Getty Images: Maddie Meyer
In a dramatic turn of events during the third round of the 2026 Masters, defending champion Rory McIlroy saw his substantial lead diminish significantly in just half an hour.
Entering Saturday’s play at Augusta with a remarkable six-stroke advantage, McIlroy managed only an even-par front nine, which allowed his lead to shrink to two strokes by the time he made the turn.
The lead vanished entirely when American golfer Cameron Young made a critical birdie putt on the 16th hole, tying the score with McIlroy, who incurred a bogey on the par-three 12th hole, dropping him from the top position.
Young concluded the round with a score of 65, marking the best performance of the tournament to date, and finished the day with a one-stroke advantage. Although McIlroy matched Young at 11-under, he regained the solo lead by making impressive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.
This remarkable comeback from Young, who claimed the Players Championship last month, was noteworthy, especially considering he began the day eight strokes behind the leader.
If Young were to secure victory, he would become the first player in Masters history to win after trailing by more than five shots at the tournament’s halfway point.
Young was paired with Australian golfer Jason Day, who delivered four consecutive birdies from holes 11 to 15, increasing the pressure on the leaders. However, Day stumbled on the 16th, landing in a bunker and giving back a shot, finishing with a round of 68. He remains in contention at 8-under, tied for fifth and three strokes behind.
It was clearly Young’s day, as illustrated by a fortunate moment on the 13th hole when his tee shot veered left, struck a tree, and bounced back into a favorable position on the fairway. Day was overheard commenting, “Oh, how nice is that now.”
Young faced some adversity as well, bogeying the 15th after hitting the water, which initiated a pivotal stretch of play against McIlroy. However, after taking the lead, he experienced another fortunate bounce off a tree on the 17th hole.
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s struggles with his long game became apparent. He encountered trouble on the 11th, where he hit the water and double bogeyed after missing a six-foot putt. On the 12th, he strayed left for another bogey, and on the 13th, he had to recover from the pine needles to the right of the fairway.
Despite moving spectators and a generator to save par, McIlroy’s performance was a stark contrast to his second round, where he had surged six-under through the last seven holes, establishing a commanding lead.
Commentator Trevor Immelman, who won the Masters in 2008, noted, “You can’t rely on your short game and putting for four consecutive days under this level of intensity and pressure. His long game has unraveled even more today.”
In contrast, Shane Lowry, a friend of McIlroy, produced the highlight of the third round with a hole-in-one on the par-three 16th hole.
World number one Scottie Scheffler also made a significant move, carding an eagle on the second hole and five birdies in a bogey-free round of 65. Starting the day 12 strokes behind McIlroy, Scheffler is now just five strokes off the lead and expressed confidence in his chances, stating, “I don’t feel like I’m out of this tournament.”
Adam Scott, the 2013 champion, remains the only other Australian golfer still in contention, currently tied for 36th after posting his first under-par round, putting him at 2-under heading into the final day.
