Patrick Cantlay's 64 comes with little damage on par-5 holes

Patrick Cantlay shot 64 in the third round of the Masters on Saturday, and there was something very unusual about it.

"I forgot to birdie the easy holes," said the UCLA graduate and the low amateur at the 2012 Masters. He made par at Nos. 2, 8 and 13, before two-putting for birdie from 50 feet at No. 15.

However, he birdied a lot of hard holes - both par-3s on the first nine, Nos. 9 and 11, and then No. 14, a hole that he said has been problematic for him in the past, with five pars and a double bogey in his previous rounds at Augusta in 2012 and 2018.

"(No.) 14 always gives me trouble with that lie below my feet," he said. "But the hole location (back-center on Saturday) was a little easier."

PHOTOS: Round 3 at The Masters

Cantlay nearly holed his second shot at No. 1 to get the day off to a fine start, tapping in from 11 inches away. He dropped a pair of long putts on the first-nine par-3s, 18 feet at No. 4 and 26 feet at No. 6, then sank a 16-footer for birdie at No. 9.

He made one of only five birdies in the third round at No. 11, sinking a 13-foot putt, and almost jarred another shot, leaving his approach at No. 14 within 2 feet.

The two-putt birdie at No. 15 was followed by a 9-foot birdie roll at No. 17.

Cantlay came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to match the tournament record. However, his drive landed in the fairway bunker, and he said it was too close to the front face to reach the green.

He made the smart play to get the ball out and in front of the green from 92 yards out, then wedged to 3 feet and made par. 

Cantlay tied for 47th in 2012 and beat Hideki Matsuyama by two shots for low amateur honors at 7-over 295. Cantlay did not qualify for another invitation until last year, off his victory in the Shriners Hospital for Children Open, but he missed the cut with rounds of 75-76.