Scottie Scheffler fumes at golf reporter's "terrible question" after moving day 65 at The Masters

Scottie Scheffler was not pleased with a reporter's question after surging up the leaderboard on moving day at the 2026 Masters. 

The world number one and pre-tournament favourite, 29, trailed 36-hole leader and defending champion Rory McIlroy by 12 shots at the halfway stage. 

But remarkably, the four-time major champion reduced the deficit to just five as McIlroy began the second nine on Saturday. 

Scheffler carded a bogey-free seven-under 65 at Augusta National to reach a seven-under par total. 

It equalled his career-low round at the Masters and was the first time he had shot below 60 in round three at the major in seven visits to the Georgia venue. 

We will have to wait and see what Northern Ireland's McIlroy will get up to down the stretch, but it seems as though Scheffler will give himself a chance of winning his third green jacket. 

He won his first green jacket in style four years ago and was largely untroubled in 2024 as he collected his second.

Scheffler did miss opportunities throughout his round to go even lower and and a reporter alluded to his spurned chances in his post-round interview. 

But Scheffler was not pleased. 

Here's the full exchange:

Reporter: "That was a 65 today. What did it feel like it could have or should have been?

Scottie Scheffler: "That's just a terrible question. Next question. Awful."

Watch the exchange here:

Was this an unfair question?

Scheffler began his round with a safe par but managed to eagle the par-five second for the second time this week, converting from six feet after finding the green with a towering long-iron. 

The American couldn't take advantage of the drivable third and took a safe par at the next. 

Scheffler found the bunker with his tee shot at the fifth and did well to save par. 

After two-putting for par at the sixth, Scheffler caught fire by putting circles on his card at seven, eight and nine to make the turn in 32. 

Scheffler stuck his approach close at the 10th but settled for par. 

He converted another birdie putt at the 11th and played his next four holes in level par. 

What was particularly frustrating for Scheffler was his failure to take advantage of the par-fives. 

He hit a perfect drive down 13 but found the greenside bunker long of the green and walked off with a par. 

Earlier in the week, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson lamented the fact few players in the 91-man fields can reach the greens in two. 

Scheffler threatened to sign off with a bogey at the last after finding the trees with his tee shot, but stuck his wedge from 101 yards to nine inches. 

"I hit it really nice today," Scheffler added. 

"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." 

Conditions were expected to be tougher on Saturday but Augusta was gettable, with several players making charges.

Cameron Young, Jason Day, Haotong Li and Shane Lowry - who hit another hole-in-one - were among those to go low. 

"If they want to see some lower scores, they can make them softer if they want," Scheffler said. 

"I mean, they're [the greens are] already pretty firm, so they can just go full Bay Hill and just let them die. It's Augusta. They'll figure it out after that.."

Scheffler was alluding to the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier in the season in which he grew frustrated with the state of the greens.