Rory McIlroy's record Masters cushion gone as Cameron Young claims share of lead
Augusta, Ga. – Rory McIlroy's stroll toward one of the rarest feats in sports turned into a dramatic battle to avoid the wrong side of history as he saw his six-shot lead evaporate during the third round of the Masters on Saturday. McIlroy scuffled to a 1-over-par round of 73 to fall into a share of the 54-hole lead at 11 under with Cameron Young, who tied the low round of the tournament with a 7-under 65.
Young began the day eight shots behind McIlroy, who set a Masters record with a six-shot lead through 36 holes. MASTERS SCOREBOARD Fourteen players will begin Sunday's final round within six shots of the co- leaders, a group that includes two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler. He matched Young's 65 to pull within four shots of the top.
McIlroy's cushion steadily evaporated during a round in which the Northern Irishman was one of only two players in the current top 20 to fail to break par. His struggles came on a day when Augusta National gave up a scoring average of 70. 63.
Playing five groups in front of McIlroy, Young reeled in the leader and briefly passed him on the back nine. He carded eight birdies against a lone bogey to equal the 65 McIlroy posted on Friday and the one Scheffler recorded early in the third round. McIlroy and Young, Sunday's final pairing, will begin the day with a one-shot lead over Sam Burns.
Ireland's Shane Lowry, who recorded the tournament's first hole-in-one since 2022 on the sixth hole Saturday, sits alone in fourth place at 9 under. Australia's Jason Day and England's Justin Rose are another shot back. Young's 7-under-par effort was his best in 15 career Masters rounds by two shots.