Augusta, Ga. – One-man show at the Masters led to a massive search for the green jacket, a surprising turn of events forced Rory McIlroy To remind himself of where he was at the end of Saturday rather than where he started.
The six-shot lead evaporated after 11 holes. Instead of only two players within six shots of him, there were nine players within six shots of McIlroy and the co-leader cameron young By End of Day.
“A lot of guys have a chance tomorrow. I still tied the best score from yesterday, so I can’t forget that,” McIlroy said. “But I know I have to get better if I want a chance to win.”
It felt like the coronation had begun as McIlroy catapulted himself into the Masters record books with the largest 36-hole lead in history, even as the defending champion warned, “I know what can happen here, good and bad.”
The upside was from Young, who displayed a mix of power and composure that carried him to a 7-under 65, and Scotty SchefflerThe world No. 1 player and two-time Masters champion, whose 65 left him 12 shots behind suddenly in the mixjust four back
bad?
McIlroy was in the trees, in the water, in All kinds of places he wouldn’t want to goThat includes sharing a spot at the top of the leaderboard. He finished with a 73, surprising only because it was the lowest scoring average ever (70.63) for a third round at Augusta National.
“It just didn’t go well today,” McIlroy said before heading to the range to find out what went wrong. He ranked last in the field in terms of driving accuracy out of 54 players, hitting only 21 of 42 fairways through three rounds.
Young set his own Masters record, becoming the first player to share at least a 54-hole lead while starting eight shots behind.
But he was steady and brilliant, making birdie on the par-3 fourth, converting a big break when his tee shot on the par-5 13th went off the trees and into the fairway, even saving a bogey with a bold wedge from the same spot where he had just landed in the water on the par-5 15th. He briefly took the lead with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole.
“You’re constantly aware of the fact that this place could bite you,” Young said. “So, to me, it’s a really, really clear mandate that an easy par is never a bad thing. And if you’re playing that well, you’re going to claw your way back into some birdies at some point.”
They were at 11-under 205, ahead by one Sam BurnsWho played bogey-free for 68 runs. shane lowryWho made a hole in one Became the first player to have a pair of aces at the Masters on the par-3 sixth hole, he had a score of 69 and was two shots behind. jason day And justin rose Three are back.
And suddenly Scheffler was very much in the picture, who had his lowest round ever at the Masters with a 65 despite not making birdie on the par 5 back nine for the third consecutive day.
Scheffler said, “We’ll see what happens this afternoon. I don’t think I’m out of the tournament.”
What happened? Just about everything.
McIlroy was leading with par when he holed his shot for birdie on the 10th hole. But then his journey through Amen Corner might have left him wanting to say a few choice words.
His shot on the 11th went left and rolled into the water; He missed a 5-foot putt and made his first double bogey of the tournament. He pulled his wedge over the green on the par-3 12th and chipped poorly, missing a 15-foot par attempt. On the par-5 13th his car hit trees on the right side for the third consecutive day; His nail went long and he had to struggle for par.
“There’s definitely no lead out there that’s safe,” Young said. “But at the same time, Rory feels great here. I don’t think it would surprise anyone if he went out and scored 65. But if he opens the door, you’ve got to take advantage.”
McIlroy at least composed himself after losing the lead. He hit a 20-foot birdie putt on the 14th green to tie Young and then hit a beauty putt on the 15th for a two-putt birdie. But on the 17th he was again in the trees on the left side of the fairway, hit a shot that went over the green, and he fell back into a tie.
The top eight on the leaderboard, separated by four shots, include five major champions and four players who have been ranked No. 1 in the world.
Former Masters champion also included among those who came within five shots of the lead patrick reedDespite the compromise at 72, and patrick cantlayWho opened the Masters with a 77 and became the first player in seven years to play bogey-free on two consecutive days with rounds of 67–66.
McIlroy still has a good chance to get in Tiger Woods, nick faldo And jack nicklaus As back-to-back winners at Augusta National. Young is trying to make it three years in a row that the winner of The Players Championship goes on to win the Masters.
Young said, “I don’t owe anything. My past results don’t dictate what I do tomorrow.” “I’ve got to earn whatever I get tomorrow, and the best way I know is to try to attack the day like I have the last three days.”
It was the second time a career Grand Slam champion lost a major lead at the Masters on Saturday. Jack Nicklaus was ahead by five shots in 1975 when he shot 73 and was one shot behind to win on what is considered one of the most exciting Sundays in Augusta National history.
Perhaps another chapter is in store on Sunday. There is no dearth of claimants.
