Steady Patrick Reed maintains Masters lead

A soggy Saturday failed to bog down the Patrick Reed machine.

On a day full of off and on rain showers, Reed’s game was much more consistent. Another day of attacking Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament field has him in the final Sunday pairing.

Reed carded 5-under-par 67 in the third round to maintain his lead at 14-under entering the final day of the Masters.

A day after shooting 66 with three spurts of three consecutive birdies, the 27-year-old Augusta State product, who played Augusta National with his teammates during his All-American college days, produced two eagles and four birdies to sit three strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy.

PHOTOS: Reed's Third Round at Augusta

“Any time you can come out and have the lead going into Sunday you’re always going to be excited, but playing with Rory and being side by side is going to be fun,” Reed said.

Another day in the 60s means Reed is one round away from all four rounds under 70, something that’s never been done in the Masters. He entered this year’s tournament without a score under 70 in 12 Masters rounds.

After a bogey on 3, Reed bounced back with a birdie on 5 on a 19-foot putt. A birdie on 8 sparked a three-hole stretch of birdies that included a 25-foot putt on 9.

A bogey on 12 was backed by an eagle on 13 when he drained a 14-foot putt, and he did the same on 15, this time from off the green with a chip from the front right side.

The conditions, which produced softened greens compared to the first two days, caused Reed to have to adjust, especially on his putts. He had three more putts compared to Friday but hit two more greens and remained consistent throughout his game.

The impact of Reed’s round rippled down the leaderboard, as low rounds took on a sense of desperation to keep up. That included McIlroy, who shot 65 to finish 11-under and join Reed in the final pairing.

McIlroy went bogey free with five birdies and an eagle. A combination of clutch iron play and long putts, capped by a dramatic 17-foot birdie putt on 18 that drew a fist pump, kept McIlroy just behind Reed and well within striking distance.

Going for the career Grand Slam, the 28-year-old McIlroy nearly holed out on the par-3 sixth before holing a 32-yard pitch for eagle on 8. He drained long birdie putts on 3, 4 and 15 before doing the same on 18 to end his round with momentum.

“I have the chance to win another major, so I’m excited,” McIlroy said. “You can’t ask for much more. “I’ve been waiting for this chance, to be honest.”

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Rickie Fowler and Jon Rahm matched McIlroy for low round of the day at 65, yet Fowler is in third at 9-under, five shots back of Reed, and Rahm is in fourth at 8-under, six strokes back.

Fowler also posted a bogey-free round with five birdies and an eagle, the highlight coming on the par-5 second hole when he drained a 25-footer for eagle. The roll continued on 5 by sinking a 42-foot birdie putt.

“We're definitely in the golf tournament,” Fowler said. “I'm going to need to play the front nine well tomorrow and put myself really in the mix for when this golf tournament starts, which is the final nine holes.”

Rahm followed the formula of McIlroy and Fowler with five birdies and an eagle to put himself on the map. He opened with birdies on 1 and 2 before holing out a 32-pitch on 8 for eagle. He added a rare birdie on 10, sank a putt from the fringe on 16 for birdie and made a 14-footer for birdie on 17.

Henrik Stenson stayed steady with another 70 to sit in fifth alone at 7-under.

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Tommy Fleetwood nearly matched the magic of McIlroy, Fowler and Rahm by shooting 66 to reach a tie for sixth at 6-under. He’s joined by Bubba Watson and Marc Leishman at eight strokes back of Reed.

Two notable names, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, sit just inside the top 10 at 5-under. Thomas shot 70 and Spieth posted 71 to stay on the leaderboard.

Tiger Woods, playing in his first Masters since 2015, produced his best round of the week so far with 72. He rebounded from bogeys on 1 and 2 by carding birdies on 6 and 8, and he finished on a positive note with a birdie on 16 to get back to 4-over for the tournament.

“I'm hitting so many good putts, they're just not going in,” Woods said. “But I'm not hitting it close enough. I'm not getting up there and not taking advantage of the par 5s and, consequently, a good round is even par.”