Moving day collapse

Rory McIlroy took a six-shot Masters lead into Saturday and lost all of it by sunset, reaching Sunday tied with Cameron Young at 11-under. (pgatour.com) McIlroy shot 1-over 73 in the third round after opening the day at 12-under, while Young charged with a 7-under 65 after starting eight shots back. The two finished Round 3 as co-leaders at Augusta National. (apnews.com) The swing came from both directions. McIlroy’s round included four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey, while Young made seven birdies and no score worse than bogey in his 65. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Saturday was not just a collapse by one player. The field average was 70.63, the lowest-scoring third round in Masters history, and 10 players shot 68 or better. (pgatour.com) (msn.com) That scoring surge followed a sharp change in how Augusta National played. After players described Thursday as firm and fast, several said Friday’s greens were slower and softer than expected. (cbs42.com) (golfweek.usatoday.com) At Augusta, softer greens change the math. When approach shots stop faster, players can fire more directly at flags, and Golf Digest noted that hole locations at Augusta can make holes play far easier or far harder depending on where pins are cut. (si.com) (golfdigest.com) McIlroy had built the lead with a second-round 65 on Friday, finishing 36 holes at 12-under and setting the largest halfway lead in Masters history. By late Saturday, that cushion was gone and the board had compressed behind him. (pgatour.com) (apnews.com) Young’s move fit his recent major record even if he had not won one yet. PGA Tour said he arrived with top-five finishes in the other three majors, and his 65 on Saturday was his best Masters round. (pgatour.com) (espn.com) By the end of moving day, the tournament had turned from a runaway into the final pairing everyone expected to chase. McIlroy still had a chance to defend the green jacket, but he no longer had room to coast. (usatoday.com)