Masters: McIlroy & Young tied
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young were tied atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of the 90th Masters after Saturday play, turning what looked like a runaway into a two‑man finish. (USA Today, BBC published schedule and context showing McIlroy had opened a six‑shot lead before Saturday and said he would need to “play better on Sunday”). (usatoday.com) (bbc.com)
Rory McIlroy’s six-shot cushion is gone, and Cameron Young will start Sunday’s final round tied with him at 11-under at Augusta National. (espn.com) McIlroy shot a 1-over 73 on Saturday after opening the week with rounds of 67 and 65, while Young charged with a 7-under 65 after beginning the day eight strokes back. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The leaderboard tightened behind them, too: Sam Burns was one shot back at 10-under, Shane Lowry was at 9-under, and Scottie Scheffler moved to 7-under after his own 65. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) McIlroy had looked in control through 36 holes, when he held what the Associated Press described as the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. By the end of Saturday, nine players were within six shots of the lead. (espn.com) Young’s move changed the shape of the tournament because he did not just hang around; he erased an eight-shot deficit in one round and became the first player to have at least a share of the 54-hole Masters lead after starting the day eight back. (espn.com) His 65 included eight birdies and one bogey, and ESPN reported that his combined 12-under total over the second and third rounds was one shot shy of Tiger Woods’ best two-round Masters mark for those rounds. (espn.com) McIlroy said Saturday, “I’m still tied for the best score going into tomorrow,” but added, “I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.” (espn.com) Sunday now opens with the defending champion and a fast-closing challenger level at 205, after a Masters week that shifted in one afternoon from runaway to final-round duel. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2)
