Rory McIlroy will go into the final round of the 2026 Masters with a share of the lead alongside Cameron Young at 11 under par, according to multiple reports. The defending champion squandered his record six-shot lead after yesterday’s second round by carding a 1-over 73, but he recovered to win the tournament. McIlroy was the joint-overnight leader after Thursday and extended his lead to seven-under on Friday, setting the stage for his eventual victory.
Conflicting reports have created uncertainty about the tournament timeline and leaderboard. Some sources indicate Justin Rose remains the leader of the Masters going into the weekend at eight under par, with Rory McIlroy just two strokes off the lead after the second round. Other reports state Rory McIlroy is tied for the lead at 11 under par, while Justin Rose is at 6 under par. Bryson DeChambeau is one shot adrift of Justin Rose, and world number one Scottie Scheffler is in a cluster of players at five under, according to some accounts, though others report Scheffler finished at 7 under. The precise leaderboard after the second round remains unclear due to these discrepancies.
I spent Thursday night 'living in the toilet' and feared I couldn't endure 18 holes.
Cameron Young brilliantly reeled him in with a 7-under 65 as the Players Championship winner hunts his first major championship. Young shot a 65 on Saturday to take the outright lead at 11-under par, tying with Scottie Scheffler for lowest round of the day. He hit a 333-yard drive off the 3rd tee that landed on the green, facing a 29-footer for eagle, showcasing his strong performance. This surge tied him for the lead and positioned him as a serious challenger for his maiden major title.
Scottie Scheffler shot a 65 on Saturday, moving to seven-under par at the Masters, according to tournament reports. The two-time Masters champion made an eagle at the second hole and five birdies during his Saturday round, finishing at 7 under, though some sources place him at five under. Scheffler earned £1.81 million for his performance at the Masters, and he is one of nine players within five shots of the lead heading into Sunday's final round. According to The Guardian - Main UK, Scottie Scheffler described that he could have scored even lower than 65 on Saturday.
The greens at Augusta are getting firmer and faster, which is 'scary'.
Haotong Li was on the verge of withdrawing from The Masters on Friday morning due to illness, according to multiple reports. He shot a three-under 69 on Saturday to move to seven-under for the tournament, heading into the final round four shots off the lead and paired with Scottie Scheffler. Li made an eagle at the eighth hole on Saturday but hit shots into Rae's Creek on the 13th and 15th holes, illustrating a round of recovery and struggle. According to Daily Mail - Sport, Haotong Li described spending Thursday night 'living in the toilet' and fearing he couldn't endure 18 holes.
Jason Day shot a 68 on Saturday to move to eight-under par at the Masters, according to tournament sources. He made four consecutive birdies on the back nine, specifically on holes 12-15, during his Saturday round. Day's second shot on the 15th hole nearly went into the water but stayed up, leading to a birdie and capping a back-nine surge that put him in contention.
I could have scored even lower than 65 on Saturday.
Tyrrell Hatton shot a 66 on Friday to reach four-under par at the Masters, and he hit every green in regulation during his Friday round. He was frustrated on Thursday after his approach at the seventh hit the flagstick and led to a bogey, but he recovered from driving a shot into the bunker to make par for the second time this round. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Tyrrell Hatton described the greens at Augusta as getting firmer and faster, which is 'scary'.
Justin Rose shot a 69 on Friday to reach five-under par at the Masters, and he showed frustration during his Friday round, including tossing his putter and slapping his thigh. Rose, runner-up to Rory McIlroy a year ago, was on two under and due out in the morning starters, with some reports placing him at 6 under par and others at eight under par. He and Patrick Reed both start their third rounds six shots back at 6 under par, and both are safely on the fairway off the first tee, with Reed being a former Masters winner and Rose having been runner-up three times.
I had a good conversation with sports psychologist Bob Rotella this morning about not pushing too hard too early.
Wyndham Clark moved into the top 10 during the tournament, according to multiple reports. Former US Open champion Wyndham Clark made his move early on the second day with three birdies in his first four holes to close to within two of overnight leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns. Clark let out an aggrieved 'no' after his second shot of the 2nd hole, but the 295-yard shot landed just off the green, and he made a birdie on the 2nd hole for the second time this tournament. He chipped his third shot to four feet at the par-five second to get his round up and running, showing what could be done by taking advantage of the softer early morning conditions. Clark has only one other top-10 finish in 16 majors and his best at Augusta is tied 46th, but he did the best job of preparing by practicing the shots that actually matter, according to an analysis of approach shots, with the early returns from his preparation seeming to be good.
Augusta National conditions were firm and dry, with greens expected to get faster, according to course reports. The venue was quiet, described as the quietest ever when populated, with patrons conserving energy for Rory McIlroy's tee time at 2:50 E.T. Afternoon conditions were predicted to be more difficult, with temperatures due to reach 28 degrees Celsius with the threat of scattered showers and potential thunderstorms.
I backed up the belief that I am as resilient as anyone else out here.
Rory McIlroy did not speak to the media after making two double bogeys in his final four holes on Thursday because he rushed home to see his daughter Poppy before she went to bed, according to multiple sources. Aaron Rai finished at one-over par, inside the cut line, though the specific cut line for the tournament remains unspecified. Bob MacIntyre was looking to save his tournament after a first-round 80 included a quadruple-bogey nine at the par-five 15th. Scottie Scheffler does not decide the cut his caddie Ted Scott receives from prize winnings, and caddies typically take 10% of a player's prize money, though the exact cut for Ted Scott is private.
Sam Burns, Rory McIlroy's closest challenger, hit a straight drive down the middle but didn't get as much length during the tournament. Former champions Jon Rahm, at six over, Jordan Spieth, at level, and world number one Scottie Scheffler, at two under, were due out before 10.30am local time, though their final scores and positions are not fully detailed. Rory McIlroy received a huge cheer as he stepped onto the first tee box and hit a slightly wayward drive into the short first cut to the right of the fairway.
I was proud of how I responded after the finish in the first round.
McIlroy's historic win as the fourth man to achieve back-to-back Masters titles highlights a competitive field heading into the final rounds. He was in the penultimate group out at 1.44pm (6.44pm BST), and his victory came amid a leaderboard with nine players within five shots of the lead. According to www.bbc.com, Rory McIlroy described having a good conversation with sports psychologist Bob Rotella this morning about not pushing too hard too early, backing up the belief that he is as resilient as anyone else out here, and being proud of how he responded after the finish in the first round.