Rory McIlroy hangs on for share of lead after madcap third round
Rory McIlroy reacts on the 18th green after an eventful third round, in which his six-shot advantage was wiped out - Hector Vivas/Getty Images Rory McIlroy saw a six-shot lead whittled down to naught here on Saturday. Yet if that sounds as if it was a terrible day for the defending champion then that belied the relief on his face as he finished this madcap third round. In a wild, low-scoring drama on a layout softened by the generous, if slightly baffling hosing of the Augusta greens, McIlroy contrived to squander his huge advantage and actually fall behind.
And then with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th, he thrust his way back to the top. But then he lost it again. It was exhausting, excruciating even.
The best you could say about McIlroy’s one-over 73 was that it was gutsy in places and he putted well sporadically. Nothing else, though. He is the only member of the top 15 who did not break par and if he is to become just the fourth player in Masters history to retain his title – joining the club of Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods – then he has to sort out his driving.
To be frank, he is spraying it all over the property. World No 3 Cameron Young is also on 11 under after a 65, while there is another American in Sam Burns one further back after a 68. Next on nine under is McIlroy’s fellow Irishman and great friend Shane Lowry.
His own 68 was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the sixth. Lowry claimed a bit of Masters history as the first player in the tournament to capture multiple aces. A decade ago, he brought the patrons on the 16th to their feet.
Continue to the original source for the full article.