Larry Mize struggles in first Saturday round since 2009

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Larry Mize acknowledges the gallery after putting on number three during the third round of the Masters Tournament.

Larry Mize didn’t get the score he wanted, but he did get to play a round he had been missing.

Teeing off in the third round for the first time since 2009, the Augusta native shot 79 and sat at 9-over through three rounds. He had been 2-over going into Saturday.

“The day was not very good, but it was great being out there,” said Mize, 55. “I’m looking forward to coming back with a good round (today).”

With former Augusta State All-American Patrick Reed missing the cut, Mize was the only local to reach the weekend.

He made the cut primarily from his putting. Mize needed only 28 putts Thursday and 23 Friday, three-putting just once in making up for his lack of driving distance.

On Saturday, Mize ranked last in the 51-player field in driving. He also had another three-putt green and required 30 putts.

“My short game held me in there,” he said. “(Saturday), it just caught up with me. I’m starting to hit the ball better, but I’m not hitting the ball good enough to really keep it going out there for 72 holes.”

The 1987 Masters Tournament champion was one of six players at least 50 years old to make the cut. It was only the third time since 2001 that Mize made the cut.

On Saturday, he double-bogeyed No. 1 and didn’t birdie until No. 12, finishing the first nine with 40. Though he carded another birdie at No. 13, he had bogeys on three of the last five holes.

“You can’t let down. You made the cut, so you feel pretty good, but you can’t let down,” Mize said. “I know that. I don’t think I did. I was on the edge. I could have missed the cut just as easily as I made it.”