Good evening and welcome along to our live coverage of the fourth and final round of the 2018 Masters from Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy takes aim at a career Grand Slam while leader Patrick Reed eyes a first Major title in tonight’s final-round showdown.
American Reed holds a four-shot advantage over his playing partner, sitting atop the leaderboard on 14-under par, with a stacked, and quality, chasing field adding to what should be a thrilling few hours of golf.
Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods are the only five men in golf history to win all four Major championships during their careers, with McIlroy chasing that remarkable achievement when he tees off at 7.40pm Irish time.
The rain has cleared and conditions, as always, are near-perfect at Augusta. Strap yourselves in, we’re in for some ride.
AS THINGS STAND: Not long now until the final pair tee off, but the chasing pack are already out on the course with Jordan Spieth making the fast start he needed to mount a challenge.
The 2015 winner has recorded back-to-back birdies on his opening two holes to move to seven-under par, with Henrik Stenson making his early move with a birdie on the first.
Patrick Reed -14
Rory McIlroy -11
Rickie Fowler -9
Jon Rahm -8
Henrick Stenson -8
Jordan Spieth -7
Bubba Watson -6
Tommy Fleetwood -6
TIGER! It hasn’t been the weekend he wanted on his return to Augusta, but Tiger Woods rolls back the years by sinking a long putt for eagle on 15, as he moves to one-over par.
ON THE TEE…
Here we go. McIlroy and Reed step onto the first tee to a huge ovation from the Augusta natives. The pair have history, of course, after that epic duel at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, with the Northern Irishman winning that singles match one up.
McIlroy will also hope to draw inspiration from memories of a 2011 meltdown in the final round here, when he fired an 80 to squander a potential wire-to-wire win.
“I’ve given myself another chance, another shot at doing something special,” he said last night.
“Seven years have gone by. To finally get the opportunity again to see if I can put all those wrongs right is something I’m looking forward to.”
YOUR SAY: Who is going to win the 2018 Masters?
Poll Results:
HIGH, WIDE AND UGLY: Oh, Rory. Nerves from the final pair as Reed pulls his opening tee-shot left and after receiving a huge roar, McIlroy, with the driver, slices his the opposite direction.
It’s quite tight down that right side and McIlroy flirted with the out-of-bounds area but is just in play and appears to have been very fortunate with a decent lie and line towards the green. Reed to play first.
PICTURE PERFECT: The rain has cleared and the sun is out, with Augusta National looking resplendent on Masters Sunday.
EARLY NERVES: Reed has an awkward stance with a tree impeding him from making a full swing and his second finds the greenside bunker, with McIlroy following him in there after getting an incredibly lucky break from that wayward tee-shot.
The American is again first to play and the nerves are showing as he catches his bunker shot thin and flies through the green, with work to do now to avoid dropping more than one shot.
McIlroy, from a downhill lie, plays it beautifully and leaves himself with a seven-foot putt for par. Not the start either wanted.
CLUTCH! McIlroy saves his par with a solid stroke up the hill and into the middle of the cup, a putt which sets the tone and acts as a huge confidence-booster. Reed then holes from a couple of feet to make bogey, and suddenly his lead is down to two shots.
Drama on the first, we’re in for some night.
Patrick Reed -13
Rory McIlroy -11
Rickie Fowler -9
Henrik Stenson -8
Jon Rahm -8
CHIP AND RUN: Paul Casey has had another solid week and the Englishman has just holed out from 40 yards with a delightful chip and run for a fourth birdie of the round, moving him to three-under for the tournament.
Speaking of holing out, here’s a look at Tiger draining an eagle putt on 15 a short while ago.
That roar.
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 8, 2018
Eagle for @TigerWoods 👏🏻 #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/I8EiLAc8uW
BOOM! McIlroy is anxiously watching his tee-shot at the second but is in prime position for his approach, and after Reed leaves the door open by finding the bunker with his second, the Northern Irishman puts one to within three feet for eagle. Superb golf shot.
BIRDIE! It’s not often you say it, but that’s a disappointing birdie for McIlroy on the par-five second as he pushes his eagle putt from no more than three feet to let Reed, who cards a par from the bunker, somewhat off the hook. The American’s lead is down to just one shot, however, after a very nervy start.
Patrick Reed -13
Rory McIlroy -12
Rickie Fowler -9
Henrik Stenson -8
Jon Rahm -8
ON THE CHARGE: Justin Rose plays a delightful second into the seventh and records his third birdie of the day to move to six-under, while Casey is putting together an incredible final round as he goes birdie-birdie-eagle. He is now five-under and in a tie for ninth.
Back on the third, Jon Rahm is making a big move and is now just three off the lead as he sinks a birdie putt to join Rickie Fowler in a tie for third. Quite a start to the final round.
Up ahead on 18, Tiger Woods goes under par for the first time this week as he signs for a final round 69 to leave him in a tie for 30th. An encouraging comeback for the former world number one.
A solid finish to the Masters for @TigerWoods.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
He shot 3-under today. pic.twitter.com/TzyJ1mwT79
TWO-SHOT SWING! What a response from Reed as he drains a birdie putt from just off the edge of the third green to get back to level-par for the day and then McIlroy misses a par putt down the slope and the lead is back to three. You can’t take your eyes off this and we’re only on the third!
Patrick Reed -14
Rory McIlroy -11
Rickie Fowler -9
Jon Rahm -9
Jordan Spieth -8
Henrik Stenson -8
WHAT A SHOT! The pressure is on McIlroy again and after Reed finds the front of the fourth green, the 28-year-old stitches one to give himself a great chance of birdie at the par-three. The momentum is switching back and forth already.
AS IT STANDS: Paul Casey has just gone birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie and is now eight-under for the day and in seventh place.
MAGICAL TWO! Reed’s long putt from the front edge swings left and he still has work to do but holds his nerve to hole for par. McIlroy is left waiting for an age but eventually hammers it into the middle of the cup for a superb birdie on the fourth. Two shots in it again.
ON WE GO: McIlroy dissects the fifth fairway but gets his second a bit heavy and it comes up just short of the green, ending up on the front edge, leaving him with a long 60-foot putt.
Reed, meanwhile, is safely on the green in two but has a long putt of his own for birdie.
THE CHASING PACK: Casey does brilliantly to get up and down from the greenside bunker at the par-three 16th to save par and stay on seven-under par. Jordan Spieth is also motoring as he moves to nine-under through eight thanks to his fourth birdie of the day.
MISS! The lead is back to three. McIlroy opts to chip his third from the side of the green but after putting himself within four foot, his par effort slides away to the right. He can’t afford to miss those putts as he slips back to 11-under par.
Patrick Reed -14
Rory McIlroy -11
Jon Rahm -9
Jordan Spieth -8
Rickie Fowler -8
Henrik Stenson -8
Paul Casey -7
Here’s McIlroy’s stunning approach to the par-five second earlier.
Incredible approach.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
Just a birdie, though. pic.twitter.com/c1T2iVzddB
TWO POOR SHOTS: This is already turning out to be an incredible white-knuckle ride as Reed comes up short on the par-three sixth and then McIlroy does something similar, failing to find the top level of the green. After five eventful holes, we’re back to as we started: Reed’s lead is three shots.
It’s living up to the billing, anyway.
SPIETH ON THE CHARGE! Spieth is embarking on a birdie blitz as he leaves himself an up-hill putt on the ninth, and you better believe he drains it from 20 feet. That’s a front nine of 31 and he hits the turn on 10-under, just one behind McIlroy and four behind Reed.
What a start for @JordanSpieth!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
He just shot 5-under on his first nine holes. pic.twitter.com/peRQZFHOFQ
BACK TO TWO! My word, this is gripping. McIlroy leaves himself with plenty of work to do but after watching Reed race his first putt past the hole and then miss his par effort back down the slope, he drains for par and cuts the gap again.
AS IT STANDS: Three shots separates four players, and don’t discount Stenson or Fowler just yet.
INCHES! Reed has responded to that dropped shot on the last with a glorious second into the seventh after giving himself the perfect angle down the left. McIlroy has a trickier approach from the right side and after coming up just short of the green, it’s advantage Reed.
AS WE WERE: Reed has the simple task of tapping in from a matter of inches and McIlroy scrambles for his par on the seventh. The American’s lead is back to three shots.
EBBING AND FLOWING: Things are really heating up now and while the golf has been a mixed bag from Reed and McIlroy, the opening six holes to this final round have been fascinating. The lead has changed after each, but the American is in a spot of bother of the eighth tee now.
IN THE CLUBHOUSE: An unfortunate end to Paul Casey’s remarkable round as he finished bogey-bogey to card a 65 and finish five-under par. The Englishman had the course record in his sights at one stage but lost momentum on the penultimate hole when he found the trees from the tee. Nevertheless, he’s in a tie for 10th as things stand.
What a scorecard.#theMasters pic.twitter.com/HhbyygIBiN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
WAYWARD: McIlroy has been poor off the tee so far, an area where he was so strong over the opening three rounds, and his drive on the eight flies right and into the trees. He can only pitch out, and now has a long iron shot for his third to the par-five.
Reed, meanwhile, found the fairway bunker and laid up, leaving himself with a short third into the green, where Jon Rahm has just saved par to remain 10-under.
COMEBACK KINGS: Jordan Spieth is on the march and is now just three shots off the leader as he chases his second green jacket having gone into the final round nine strokes adrift.
Delightful.
BOGEY! McIlroy’s putting has deserted him as he misses another short par putt and Reed’s lead is now four shots. A big moment and all the momentum is now with the American.
RICKIE! As McIlroy stutters, the chasing pack are making serious ground and moments after Fowler moves into a tie for second with back-to-back birdies, Spieth is fist-pumping on the 12th after draining a putt for birdie from the edge of the green.
Rickie Fowler is tied for 2nd at #theMasters pic.twitter.com/eVkJTbmi4c
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
ACE! Huge roar comes from over at 16 and high-fives are the order of the day after Charley Hoffman moves into a tie for seventh with a hole-in-one!
.@hoffman_charley aces No. 16 for the first hole-in-one of the Tournament. #themasters pic.twitter.com/xezbJ0cslf
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018
MISSED CHANCE: Reed plays a poor second into nine and it barely gets up to the front of the green, leaving him with a tough up-and-down for par — but he makes no mistake to reach the turn on 14-under par.
McIlroy, though, has the chance to cut the gap after pitching his lob wedge over the pin and within 10 foot for a birdie putt, but his effort, a right-to-left swinger, was never going in.
Reed’s lead remains three from Spieth, with the trio of Fowler, Rahm and McIlroy a shot further back.
This is what lies ahead. Plenty of twists and turns to come.
Let's look at the back 9 at Augusta National.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
😍 #theMasters pic.twitter.com/eWhViqixwq
JORDAN SPIETH! Wow. Spieth is on fire and has just played an extraordinary shot from the pine needles on 13 to within 12 feet and he has that putt for an eagle to move to 13-under par.
Spieth just put it to 12 feet for eagle on No. 13! pic.twitter.com/1jed1xUXXt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
CLOSE! But it’s only a birdie for Spieth on 13 as his eagle attempt slides by. He’s just two off the lead, though.
Patrick Reed -14
Jordan Spieth -12
Rickie Fowler -10
Jon Rahm -10
Rory McIlroy -10
BIRDIE BLITZ! Tony Finau, who earlier in the week dislocated his ankle before popping it back in during the Par-3 contest, has just recorded six consecutive birdies. The American is now up to seven-under.
Have yourself a back 9, @TonyFinauGolf!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
What a roller-coaster week for him. pic.twitter.com/MEq9z2t5si
CHANCE: McIlroy has a good sight of the hole on 10 but his birdie putt stays on the high side and he misses it right, before finishing off for a par, leaving him four behind Reed and two adrift of Spieth.
Onto Amen Corner we go…
Tiger finished off his Masters comeback with a three-under par 69.
“Today would have been one of those low round,” he said. “I certainly had the opportunity to do it. I was close to really, really getting it rolling. All in all, it was a bittersweet ending.”
PRESSURE ON 11: Reed’s tee-shot again drifts right and this time he ends up in the trees before McIlroy thumps one straight down the middle — but he misses the green with his second and both players have left themselves with tricky putts from 10-foot for par.
OH NO, RORY! From the perfect position off the tee, McIlroy’s putter misfires again and he drops another shot on 11 with his challenge slowly fading. He’s one-over for the day now, and that bogey is a real shame as Reed also takes five to move back to 13-under par. Watch out for Spieth, though!
Patrick Reed -13
Jordan Spieth -12
Rickie Fowler -10
Jon Rahm -10
Rory McIlroy -9
WHAT A PUTT! Reed roars back with a quite brilliant birdie at the par-three 12th, sinking a long putt for his two after McIlroy had tidied up for his par. The American has shown huge bouncebackability throughout this round and that could be a huge moment. He’s back to 14-under par.
IT’S ALL HAPPENING: We can’t keep up. Reed birdies and Spieth follows suit at the par-five 15th to stay in touch. He’s eight-under today with three holes to play.
😲 @JordanSpieth is making a Sunday charge at #theMasters pic.twitter.com/6Pubi0401J
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
The fist pump and roar says it all.
Sunday roars at Augusta. pic.twitter.com/ctXi4Atpel
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
AS IT STANDS: It’s tight, it’s very tight. McIlroy just hasn’t got going today and has slipped back to nine-under and his chances of winning that career grand slam today are fading rapidly. Who’s your money on now?
A HUGE BREAK! Onto the 13th we go and McIlroy’s woes continue as he pushes his tee-shot into the pine. Reed nails one down the middle but then gets a huge slice of fortunes when his second lands safely when it looked destined for the water.
TIED FOR THE LEAD! Oh my word, Jordan Spieth! The man is on fire and he is absolutely pumped. He holes an absolute monster putt on the 16th to go to nine-under for the day and into a tie for the lead alongside Reed.
NO LUCK: A better second from McIlroy as he finds the dancefloor to give himself an outside chance of eagle, but his effort stays on the high side and he’ll have to settle for a birdie.
After narrowly missing Rae’s Creek, Reed then misses an up-hill birdie putt to remain on 14-under par and tied with Spieth. Incredible stuff.
You could watch it over and over again. Spieth is tearing it up.
"Are you kidding me?" -- @JordanSpieth
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/Q7WiOwPaQ7
RECAP: Jordan Spieth has surged into contention with nine birdies through 16 holes as he vied to complete the greatest last-round rally in Masters history after starting the day nine adrift.
That took the 24-year-old Texan, the reigning Open champion, to 14-under par and in a tie for the lead with Patrick Reid.
But Reed, who took a three-shot lead into the final round in search of his first Major title, was holding firm, his birdie at the par-3 12th putting him at 14-under.
Rory McIlroy, who started the day three back, has fallen down the leaderboard, his hopes of completing his collection of Major titles dwindling at Augusta.
He had briefly pulled closer to Reed with a birdie at the second, but his fourth bogey of the day at the 11th saw him drop to nine-under, before he picked up a shot on 13.
Everyone watching #theMasters right now. pic.twitter.com/pCBHZ99y9r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
A WHISKER AWAY: Spieth very nearly cards another birdie but his putt at 17 just slides by the hole. McIlroy, meanwhile, doesn’t even go close with his attempt at 14. It hasn’t been his day.
REED ROARS! The American is hitting top gear now and he’s got his nose back in front with a third birdie of the day. This is going down to the wire.
CURTAINS FOR RORY: That just about sums up McIlroy’s round. After not even going close with his birdie effort, he mis-judges the putt back and that’s another shot dropped. The 28-year-old has been incredibly disappointing today.
IN THE HUNT: Don’t forget about Rickie Fowler. He taps home from four feet for a birdie on 15 to move within two of the lead, while Jon Rahm’s hopes appear to be over after he found the water with his approach on the same hole.
COSTLY: A real shame for Spieth as he rounds off an incredible round of golf with a disappointing bogey on 18 after he pushed his tee-shot way right. The three-time Major winner is unable to repair the damage as he fails to get up and down and he signs for an eight-under par 64.
A major performance from @JordanSpieth!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
He shot 8-under today. pic.twitter.com/3r3g25Pq1r
TWO CLEAR! And back at 15, Reed holds his nerve to convert a three-footer for par to stay two ahead with just three holes left to play. Fowler and Rahm both make threes on 16.
A sensational round.
Spieth becomes 7th player in #themasters history to shoot 64 in final round, joining ...
— Mike McAllister (@PGATOUR_mikemc) April 8, 2018
Maurice Bembridge (1974)
Hale Irwin (1975)
Gary Player (1978)
Greg Norman (1988)
David Toms (1998)
Bo Van Pelt (2012)
ON THE DANCEFLOOR: Reed takes a big deep breath before stepping onto the tee at the par-three 16th and he produces another superb shot, striking it sweetly and safely finding the putting surface. He’s within touching distance of a maiden Major title.
PARS ALL ROUND: McIlroy is first up and he knocks his birdie attempt at the 16th three feet past and then Reed’s effort swings left, before he tidies up for par. Further ahead, Fowler and Rahm have both missed the green with their second.
*Kerry jersey at the Masters klaxon*
And there we have it. It wouldn’t be a Masters Sunday without the green and gold making an appearance.
Thanks to Terence McCabe for sending this our way.
IT’S NOT OVER YET! Drama, and there’s more to come. Fowler needs a birdie on the last to set the clubhouse lead and he has a great chance of doing so after stitching his second.
Back at 17, Reed’s second finds the front edge of the green and it appears he’s overcooked his chip but it hits the cup and very nearly goes in. A tricky par putt awaits.
BIRDIE! A huge roar from the gallery at 18 as Fowler, steady as a rock, sends his birdie putt into the centre of the cup to move into the clubhouse lead at 14-under par. Over to you, Patrick…
So Patrick Reed, seeking to win his first Major, heads to the 18th tee at Augusta with a one-shot advantage over clubhouse leader Rickie Fowler. He’s very nearly there.
SOLID! Reed needs a par to win the 2018 Masters and he has hit a perfect drive up the final hole, finding a great position just short of the fairway bunkers.
HE’S SAFE! Reed takes his time over the second, carefully consulting with his caddy and the yardage book, and he gets it spot on, pitching on the left side of the green and he’s actually very unfortunate it didn’t roll down closer to the hole.
Rickie Fowler did everything he could out there but it looks like he’s going to come up just short again.
.@RickieFowler closes his final-round 67 with a birdie on No. 18 and finishes at 14-under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/QfwwjncVVk
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018
McIlroy plays first and knocks it in for a par, allowing Reed to take centre stage. He has two putts to win the Masters.
HOLD ON! Reed knocks the downhill putt a few feet past and it’s not stone dead by any means. He urges it to slow down but it doesn’t…
BUT HE HOLDS HIS NERVE!
Patrick Reed is the 2018 Masters champion!
A worthy winner.
The winning scorecard at #theMasters pic.twitter.com/efdR3lQFLI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 8, 2018
Here’s the final leaderboard. Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth fall just short, while it was an incredibly disappointing finish for Rory McIlroy.
The traditional prize-giving ceremony is underway, with last year’s champion Sergio Garcia on hand to present Reed with his green jacket. Doug Ghim was the amateur leader.
Thanks for joining us throughout the evening and while it was disappointing to see McIlroy’s challenge fade so quickly, the quality of golf was superb and Reed emerges as a worthy winner. Until next time, goodbye!
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