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In case you thought the Masters was over after Rory McIlroy’s electrifying second round, here’s your reminder that nothing starts at Augusta until Sunday’s final nine matches.
And these final nine holes are sure to be exciting after Saturday’s third round which saw McIlroy’s six-shot lead, the largest ever through 36 holes, completely evaporate.
New York native Cameron Young and defending champion McIlroy will be paired in the final group of the 90th Masters tournament, with both golfers at 11 under.
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Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are tied for the Masters lead through Sunday. (Katie Goodale/Imagn Images, Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
McIlroy started his day at 12 under, but a bogey at the first combined with three birdies from Patrick Reed saw his lead dwindle quickly. When McIlroy birdied the third and Reed made bogey at No. 4, McIlroy’s lead was back to a comfortable four. Reed eventually fell in the rankings, but Young moved up.
Young, who was 4 points after his first round, started the day eight shots behind McIlroy, birdied the 16th to tie McIlroy, just seconds before McIlroy made a bogey of 12 to fall to second place. He shot a 7-under 65 to jump to the top of the leaderboard, while McIlroy moved above 1 with a 73. Young birdied eight holes to go along with a bogey at the par-5 15th after going into the water.
But McIlroy struggled on the back nine, going into the water on 11 for a double bogey, while also making bogeys on 12 and 18.
Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the 18th green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 11, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)
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This tournament, however, now extends well beyond the leaders, as there are 20 players in seven shots and 14 in six shots. McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood were the only golfers in the top 20 entering Saturday to score over par in the third round, making Saturday’s move day a taste of an electric Sunday.
Sam Burns is alone at 10 under in solo third, while Shane Lowry, who benefited from a hole-in-one, is two behind. Jason Day and Justin Rose are at 8 under, with Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li at 7 under (Scheffler also shot a 65 after starting Saturday, even for the tournament).
Other notables in the mix include Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley and Reed at 6 under, Collin Morikawa at 5 under and Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka at 4 under.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland greets American Cameron Young on the No. 18 green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026. (Logan Whitton/Augusta National/Getty Images)
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After being paired together in the first two rounds, McIlroy and Young will play together again at 2:25 p.m. ET, as McIlroy looks to make up for lost time and become the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back green jackets.
