Sexslagsledningen är borta.
Rory McIlroy darrade under ”moving day” och delar förstaplatsen med Cameron Young inför upplösningen i US Masters.
When the third round began, McIlroy had a six-stroke lead, the largest lead in Masters history after 36 holes.
But after dream play – 67 and 65 strokes respectively – during the first two rounds of this year’s first golf major, the defending champion did not have a fun Saturday at Augusta National.
Bogey direkt
On the first hole, McIlroy faltered with the putter and made a bogey. It got worse on the 11th hole where he hit his approach into the water and made a double bogey.
The Northern Irishman wasn’t completely frozen, but after 73 strokes and –11 total, he invited a whole host of competitors into the fight for the green jacket.
Scottie Scheffler went out a couple of hours before McIlroy and shot 65 strokes – the world number one is only four strokes behind the world number two going into Sunday.
Cameron Young also shot 65 strokes, tying him with McIlroy for the lead.
Svettigt i solen
A handful of players still have a chance to challenge for the win in what promises to be a high-drama finish in the demanding heat of Georgia.
Sam Burns, USA, played with Rory McIlroy on Saturday and reduced his distance from six to one stroke.
Shane Lowry made a hole-in-one on the 6th hole on his way to a 68, putting the Irishman two strokes behind the leaders.
England’s Justin Rose – a three-time Masters runner-up – and Australia’s Jason Day also sense victory, three strokes off the lead.
Ludvig Åberg (tied 21st on –3) and Alex Norén (tied 39th on +1) are too far back despite each shooting a 69 on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy took his long-awaited first victory in the Masters last year, a triumph that completed a “career grand slam” – victories in all four majors.
Should he defend his title, he will become the fourth player – after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods – to win the Masters two years in a row.
