Cameron Young reeled in the leader with a 7-under 65 as the Players Championship winner hunts his first major championship. Young's 65 was tied with Scottie Scheffler for lowest round of the day, propelling him into a share of the lead. 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.
The defending champion squandered his record six-shot lead after yesterday’s second round by carding a 1-over 73, though his exact score and position have not been confirmed. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot a 65 (seven under) in the third round to surge into contention.
I spent the previous night 'living in the toilet.'
Scheffler hit his approach at the 11th to eight feet in the third round and navigated a mud ball on the 13th hole. He finished at 7 under and is one of nine players within five shots of the lead heading into Sunday's final round. Scheffler is paired with Haotong Li for the final round, creating a high-profile grouping.
Rory McIlroy's tournament has been a rollercoaster, as he was the joint-overnight leader after the first round. He birdied three of the first four holes on Friday to reach eight under and later roared back into contention, now just two strokes off the lead after the second round according to some reports. The Northern Irishman's bogey-free six-under 66 was the lowest round on Friday.
I had a good conversation with sports psychologist Bob Rotella this morning, mostly around not pushing too hard too early.
However, McIlroy unraveled at Amen Corner during the third round, though he started today with eight pars and a birdie on the front nine. Haotong Li authored one of the tournament's most dramatic stories, as multiple reports indicate he was on the verge of withdrawing from The Masters on Friday morning due to illness. Li shot a three-under 69 on Saturday to soar to seven-under, making an eagle three at the eighth hole.
He heads into the final round at Augusta four shots off the lead, despite finding Rae's Creek with his second shot on the 13th hole on Saturday. Justin Rose shot a 69 on Friday to reach five under par, and multiple sources reported that England's Justin Rose remains the leader of the Masters going into the weekend at eight under par. This creates a discrepancy with reports that McIlroy and Young share the lead at 11 under heading into the final round, suggesting confusion over the timeline or scoring updates.
I just tried to stay really, really patient and that patience was rewarded with a nice little stretch there in the middle of the round.
Rose tossed his putter in frustration on the fourth hole on Friday, causing minor damage to the green, highlighting the pressures of the major championship stage. Jason Day shot a four-under 68 in the third round to reach eight under for the championship, positioning himself firmly in contention. Day made four consecutive back-nine birdies from the 12th to the 15th holes in the third round, showcasing a remarkable surge.
Wyndham Clark's preparation appears to be paying dividends, as analysis of approach shots indicates he did the best job of preparing by practicing the shots that actually matter. The early returns seem to be good for Clark's preparation, according to research. Former US Open champion Wyndham Clark made his move early on the second day of the Masters with three birdies in his first four holes to close to within two of overnight leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.
I don't think I proved anything, but backed up the belief that I have in myself that I'm as resilient as anyone else out here.
Clark began the day level par but chipped his third shot to four feet at the par-five second to get his round up and running. His 295-yard shot on the 2nd hole landed just off the green, and an excellent third shot set up Clark for a 5-foot putt for birdie, marking his second time this tournament recording a birdie on the 2nd hole. Clark has only one other top-10 finish in 16 majors and whose best at Augusta is tied 46th, but he showed what could be done by taking advantage of the softer early morning conditions.
Tyrrell Hatton, a LIV Golf star, made seven birdies in his second round but three-putted for bogey on the 18th hole on Friday. He recovered from driving a shot into the bunker to make par for the second time this round, according to research. Hatton once mimicked blowing the 13th hole to pieces with a shotgun, reflecting his fiery temperament.
I've been really proud of how resilient I've been the whole way throughout my career, and today was just another example of that.
Other notable players had mixed fortunes in the early rounds. Rory McIlroy had a slightly wayward drive on the first tee box, but only into the short first cut to the right of the fairway. Sam Burns, McIlroy's closest challenger, didn't get anywhere near as much length but it was gun-barrel straight down the middle.
Patrick Reed and Justin Rose both start their third rounds six shots back at 6 under par, and both are safely on the fairway off the first tee. Cameron Young blasted a 333-yard shot off the 3rd tee, which lands on the green, facing a 29 footer for eagle. 30am local time.
I'm proud of myself with how I responded today after the finish last night.
Also included in that group of morning starters was Justin Rose, runner-up to Rory McIlroy a year ago, on two under. Bob MacIntyre was looking to save his tournament after a first-round 80 included a quadruple-bogey nine at the par-five 15th. Course conditions played a significant role, as Augusta National was baked firm on Friday.
The tougher side of the draw on Friday was found under the hotter sun of late afternoon. 44pm but 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 forecast. The tournament timeline has seen dramatic shifts, with scoring discrepancies creating confusion about leaderboard positions.
I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and I wasn't going to let two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week.
For instance, some reports state Scottie Scheffler is in a cluster of players at five under after the second round, while others indicate he finished at 7 under and is one of nine players within five shots of the lead heading into Sunday. Similarly, Rory McIlroy is reported as just two strokes off the lead after the second round in some accounts, while others have him sharing the lead heading into the final round. Reactions to key moments have been varied, with players expressing both frustration and resilience.
The implications for the final round are profound, with multiple major champions and rising stars in contention. The crowded leaderboard suggests a thrilling Sunday finish, with nine players within five shots of the lead. Several unknowns linger as the tournament heads to its conclusion.
Championship golf can be volatile, conditions can be tough, and momentum can start to go the wrong way, but they're all great players capable of shooting good scores.
The specific illness that nearly caused Haotong Li to withdraw has not been disclosed. The exact score and leaderboard position of the defending champion who squandered a six-shot lead remain unclear. Final scores and standings for all top players after the third round require clarification, as do the weather conditions and their impact on play during the final rounds.
The exact year of the Masters tournament being reported also shows discrepancies, adding to the confusion.
I rushed out after Thursday's round to get home to see my daughter Poppy before she went to bed, which was nice to take my mind off the golf.