AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — It wasn’t the course that overtook Rory McIlroy in the third round of the Masters, but it was the rest of the field.
And maybe his wayward driver.
McIlroy eventually left an opening and several other players returned to contention on the third lap, setting up a potentially pulsating finish on Sunday at Augusta National, where McIlroy and Cameron Young share the lead but six other players are now within four shots.
“The course was clearly doable,” McIlroy said after his third-round 73rd cost him a six-stroke lead through 36 holes. “There were a lot of good scores and the quality of the chase package is clearly evident. There were a lot of guys getting good scores.”
Ashley Landis via Associated Press
Saturday average score of 70.63 was the lowest in Masters history in a third round. But McIlroy ranks last in the post-cut field in driving accuracy, and it made it difficult for him to continue the streak of birdies that built his big lead on Friday. He also hit the ball into the water on No. 11 and made a damaging double bogey.
Now McIlroy, who is trying to become the fourth player to win twice in a row at the tournament, will play in the final group with Young, who is looking for his first major championship.
“I’ll probably give myself the next 30 minutes to think about it. Then it’s kind of a battle to decide how you want to respond to those things,” Young said. “For me, it’s just a matter of going straight back to how am I going to organize my day tomorrow, what time do I need to be here so I can eat, so I can go to physio? It’s just going to be back to my routine, and I’m going to lean on that.”
Matt Slocum via Associated Press
McIlroy is number 2 in the world rankings, one spot ahead of Young. The last time two of the top three players in the rankings were in the final group of the Masters was in 2001, when Tiger Woods was No. 1 and Phil Mickelson was No. 2. Woods ultimately won by two strokes over David Duval.
Scottie Scheffler, the current number 1, shot 65 on Saturday to get within striking distance, but he is four shots behind Young, who also shot 65, and McIlroy. The two leaders are at 11 under par. Sam Burns is at 10 under, followed by Shane Lowry one stroke back.
Jason Day and Justin Rose are at 8 under.
Rose shot a 66 in the final round last year to force a playoff, but ultimately lost to McIlroy.
“The whole field isn’t going to help you, let me put it that way,” Rose said. “There’s a special round needed tomorrow, so there’s a chance, and it’s a big one. I’m going to try to channel a bit of last year and see what happens.”
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