Scottie Scheffler accused of hypocrisy after laughing at reporter with brutal takedown

Scottie Scheffler seemed to run a little hot under the collar following a question about how good his Saturday 65 at the Masters really was.

The world number one has leapt into contention at the 90th edition of the Masters seemingly from nowhere.

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After opening rounds of 70 and 74, it had looked like the two-time Masters winner would be a non-factor this week.

But he changed all of that by producing an incredible bogey-free 65 in the third round.

Following an eagle at his second hole on Saturday, he then birdied four of five holes around the turn to jump up to T7, just four shots off the leaders.

Despite his excellence on Saturday, there was a feeling that Scheffler had an even lower score in him.

Asked after his round ‘what does it feel like it could have or should have been?’, Scheffler answered: “That’s just a terrible question. Next question. Awful.”

After a rather cold look towards the reporter, he did eventually soften his answer with a wry smile and raspy laugh but it was an unusually harsh reply from the 29-year-old.

Fans have also been quick to mention that Scheffler himself admitted he ‘left a few shots out there’ on Saturday, suggesting he thought he should’ve gone lower.

In an earlier interview, he told Amanda Balionis: “Today, early in the round, I felt like I got a lot out of it and on the back nine, I did a lot of really good things and didn’t really feel like I got the reward for it.

“I feel like I left a few shots out there but overall it was a good day.

“I don’t feel like I’m out of the tournament and it’s good to put himself back in position.”

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Scheffler’s Saturday special leaves him at 7-under-par, four off Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under.

He’ll be in the fourth-to-last group out on Sunday and will have the chance to pile the pressure on the leaders.

He added: “I hit it really nice today. I felt like I was very sharp with the irons.

“Got it up there. Gave myself a lot of opportunities.

“I felt like I took advantage of those on the front nine, and then back nine I did a lot of good things. Was really, really close to seeing a lot go in.

“I did what I needed to do. Went out and executed to give myself some opportunities, and more of that tomorrow, and I think I’ll be in a good spot.”

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Meanwhile, hole-in-one specialist Shane Lowry is two ahead of Scheffler going into the final round after another incredible ace on Saturday.

The Irishman has quite the collection of ones on his CV and this was his second at Augusta, becoming the first player to have that honour.

“That’s wild, isn’t it? I made one a couple of weeks ago in Houston. You don’t ever expect to make a hole-in-one, I just couldn’t believe it,” said the former Open champion.

“Obviously you’re out there and you’re in the hunt at the Masters and you’re making hole-in-one, it’s pretty cool.

“The walk down the sixth hole with everyone around 16 and the sixth was very special. I’ll remember that for a while. It was obviously amazing.

“It gives you obviously a huge kind of boost. You go from six-under to eight-under and then all of a sudden you’re only four back.

“It’s getting real now. I felt like I did a great job of calming myself down afterwards.”