who shot an 82, his highest score in 99 career rounds at the Masters. It was only the third time Hatton had played with the 15-time major winner.

“The kid inside of me playing with Tiger at the Masters, like that's really cool,” Hatton said. “That's certainly not lost on me.

“But at the same time, I'm going out there competing, trying to put together the best round I can and trying to move up the leaderboard, which for 17-1/2 holes I feel like I did a really good job of. Yeah, I'm devastated, to be honest.”

‘DRIVE IT BETTER’

For the second consecutive day, Patrick Reed found the tree at the corner of the dogleg on the par-4 18th. He said his caddie Kessler Karain, who’s also his brother-in-law, offered an observation.

“Just what you want to hear as you're looking at the ball in the tree, and he goes, you need to drive it better,” Reed said with a smile, given the family connection. “Thanks, Kessler. I appreciate it. Great words of wisdom. Drive it better.”

In fairness, the 4Aces GC star was his own worst critic Saturday after his 1-over 73 left him at 1 over for the tournament and tied for 16th. He was 1 under for his round after a birdie at the par-3 12th but bogeyed two of his last five holes.

Asked to evaluate his round, Reed didn’t hesitate with a response.

“Awful,” he said. “You asked.

“It didn't really feel like I did anything well today. I drove it poorly, hit my irons all over the place, couldn't figure out my yardage. Then when I did figure out the yardage, I hit it above the hole. Had to putt defensive all day.”

A year ago, Reed shot 68 in the final round, moving from T9 to T4. Eight shots off the lead, he’d love an even lower number on Sunday. He referenced Rory McIlroy’s 64 in two years ago that moved him from T9 into solo second.

“64 on Sunday,” he said. “You shoot 8-under around here and post a number, you never know what can happen.”

SEEKING TOP 12

Hatton and Torque GC’s Joaquin Niemann could secure spots in next year’s Masters by finishing inside the top 12, which is one of the exemption categories.

Both players are tied for 21st at 3 over entering Sunday. Niemann shot a 1-under 71 to bounce back from his second-round 78. Neither is guaranteed a Masters spot beyond this year.

"There's a lot I have to do tomorrow,” Niemann said. “Obviously looking forward to have a good day, make a lot of birdies, and end well."

Said Hatton: “My focus is to shoot as low as I can and get inside the top 12 so I can come back next year.”

RAHM IN BUTLER CABIN

Defending champion Jon Rahm will be in Butler Cabin after Sunday's round to slip the green jacket on the winner.

"I'm guessing be a little different,” said the Legion XIII captain after his even-par 72 on Saturday left him at 5 over. “I don't know if I'll go back home or not, but obviously going to have to come back and get ready at some point. Bit of a sour feeling knowing you're not in contention."

RD. 4 TEE TIMES

Here are the tee times for the LIV Golf players in the final round of the Masters (all times ET)

11:05 a.m. – BROOKS KOEPKA (Smash GC) with Corey Conners

11:15 a.m. – PHIL MICKELSON (HyFlyers GC) with Shane Lowry

11:45 a.m. – JON RAHM (Legion XIII) with Tony Finau

12:35 p.m. – TYRRELL HATTON (Legion XIII) with Will Zalatoris

12:45 p.m. – JOAQUIN NIEMANN (Torque GC) with Rory McIlroy

1:55 p.m. – CAMERON SMITH (Ripper GC) with Byeong Hun An

2:15 p.m. – BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU (Crushers GC) with Xander Schauffele

(Hatton photo courtesy of Thomas Lovelock/Masters)