McIlroy’s six‑shot swing

Rory McIlroy’s six-shot Masters lead is gone after a 1-over 73 on Saturday left him tied with Cameron Young at 11-under entering Sunday. (apnews.com) McIlroy had set a Masters record for the largest 36-hole lead on Friday, reaching 12-under after a 7-under 65 that included six birdies in his final seven holes. By Saturday night, that cushion had disappeared. (nbcnews.com) The third round turned at Augusta National’s back nine. McIlroy made a double bogey on the par-4 11th and a bogey on the par-3 12th, while Young shot 65 to pull even at the top. (golfdigest.com) Sunday now starts with McIlroy and Young in the final pairing at 11:25 a.m. Eastern, with Sam Burns one shot back at 10-under and Shane Lowry another shot behind at 9-under. Scottie Scheffler begins four back after a 65 on Saturday. (espn.com) The swing matters because McIlroy arrived at Augusta National chasing a second straight green jacket. A win would make him the fourth player to win the Masters in consecutive years, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. (nbcnews.com) It also reopened questions that had seemed settled 24 hours earlier. McIlroy won the 2025 Masters after 17 years of trying, but his history at Augusta still includes the 2011 collapse after holding the 54-hole lead. (espn.com) McIlroy said after the round, “I didn’t quite have it today,” and added, “It was never going to be easy.” Cameron Young, still seeking his first major, now gets a Masters Sunday in the last group instead of chasing from behind. (espn.com; nytimes.com) What looked like a runaway on Friday is now a four-man fight at the top of the board and a crowded chase behind it. McIlroy still has a chance to finish the week with another green jacket, but Sunday begins with no margin left. (sports.yahoo.com; espn.com)