Juddering McIlroy simply can't stop riding Masters rollercoaster
The drama which Rory McIlroy has produced at the Masters over the years - the type that left his fans peeking through their fingers - is woven into the fabric of his story. When McIlroy moved into a record six-shot lead at the halfway point on Friday, it felt like this year's tournament was going to see a different chapter written, one which demonstrated control rather than chaos. Many predicted a procession for the defending champion going into Saturday's third round.
They should have known better. Northern Ireland's McIlroy saw his commanding lead evaporate during a dramatic day where he swung the door wide open to his rivals with a one-over par 73. On Sunday, he will go out for the final round level on 11 under with American Cameron Young.
Buckle up. "I knew it wouldn't be easy, the quality of the chasing pack is obvious," McIlroy, who is aiming to become only the fourth man to win successive Masters titles, said on Sky Sports. "I would have wanted to be in a better position going into [Sunday, having] started out with a six-shot lead, but I've still got a great chance.
"I'm in the final group and that's where you want to be. " Last year's nerve-jangling play-off win over England's Justin Rose was classic McIlroy at the Masters - a rollercoaster ride where his bid for the career Grand Slam threatened to derail once again. Holding on for dear life and finally landing the Green Jacket provided 36-year-old McIlroy with a sense of liberation.
'Such a bad mistake' - McIlroy double bogeys the eleventh During his first two rounds this week, he played with the greater mental freedom which he predicted reaching his golfing Everest - finally conquering Augusta National - would provide. The five-time major champion showed patience to take control of the leaderboard, even though he was not playing as well as the scoreboard suggested. The ability to recover from wayward driving was the key to McIlroy's success, staying calm in the pressure moments to play sensibly when required before attacking when the chances arose.