McIlroy and Young share Masters lead after dramatic third round

AUGUSTA: Rory McIlroy recovered late after letting a six-shot advantage slip to end Saturday tied for the lead with Cameron Young following a turbulent third round at the Masters.

The pair were level at 11-under 205 after 54 holes at Augusta National, one stroke ahead of American Sam Burns. McIlroy, who began the day with a record six-shot cushion, returned a one-over-par 73, while Young surged into contention with a seven-under-par 65.

McIlroy said he had struggled for much of the day. “I didn’t have it today,” McIlroy admitted. “I scrambled a lot on the front nine.”

The world number two regained the outright lead with birdies at the 14th and 15th, but a wayward tee shot at the 17th found the trees and led to a bogey that left him tied at the top. “This golf course has a way of, when you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle,” McIlroy said. “You have to dig deep. “I still have a great chance,” McIlroy added. “I’m in the final group. That’s where I want to be. I need to be better tomorrow. If I’m going to win tomorrow I have to be better than I was today.”

McIlroy, a five-time major champion, is seeking to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win the green jacket in consecutive years.

Young charges into contention

Young, ranked third in the world and winner of last month’s Players Championship, made a fast start with birdies on five of his first 10 holes. He added birdies at 13 and 14, with his tee shot at the 13th striking a tree before bouncing into the fairway. Although he dropped a shot with a bogey at the 15th after finding water, he answered with a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th.

The 28-year-old American now has an opportunity to claim his first major title. “There certainly is no lead that’s safe out here, but Rory loves it here and no one would be surprised if he had shot 65,” Young said. “It’s just one of those times that if he doesn’t, we have to take advantage and I got myself here today.”

Burns one back, Lowry makes history

Burns posted a 68 to move into third place, one shot ahead of Ireland’s Shane Lowry. Lowry carded a 68 that included a hole-in-one at the 190-yard par-three sixth, leaving him alone in fourth on 207.

According to the tournament details reported in the source, Lowry became the first player in Masters history to record multiple holes-in-one, having also aced the 16th in the final round in 2016. “That’s wild,” Lowry said. “You don’t ever expect to make a hole-in-one. I just couldn’t believe it. You’re out there and you’re in the hunt at the Masters and you’re making hole-in-one. It’s pretty cool. It was obviously amazing.”

Australian Jason Day and England’s Justin Rose were a further stroke back. Rose, a three-time Masters runner-up, cut the gap from seven shots to three and said he would look to draw on his final-round performance from last year, when he made 10 birdies. “It’s going to take a special round tomorrow, so there’s a chance, which is great,” Rose said. “I’m going to try to channel a bit of last year and see what happens.”

Scheffler stays in touch

World number one Scottie Scheffler remained in the mix after a bogey-free 65, his lowest round at the Masters, to reach 209. He was four shots off the lead alongside China’s Li Haotong, who shot 69 despite also finding water during his round.

“I put myself in position,” Scheffler said. “I just need to get the job done.”

McIlroy’s round turned sharply at Amen Corner. He made a double bogey at the 11th after sending his approach into the pond to the left, and then dropped another shot at the par-three 12th as his lead disappeared. He responded with a 19-foot birdie putt at the 14th and then reached the green in two at the par-five 15th before converting a tap-in birdie.

Reflecting on the challenge, McIlroy said: “I knew today wasn’t going to be easy. The quality of the chasing pack was very good and a lot of guys played their best golf.”