Masters 2016 Leaderboard: Live Look at Saturday Scores and Overall Predictions

The Masters 2016 has quite literally been blown wide open after high winds battered Augusta National on Friday and forced leader Jordan Spieth back into a congested pack.

The defending champion shot a two-over par 74 to move to four under for the tournament, while Rory McIlroy carded a one-under 71 to go three under in one of the day’s rare success stories.

Spieth and McIlroy will do battle in the final group of the day in Round 3, but with the elements set to be in an unforgiving mood once again, the race for the green jacket is still all to play for.

Masters 2016 Live Leaderboard

Saturday Afternoon Preview

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Wind may have wreaked havoc on proceedings at Augusta National on Friday, but it’s made for a truly spectacular weekend of golf.

Just seven players found themselves in red numbers for the tournament after Round 2, with Spieth and McIlroy on top at four- and three-under, respectively.

Danny Lee and Scott Piercy sit on two-under par heading into the weekend, while Brandt Snedeker, Soren Kjeldsen and Hideki Matsuyama are on one-under.

Beneath them, it’s looking very crowded, as Golf Channel’s Justin Ray noted there are 24 players in the hunt for Spieth’s crown:

The defending champion remains the favourite to romp to glory over the weekend, although he conceded there are still several players in with a chance—per Sky Sports' Sam Drury: "I think the person who walks the tallest is going to end up winning these next couple of days. I've obviously got Rory, who has proven himself in major championships, right on my heels and a bunch of other major contenders at Augusta."

Spieth and McIlroy make up two parts of the heralded Big Three, and the third part of the trident isn’t too far away.

World No. 1 Jason Day carded a one-over 73 on Friday after a level-par 72 on Thursday, but it’s safe to say he’s close to producing the goods.

The Aussie was five-under after nine on Day 1 and even moved to two-under in the early stages on Friday.

Yet the back nine has well and truly cost Day. Despite some easy scoring holes, he’s eight-over for the tournament coming home, as European Tour revealed:

If he can find a way to master the closing nine holes on Saturday, he could fire himself right into contention on the final day.

Justin Rose is another player who is still in with a chance despite being six shots back of Spieth.

Last year’s runner-up has previous with Augusta National, and despite a five-over 77 on Friday, he has the game to go low.

In truth, any player up to around the three-over mark has a very good chance of glory thanks to the torrid conditions, but all eyes will be on the day’s final group.

McIlroy comes into the round with plenty of momentum, while Spieth can master Augusta on any given day.

It could well be a case of who operates the putter best, and while the American is known for his hot flat stick, McIlroy can be lethal on the greens, too.

Predicted leader after Day 3: Rory McIlroy