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In case you thought the Masters was over after Rory McIlroy’s electrifying second round, here’s a reminder that nothing starts at Augusta until Sunday’s back nine.
And those back nine are sure to be exciting after Saturday’s third-round action in which McIlroy’s six-stroke lead, the largest ever gained through 36 holes, completely evaporated.
New York native Cameron Young and defending champion McIlroy will form the final group of the 90th edition of the Masters, with both golfers at 11 under par.
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Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are tied for the Masters lead heading into 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 quickly shrink. When McIlroy birdied the third and Reed bogeyed No. 4, McIlroy’s lead was back to a comfortable four. Reed eventually fell in the rankings, but Young rose quickly.
Young, who was 4 up after his first round, started the day eight shots behind McIlroy, birdied the 16th to tie McIlroy, just seconds before McIlroy bogeyed 12 to drop to second place. He shot a 7-under 65 to jump to the top of the leaderboard, while McIlroy was 1 over with a 73. Young birdied eight holes and bogeyed the par-5 15th after hitting the water.
But McIlroy struggled on the back nine, hitting the water on the 11th for a double bogey, while also bogeying the 12th and 18th.
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, on April 11, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Image Images)
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This tournament, however, is now well beyond the leaders, as there are 20 players in sevens and 14 in sixes. McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood were the only golfers inside the top 20 to enter Saturday and they scored over par in the third round, making Saturday’s stirring day a preview of an electric Sunday.
Sam Burns is alone on 10 under in 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 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 Cameron Young of the United States on the 18th 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 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.
