6 questions that will be answered Sunday at the Masters
Only a few sporting events are a bigger spectacle than the Masters on Sunday, and that's without Tiger Woods in the mix. His presence near the top of the leaderboard elevates the final round at Augusta to a type of theatre the golf world hasn't experienced in years.
Here are the most pressing questions as we head into the final round at the 2019 Masters.
Can Molinari stare down Tiger again?
Francesco Molinari finds himself in a familiar position heading into Sunday, as he shares the stage with Tiger during the final round of a major. The duo went toe to toe in the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie, which saw Molinari fight off his foe and ultimately prevail and claim the Claret Jug.
Will history repeat itself? Odds are in Molinari's favor, and his crucial two-shot advantage forces Tiger to put on a special performance if he hopes to overtake the Italian.
Will Tiger continue to improve?
The 43-year-old has gotten better each day of the tournament after his third-round 67 on Saturday, and that's a trend that will need to continue if he wants to add a fifth green jacket to his collection. The opening few holes will set the tone. If he opens with a quick birdie or two, Molinari will feel a level of pressure only Tiger can put on his opponents.
Will Molinari make a bogey?
Molinari might not be human. Stunningly, he has made only one bogey through 54 holes at Augusta, which came on No. 11 during the first round. Additionally, he's dropped shots on just six of the last 163 holes in major competitions and is a whopping 31-under par over that stretch.
The field will need him to stumble Sunday if anyone else hopes to have a chance, but Molinari could simply be a cyborg who's programmed to not make bogeys.
How will weather impact play?
The final round will be played with threesomes teeing off split tees for the first time since 1973, with the leaders starting early at 9:20 a.m. ET. The poor weather is expected to arrive at Augusta early in the afternoon, with winds picking up and the potential for rain in the forecast.
Some of the final groups may be forced to play through the worst conditions on Sunday, especially if the system arrives early. The Masters could come down to a battle of attrition, with the person who best weathers the storm claiming the green jacket.
How will Finau follow up his 64?
Tony Finau torched Augusta on Saturday, as he carded a record-setting 30 on the front nine en route to an 8-under performance. It's unlikely he repeats with another 64, but it will be interesting to see how Finau handles the pressure of playing in the final group of a major alongside Tiger. The 29-year-old's only PGA Tour win came at the Puerto Rico Open, so his experience on a stage this big is non-existent.
Can Brooks make a run?
Three-time major champion Brooks Koepka is far from out of it. He quietly sits three shots behind Molinari despite struggling with the putter after an opening-round 66, which feels like ages ago at this point. There are few players as dangerous as Koepka when in the hunt at a major. He carded final rounds of 67, 68, and 66 in each of his major wins - an average he will need to improve upon if he wants to don the green jacket.