Rory McIlroy’s Masters journey continues to be a rollercoaster, with his third round seeing his lead disappear. A one-over par 73 meant the Northern Irishman now shares the lead with Cameron Young.
McIlroy is aiming to become only the fourth man to win successive Masters titles.
McIlroy’s Lead Evaporates
McIlroy held a record six-shot lead at the halfway point. Many predicted a procession for the defending champion going into Saturday’s third round.
However, McIlroy saw his commanding lead evaporate during a dramatic day. He swung the door wide open to his rivals with a one-over par 73.
A dozen players are within the six shots of the leaders.
‘A Great Chance’ Remains
McIlroy said he knew it wouldn’t be easy, given the quality of the chasing pack. He added that he would have wanted to be in a better position going into Sunday, having started out with a six-shot lead, but that he still has a great chance.
He said he is in the final group and that’s where you want to be.
Last year’s nerve-jangling play-off win over England’s Justin Rose was classic McIlroy at the Masters. It was a rollercoaster ride where his bid for the career Grand Slam threatened to derail once again.
Swing Stutters in Third Round
During his first two rounds this week, he played with the greater mental freedom which he predicted reaching his golfing Everest would provide.
The five-time major champion showed patience to take control of the leaderboard, even though he was not playing as well as the scoreboard suggested.
The ability to recover from wayward driving was the key to McIlroy’s success, staying calm in the pressure moments to play sensibly when required before attacking when the chances arose.
On Saturday, his swing continued to stutter and this time his short game could not always ride to the rescue.
McIlroy found eight of the 14 fairways in the third round – the same as he did on Friday when he shot a 65. On Thursday, he only hit five as he posted a 67.
Of those to make the halfway cut, he is bottom of the class in accuracy off the tee, and when you couple that with his poorer short game during round three, it’s easy to see how.
Scheffler & Lowry’s Ace Feature
- The Masters round three leaderboard:
- -11 C Young (US), R McIlroy (NI); -10 S Burns (US)
- Selected: -9 S Lowry (Ire); -8 J Day (Aus), J Rose (Eng); -7 S Scheffler (US), L Haotong (Chn); -6 P Cantlay (US), P Reed (US); -4 T Hatton (Eng), T Fleetwood (Eng)
On Sunday, McIlroy will go to the range and figure it out. He said he still has a great chance but if he is going to win he will have to play better.