Players attack the course at Augusta National
By the skin of his teeth defending champion Rory McIlroy held onto a share of the lead in the 90th edition of the Masters at Augusta National, USA (9-12 April). An American by the name of Cameron Young tested the player from Northern Ireland when he shot-up the leaderboard from a share of seventh spot with a 7-under par 65 to grab first place alongside the talented McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy teed-off with a six-shot advantage in the third round of the Masters on a tally of 12-under par. Americans Sam Burns and Patrick Reed lay six shots behind. However, the player from Northern Ireland struggled to get his game going on ‘moving Saturday’.
McIlroy started his round with a bogey to slip-back to 11-under whilst Burns made a birdie to get one step closer to the leader together with Patrick Reed.
The World Number One Scottie Scheffler was playing ahead of them and was rapidly climbing the leaderboard from a share of 24th spot on level par. He played the first nine holes on Saturday in a miraculous 5-under par with an eagle and three birdies to get into a share of third spot. Two more birdies on the back nine saw Scheffler sign for an impressive 65, 7-under for a share of seventh spot.
Runner-up in the 2025 Masters, Justin Rose (England) made a birdie at the third hole to get to 6-under. Meanwhile Patrick Reed had birdied the first three holes to secure second spot on his own. With only a two-shot advantage now, McIlroy then drove the par-4 third hole giving himself an eagle chance. Alas, his putt came up short so he had to be satisfied with a birdie but happily he was back to 12-under.
Hole-in-one for Shane Lowry
Ireland’s Shane Lowry was really in the mix at Augusta National. On the par-3 sixth hole he made a hole-in-one which is recorded as being only the seventh ace ever at this hole in Masters history. At this point, the delighted Lowry had secured himself a share of second spot with Sam Burns on 8-under.
Lowry was not the only player in ecstacy at Augusta National. The whole field was chasing the leader McIlroy. No sooner had one player made a birdie than another had crept one higher on the leaderboard.
American Patrick Cantlay carded a delightful round of 66 to share seventh spot with Scheffler. Indeed, Haotong Li (China) made an eagle at the eighth hole to seize second spot on his own on 9-under. Alas, three bogeys and one birdie on the back nine left him with a 3-under par 69 which saw him tie with Scheffler, Cantlay, Russell Henley, who had six birdies, and Patrick Reed.
Yes, Reed got-off to a blistering start with three birdies which he followed by two bogeys and then made two bogeys and one birdie on the back nine. It cost the American a level par 72.
American Cameron Young was also playing superbly. Rather unexpectedly Young seemed to appear from nowhere to grab a share of second place on 9-under par.
So how is Rory McIlroy playing?
As fast as players were rising up the leaderboard, the defending champion was hovering on 12-under. McIlroy was playing steady par golf but often he had to redeem himself out of the trees on the right-side of the fairway. He played the first nine holes in level par. When Cameron Young holed a birdie putt on the 14th to get to 11-under, just one shot behind McIlroy, the fans at Augusta National were breathing cautiously.
On the 13th, McIlroy made a birdie to get to 13-under par. Ahead of him on the 15th, Young’s ball finished in the water before the green. He played another ball which nearly went in the hole. A tap-in putt earned him a bogey leaving McIlroy two strokes ahead.
It was a short celebration for McIlroy as he found the water at the 11th which cost him a double-bogey. His lead was one tiny shot on Young.
Lowry’s third round of 68 saw him settle-in to fourth spot on 9-under par just one wee shot behind Sam Burns.
Australian Jason Day had a run of four consecutive birdies from the 11th which got him into a share of third spot on 9-under at that moment.
However, McIlroy suffered a poor shot on the par-3 12th which cost him a bogey and reduced his tally to 10-under.
Young snatches lead with McIlroy
Young then birdied the 16th to get to 11-under and snatch the lead from McIlroy. The player from Northern Ireland needed to make the fairways with his drives in order to stay in the game. Alas, he found the trees again on the 13th too but thankfully made par.
On the 14th and 15th he made two birdies to boost his score, however, he made a bogey at the par-4 17th to finish his third round on 1-over par, 73. His scores of 67, 65 and 73 created a tally of 11-under par which is precisely the final score of Cameron Young. Indeed, 28-year old Young created an impressive spell of eight birdies with just a single bogey at the par-5 15th to shoot a 7-under 65 to share first spot with Rory McIlroy.
So the final day’s play at Augusta National will see Rory McIlroy play with Cameron Young but there are twelve other players within six shots of the leaders. Yes, it is sure to be another very exciting day in the first Major of the season!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns (left) prepare to tee-off in the third round of the Masters at Augusta National, USA. MINIS (l-r): Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Reed and Justin Rose.