One miss is derailing Rory McIlroy's Masters chances. Here's why
Rory McIlroy was plagued by a pesky left miss with his irons during the third round of the Masters. Getty Images On Friday at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy was sublime. He made six birdies over his last seven holes to close out a seven-under 65, he opened up a six-shot lead (the largest in tournament history) and many questioned if the green jacket was already clinched.
As golf fans have witnessed so many times before, though, no lead is safe around Augusta National. And on Saturday, they got another reminder. McIlroy, who is looking to become just the fourth golfer to win back-to-back Masters, was out of sorts during his third round, posting a one-over 73 to drop back into a tie for the lead with Cameron Young heading into the final round.
“This golf course has a way of — when you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle,” McIlroy said. “I just need to go to the range and try to figure it out a little bit. ” By “it” he, of course, means his swing.
Specifically, a pesky left miss with his approach shots into greens. Several times throughout his third round, McIlroy missed left of the green. And as he made his way through Amen Corner, those left misses cost him three dropped shots as he made double bogey on 11 and bogey on 12.
The good news for McIlroy fans? The left miss he fought is correctable — and he seems to know why it’s happening. “For me it’s just about keeping my lower body moving,” McIlroy said.