Masters 2026 3rd round tee times, how to watch: Can Rory McIlroy hold his historic lead at Augusta National on Moving Day?

Rory McIlroy is in complete control of the Masters. The defending champion, clearly free from the burden that Augusta National was for him for so long , rolled to a historic six-shot lead at the midway point of the major championship after a ridiculous finish on Friday night. McIlroy ended his second round with four straight birdies, and six in a seven-hole stretch, to get to 12-under.

That gave McIlroy the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. If he can hold on, he’ll join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only other golfers who have won the tournament in consecutive years. McIlroy will go off alongside Sam Burns in the final group on Saturday.

The duo will tee off at 2:50 p. m. ET.

There is still plenty of time, however. A lot can happen in 36 holes. But McIlroy looks like a man on a mission, and it’s going to take quite a run, and a bit of help, for anyone to actually catch him.