Consider Saturday to be the first act of a two-act thriller. The winds continued to gust at Bobby Jones’ place in Augusta, Georgia. With their currents came indecision, uncertainty, a bit of brilliance, and a plenitude of flown greens, missed putts, and deep sighs. The annals of golf journalism are filled with first-hand accounts of the importance of patience and equilibrium. At no other golf journey are those traits more valued than the Augusta National 18.

Scottie Scheffler and his fellow competitors were made aware of all this and more on the second Saturday in April. Amen Corner stretched to Amen Everywhere, as prayer was commonplace along the fairways of the former nursery and tree farm. Sunday promises to deliver more of the same, so if you count yourself among the faint of heart, be warned. With that optimism in mind, learn the five things we gathered on the third day of the book of Augusta.

1. There are victories that do not end in trophies

Tiger Woods was not expected to compete in the Masters this year. Tiger Woods was hardly expected to overcome the physical demands of the hills that define the fairways of Augusta. Tiger Woods most certainly would not survive the 36-hole cut, given that he had not competed for 14 months. When he achieved each of these things, we dared to dream. We thought that, if anyone could, he would. Saturday showed that the greatest golfer of all time was still human at the core.

As he did each of the first two days, Woods made bogey at the first. He followed it with a birdie at the second, but dropped two shots to par at the demanding fifth. Woods added bogeys at 10 and 11, but rebounded with birdies at 12 and 13. He held steady until the closing triumvirate of holes, when disaster or fatigue or physical weakness returned. The bogey-bogey-double finish was disheartening.

Is this week about winning? No. In fact, we suggest that this and the next two majors are all about preparation for the one grand title that Woods truly believes he can win: The Open at St. Andrews. We’ll see him tomorrow, and in May at Southern Hills, and in June at Brookline. And it will all build to a week in July, in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland.

Back-to-back birdies for Tiger Woods on hole Nos. 12 and 13. #themasters pic.twitter.com/6F0LDlETfl

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

2. Golfers have layers

Shrek the cartoon figure told us that, like onions, ogres have layers. When golfers have layers of sweaters, vests, and long-sleeve tees, they don’t like it. The amount of outerwear in evidence in round three was astounding. These sorts of conditions are expected at Open Championships, or Pebble Beach in February, but not in Georgia in April. The cool temperatures, united with the aforementioned winds, blended with the extended tee decks of certain holes, made for an unwanted cocktail on day three at Augusta.

Check out Collin Morikawa’s ensemble for a bit more evidence.

Collin Morikawa moves into the top 10. #themasters pic.twitter.com/X5Zg89rZtu

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

3. The round of the day

Cameron Smith stood second to Im Sing-jae after Thursday’s first round. He struggled on Friday and lost three shots to Old Man Par. As we know, the spunky Aussie has little quit in him. If anyone was to match wits with Mother Nature on Saturday, it was he. Smith made six birdies on the day and lost but two shots to Sir Bogey. Those came at the third and 16th holes, but neither could be deemed catastrophic. Smith stands at six-under par after three tours round the course, and will tee off in the final pairing on Sunday. Remember what was written about patience and equilibrium? Watch Smith address any shot, and you’ll understand what each traits looks like.

Cameron Smith is now three under par on the day and in a tie for second place. #themasters pic.twitter.com/PlwQnOoQ5W

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

4. The drop of the day

We haven’t seen anyone in the left trees on 18 since Jordan Spieth in…when was that again, 2018? Scottie Scheffler found them when he least expected to do so. Coming off a stout birdie at the 17th, Scheffler tugged his tee shot left and early. The ball was found, the unplayable lie penalty was taken, and Scheffler stood some 230 yards from the green in two. For those who rarely use the penalty, it’s beneficial. It saves strokes and injuries. Did you notice the drop? Twice it went outside the two-club limit, and thus he placed the ball. It’s true that the approach bounded over the putting surface, but Scheffler putted down to two feet and holed for bogey. No disaster, and a three-shot advantage over Smith heading into round four.

Towering wedge, center-cup putt. Another birdie for Scheffler brings the lead to four. #themasters pic.twitter.com/RxLgDFJK0m

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022

5. What goes down on Sunday?

It’s time for bullet points, so get ready for a line-by-line countdown of what we see in our crystal ball.

• Tiger Woods posts three-under 69, including an eagle;
• Scottie Scheffler leans on Ted Scott’s two Masters caddy wins and breaks par;
• Cameron Smith plays so well that the expression Party In The Front, Party In The Rear takes the golf world by storm;
• Someone defies all logic, global meteorological turmoil, and common sense, by holing out twice from the fairway for eagle. He signs for 62 to ultimately win in a playoff. Trouble is, the crystal ball got murky and we cannot read the signature. Alas…

Don’t believe us? Tune in tomorrow and become a believer.

The Tournament leader. #themasters pic.twitter.com/b7ILAkZlyF

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2022