Patrick Reed Charges

Patrick Reed played his way back into the Masters on Saturday, cutting into Rory McIlroy’s lead and moving within five shots of first place. (sports.yahoo.com) McIlroy started the third round on Saturday, April 11, at 12-under after a 67 and a 65, which gave him the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history at six shots. Reed began the day at 6-under, tied for second with Sam Burns. (espn.com) By the end of Round 3, McIlroy had shot 1-over 73 and fallen into a tie for the lead at 11-under with Cameron Young, who posted a 7-under 65. Reed shot even-par 72 and finished at 6-under, tied for ninth. (espn.com, espn.com) The move still mattered because Augusta National can turn a six-shot cushion into a crowded Sunday leaderboard in one afternoon. After Saturday, nine players were within five shots of the lead. (espn.com) That changed the shape of the tournament. Instead of McIlroy protecting a runaway lead in the final round on Sunday, April 12, he entered tied with Young at 11-under, with Burns one back at 10-under and Shane Lowry two back at 9-under. (espn.com) Reed’s presence on that board carries extra weight at Augusta because he has won here before. He took the Masters in 2018, giving him a Green Jacket and a record of contending on this course. (masters.com) He also arrived in strong form in 2026. ESPN reported in February that Reed won the Qatar Masters, a result that was set to move him into the top 20 in the world ranking. (espn.com) McIlroy’s own stakes were larger than a normal 54-hole lead. He came to Augusta as the defending champion after winning the 2025 Masters, and ESPN reported that a second straight title would make him the first repeat winner here since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. (espn.com, espn.com) So Reed’s Saturday charge did not leave him leading the tournament, but it did help turn a record-margin Masters into a final round with multiple real chasers. By Sunday morning, McIlroy no longer had room to coast. (sports.yahoo.com, espn.com)