Sensational Scheffler reminds everyone why he is still No 1 with Masters masterclass | Andy Bull

The American shot a sublime 65 at Augusta on Saturday and while a third Masters title looks beyond him it was some show of strength

On Friday evening Scottie Scheffler was in the new player facility going back and forth over his putting game.

Despite himself, he got sucked into watching what Rory McIlroy was doing on the big TVs the club have up in the training room. “It was pretty special stuff,” Scheffler admitted.

And by the time McIlroy had finished Scheffler, the world’s No 1 golfer, had a different perspective on the tournament.

He had scored 70 and 74 himself, and was even-par for the tournament, 12 shots off McIlroy’s lead, with 36 holes to play and nothing left to lose.

All of a sudden a tournament which has a way of making the game feel very complicated indeed had become very simple for him.

Scheffler needed birdies.

And he got them.

He made five altogether, along with an eagle.

He scored 65, seven-under.

It was the best round he’s ever played in the Masters. “I think that’s what great players do,” Scheffler said. “They rise to the occasion when you are at the biggest tournaments, and you’d be hard-pressed to find another tournament that’s bigger than this one, especially for me.”