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McIlroy, the defending champion, was unable to add to his six-shot lead and was joined by Cameron Young at the top of the leaderboard
Jack Rathborn & Jamie BraidwoodSunday 12 April 2026 01:41 BST- Bookmark
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Close popoverRory McIlroy storms to sensational six-shot lead after stunning birdie run at AugustaRory McIlroy will go into the final round of the Masters in a share of the lead with Cameron Young after blowing the six-shot advantage he took into the weekend on a dramatic moving day on Saturday.
At -12, McIlroy held an unprecedented lead heading into the third round, as the Northern Irishman bids to become just the fourth man to win the Masters back-to-back, but his healthy position at the top of the leaderboard was wiped out on a wild day at Augusta National.
After his driving woes, he will start on -11, along with Players champion Young, after the American caught fire and joined the defending champion at the top just as McIlroy found the water and made a double-bogey-six on the 12th, followed by another bogey on the 13th.
Young’s blazing round of -7 was matched by world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, who will start Sunday four shots behind, with Shane Lowry and last year’s runner-up Justin Rose also in firm contention. Lowry produced the moment of the round with a hole-in-one on the 6th.
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- Rory McIlroy shares Masters lead with Cameron Young
- Shane Lowry joins chase with stunning hole-in-one
- Masters leaderboard | Live on Sky Sports
- -11 Young (65), McIlroy (73)
- -10 Burns (68)
- -9 Lowry (68)
- -8 Day (68), Rose (69)
- -7 Scheffler (65), Li (69)
The biggest threat to Rory McIlroy underlines his weakness at The Masters
The relationship between six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus and defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy is close enough that, earlier this week, just before Nicklaus took his tee shot as the honorary starter, the 86-year-old felt fit to dispense some advice to the Ulsterman on how to join the very select group of golfers to defend their title at Augusta.
“No f***ing double bogeys.”
Two days of impeccable golf had given McIlroy the greatest 36-hole lead in Masters history in pursuit of back-to-back green jackets and an exclusive club alongside Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo. The defending champion sputtered through the front nine on Saturday before coughing up a double-bogey on 11 that saw his overnight lead finally, unbelievably evaporate. Possibly a historic turning point in this Masters tournament.
The biggest threat to Rory McIlroy underlines his weakness at The Masters
Rory McIlroy’s driving continues to let him down, writes Ed Malyon, but Cameron Young’s driving has helped the American surge into a tie for the lead with the Masters champion and an Augusta showdown on SundayJack Rathborn12 April 2026 01:30Rory McIlroy reacts to third round at The Masters
“I knew today wouldn't be easy, the quality of the chasing pack was obvious,” McIlroy tells Sky Sports. “A lot of guys played superb golf. Scottie, Cam and everyone else.
“I didn't quite have it today, a soft bogey on the first, I scambled on the front nine, I felt I turned it around on 10, I felt I got lucky on 11, hit a good second shot, but I bounced back well, disappointed to make a bogey in the last couple of holes.
“I would've wanted to have a better position. I wish I'd have had more, I'll go to the range now, I'll need to be better tomorrow. It's amazing, that was the goal coming in here, I still have a great chance, if I win tomorrow I'll have to be better than I was today."
Jack Rathborn12 April 2026 00:20Masters 2026: How will Rory McIlroy reflect on on his day?
McIlroy looks absolutely exhausted after that round of 73. He admits he “didn’t quite have it today” - but the defending champion would have taken this position on Wednesday.
He will be in the final group with Cameron Young and with a great chance of winning back-to-back Masters. But he knows he will have to be better tomorrow.
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood12 April 2026 00:13Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy for birdie and the lead...
Rory McIlroy found the top platform with his approach going into the 18th. It leaves a long birdie putt, to take a sole lead of the Masters heading into the final day. He’s gives it a good run, but it stops short. So McIlroy will share the lead with Cameron Young going into tomorrow.
Wow. That is not what we expected when McIlroy took a six-shot advantage into the weekend. But that was a dramatic day, and it sets up tomorrow wonderfully.
Leaderboard: -11 Young (F), McIlroy (F); -10 Burns (F); -9 Lowry (F); -8 Day (F), Rose (F); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F); -6 Reed (F)
Jamie Braidwood12 April 2026 00:03Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy heads down 18th
I can barely watch Rory McIlroy driving the 18th but this time, whew, he splits the fairway with a drive straight down the middle. He looks relieved, too.
This has not been Patrick Reeds’s day after starting with three birdies in a row, and he drops another on the 18th after ending up in the fairway bunker. He will drop back to -6, where he started the day.
Justin Rose is in a great position, though, after a round of 69, sitting three back. He could have made more putts today, but it’s a bogey-free round from last year’s runner-up.
Leaderboard: -11 Young (F), McIlroy (17); -10 Burns (17); -9 Lowry (F); -8 Day (F), Rose (F); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F); -6 Reed (F)
Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:56Masters 2026: McIlroy bogeys 17th, Young back into co-lead
Rory McIlroy is left with 10 feet or so for par to keep his one-shot lead from Cameron Young heading down the 18th...
... but it stops agonisingly short of the hole! McIlroy bends his knees but it will not drop and he falls back to +1 for his day.
McIlroy has paid the price, again, for being out of position following his drive.
Leaderboard: -11 Young (F), McIlroy (17); -10 Burns (17); -9 Lowry (F); -8 Day (F), Rose (17); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F) Reed (17)
(REUTERS)Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:49Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy with work to do on 17th
McIlroy finds a line out of the trees and punches a chip from the pine straw. He goes through the green but faces a tough up-and-down to make par.
Leaderboard: -12 McIlroy (16);-11 Young (F); -10 Burns (16); -9 Lowry (F); -8 Day (F), Rose (17); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F) Reed (17)
Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:44Masters 2026: Shane Lowry cards 68, three shots back
Shane Lowry produced the moment of the day when he become the first player in Masters history to record two holes-in-one at Augusta. That ace was followed by finding the water at the 13th, but he has rallied to get to -9 and sit three shots off the lead. A fine round of 68 for the Irishman.
Leaderboard: -12 McIlroy (16);-11 Young (F); -10 Burns (16); -9 Lowry (F); -8 Day (F), Rose (17); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F) Reed (17)
Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:41Masters 2026: McIlroy sends another drive wayward
Oh boy. McIlroy has sent another drive wayward. This one, on the 17th, has gone left and disappears into the trees before running through the pine straw towards the seventh. It’s remarkable that McIlroy is leading the Masters when it feels as if he has not found a fairway all day.
Shane Lowry will have a look at birdie on the 18th; Justin Rose needs an up-and-down to make par on the 17th.
Leaderboard: -12 McIlroy (16);-11 Young (F); -10 Burns (16); -9 Lowry (17); -8 Day (F), Rose (16); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F) Reed (16)
Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:37Masters 2026: McIlroy to head down 17 one-shot ahead
McIlroy keeps it safe on 16. He finds the green and his uphill putt leaves a tap-in for par. Sam Burns, playing in the same group, has let a couple of chances go begging.
Leaderboard: -12 McIlroy (16);-11 Young (F); -10 Burns (16); -9 Lowry (17); -8 Day (F), Rose (16); -7 Scheffler (F), Li (F) Reed (16)
Jamie Braidwood11 April 2026 23:33Newer1 / 8OlderMore about
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