Moving Day in Golf: The Crucial Third Round

Moving day in golf refers to the third day of a golf tournament.

It’s called “moving day” because it is the last chance for a golfer to “move” themselves into a position to win on Sunday.

The term moving day originated with The Masters and has since been used to describe any Saturday, or third round, in a golf tournament.

The Importance of Moving Day

Moving day is when the leaderboard starts to take shape, and the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pack.

The third round of a golf tournament is crucial for players looking for a chance to win on Sunday.

With the cut made after the second round, only the top golfers advance to play on the weekend. And it’s moving day that can make or break a player’s chances of winning the tournament.

It’s when those outside the lead need to make a move and climb up the leaderboard and those near or in the lead need to try to distance themselves from the pack.

The Pressure of Moving Day

Moving Day in golf is not for the faint of heart. The pressure to perform is intense, and the stakes are high. Players who are in contention for the tournament title feel the weight of expectations on their shoulders. They know that every shot counts, and a single mistake can cost them a shot at winning on Sunday.

The pressure can be overwhelming, and it takes a mental and physical toll on the players.

This is one reason why Tiger Woods was so dominant. If Tiger was anywhere near the lead at the start of the day on Saturday, he would almost always move himself to the top or close to it. Nobody handled the pressures of moving day, and professional golf tournaments in general, better than Tiger.

Masters Moving Day

There have been many memorable moving day performances in golf history, especially at the Masters.

Two of the greatest performances come from the two greatest golfers in history: Jack and Tiger.

In 1965, Nicklaus was tied for the lead at the start of the third round. Jack put the hammer down, shooting a 64 and taking a five shot lead into the final day.

In 1997, after leading by three strokes at the end of the second round, Tiger stepped on everyone’s throats and shot a 65 on moving day and took a commanding nine-shot lead heading into the final round.

On Sunday, Woods changed golf forever as he went on to win his first Master’s by a record 12 strokes.