McIlroy looking for answers after squandered Masters lead
Defending champion Rory McIlroy reacts after missing a par putt on the 17th green on his way to sharing the lead after three rounds at the 90th Masters (Hector Vivas) Rory McIlroy headed for the Augusta National practice range after a disappointing second round erased a six-stroke edge on Saturday and left him tied for the lead at the Masters. McIlroy fired a one-over-par 73 to stand alongside third-ranked Cameron Young on 11-under 205 entering Sunday's final round, which figures to be a shootout with 11 players five shots back or nearer. "I have to look at the positives even though there isn't that many," McIlroy said.
"I did bounce back. I hit some good shots coming in. I'm in a great position.
"I wish I was a few shots better off, but I'm comfortable. "I just know I need to be better tomorrow to have a chance. " McIlroy, who had a Masters record six-stroke lead through 36 holes, found himself among the trees off the tee and out of position most of the day, needing wedges and putts to salvage pars tested by swing issues.
"If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, that should sort of fix it," McIlroy said. "But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit. " McIlroy wasn't as committed as he should be on every shot.
"It's just having trust in yourself and commitment that you're going to make the swing you want to make," McIlroy said. "I didn't always do that today, but I still felt like I stayed committed to what I was doing, which is a good thing. " McIlroy hopes to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets after Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.