McIlroy's Masters Rollercoaster Continues as Lead Slips Away

The Northern Irishman's up-and-down third round at Augusta National leaves him tied for the lead heading into Sunday's final round.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:23am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the ups and downs of Rory McIlroy's third round at the Masters, with overlapping shapes and planes of color representing the emotional swings and dramatic moments of his round.Rory McIlroy's bid for back-to-back Masters titles takes a dramatic turn as his lead slips away on Saturday at Augusta National.Augusta Today

Rory McIlroy's bid to become the fourth back-to-back Masters champion took a dramatic turn on Saturday as the defending champion's six-shot lead evaporated with a 1-over 73 in the third round. McIlroy's erratic play, including three bogeys, a double bogey, and just four birdies, allowed Cameron Young to surge back into contention and tie him for the lead heading into the final round.

Why it matters

McIlroy's history of emotional swings and dramatic moments at the Masters has made him a polarizing figure among the Augusta National patrons. His inability to close out tournaments with big leads has cost him a career Grand Slam, and Sunday's final round will be another test of his mental toughness as he looks to become the first repeat champion since Tiger Woods in 2002.

The details

McIlroy started the day with a sloppy opening bogey and struggled with his accuracy off the tee, ranking 90th out of 91 players in driving accuracy through three rounds. He hit several wayward shots that had to be played from outside the ropes, but managed to scramble for pars on Nos. 6-8. The wheels came off at the 11th hole, where his drive struck a tree and led to a disastrous double bogey. McIlroy then dropped out of the lead with a bogey at the 12th, allowing Young to surge into a tie for first.

  • McIlroy started his round with a bogey on the 1st hole.
  • McIlroy made a birdie on the 3rd hole.
  • McIlroy made a double bogey on the 11th hole.
  • McIlroy dropped out of the lead with a bogey on the 12th hole.
  • McIlroy made birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to regain the lead, but then bogeyed the 17th hole.

The players

Rory McIlroy

The defending Masters champion and five-time major winner who is seeking to become the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets.

Cameron Young

The rising American star who surged into a tie for the lead with McIlroy after the third round.

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What they’re saying

“I'm still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can't forget that, but I do know I'm going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.”

— Rory McIlroy

What’s next

The final round of the 2026 Masters will take place on Sunday, with Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young tied for the lead. McIlroy will be looking to become the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets, while Young will be seeking his first major championship victory.

The takeaway

Rory McIlroy's rollercoaster performance at the Masters has become a familiar storyline, as the Northern Irishman continues to struggle with closing out tournaments when he has a big lead. His inability to maintain his composure and consistency has prevented him from completing the career Grand Slam, and Sunday's final round will be another test of his mental toughness as he looks to end that drought.