Masters: McIlroy Tied
Rory McIlroy’s six-shot cushion evaporated in Round 3 and he goes into the final round tied with Cameron Young at Augusta National. (nytimes.com) The leaderboard compressed behind them as the field closed in, turning Sunday into a straight showdown after a weekend of movement. (golfchannel.com)
Rory McIlroy’s six-shot Masters lead is gone, and he starts Sunday tied with Cameron Young at 11 under after a 73 to Young’s 65 on Saturday at Augusta National. (pgatour.com) McIlroy led by six after 36 holes, the largest midway lead in Masters history, but he played the third round in 1 over par. Young began the day eight shots back and made eight birdies against one bogey in a 7-under 65. (golfchannel.com) The turn came around Amen Corner, Augusta National’s stretch of holes 11 through 13. Golf Channel reported that McIlroy made double bogey on No. 11 and bogey on No. 12, while Young kept climbing and briefly moved in front before they finished level. (golfchannel.com) The leaderboard is packed behind them. ESPN’s leaderboard showed Sam Burns alone in third at 10 under, Shane Lowry fourth at 9 under, and Jason Day and Justin Rose tied at 8 under after 54 holes. (espn.com) Scottie Scheffler also forced his way back into the tournament with a 65 that moved him to 7 under, four shots off the lead. Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley were 6 under, leaving multiple major champions and recent contenders within reach with one round left. (espn.com) Sunday now looks less like a defense by the 2025 champion and more like a two-man final pairing with a crowded chase pack behind it. The final group is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. Eastern, with Burns and Lowry at 2:14 p.m. and Day and Rose at 2:03 p.m. (pgatour.com) McIlroy is trying to become the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles, according to Yahoo Sports’ Sunday tee-times report. Young is chasing his first major championship and his first Masters title. (sports.yahoo.com) The scoring conditions helped create the swing. PGA Tour said Saturday was the lowest-scoring third round in Augusta National history at 70.63, which meant McIlroy’s 73 gave the field an opening instead of creating separation. (pgatour.com) That leaves McIlroy and Young together on the first tee Sunday afternoon, with 18 holes to settle a tournament that looked close to over on Friday night. (pgatour.com)
