Augusta lead collapses

Rory McIlroy’s six-shot Masters cushion vanished Saturday, leaving him tied with Cameron Young at 11-under entering the final round at Augusta National. (golfchannel.com) McIlroy shot a 1-over 73 in Round 3 after opening the tournament with 67 and 65, while Young charged with a 7-under 65 that included eight birdies and one bogey. (pgatour.com) The turn came early at Amen Corner. Golf Digest reported that McIlroy made double bogey at the par-4 11th and bogey at the par-3 12th, the stretch that wiped out the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. (golfdigest.com) Sam Burns moved to 10-under with a bogey-free 68 and starts Sunday one shot back, while Shane Lowry sits fourth at 9-under. Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and a two-time Masters champion, matched the low round of the week with a 65 and is four back at 7-under. (golfchannel.com, pgatour.com) The final pairing goes off at 2:25 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, April 12, with McIlroy and Young together. The Masters had eight players within four shots of the lead when play began Sunday. (pgatour.com, golfchannel.com) For McIlroy, the stakes are larger than one bad Saturday. Golf Channel reported that a Sunday win would make him the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles. (golfchannel.com) For Young, Sunday is a chance to add Augusta to a season that already includes a Players Championship title. The PGA Tour said he won The Players in March for his second Tour victory and arrived at Augusta with top-10 Masters finishes in 2023 and 2024. (pgatour.com) Analysts spent Saturday night focused on setup as much as scorecards. Golf Channel’s live coverage said softer greens and reachable par-5 holes could reward players who attack early in the final round. (golfchannel.com) That leaves Sunday at Augusta looking less like a coronation than a two-man start with a crowded chase behind it. McIlroy begins level with Young, Burns starts one back, and the board is packed before the last 18 holes. (golfchannel.com, golfweek.usatoday.com)