Rory McIlroy said he “needs to be better” to have a chance to defend his Masters title on the final day after giving up a six-stroke lead in the penultimate round.
McIlroy, who started with rounds of 67 and 65 and held a record lead midway through the tournament, shot a 1-over-par 73 on Saturday to tie Players champion Cameron Young at 11 under.
McIlroy struggled with accuracy with his irons, finding just 10 of the 18 greens in regulation, three fewer than he had made on the first two days. He made three bogeys, and on the 11th hole, he fell into the water and made a double bogey.
Immediately after the round, McIlroy told Sky Sports Golf: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy today. The quality of the chasing group was very evident and a lot of guys were playing great golf, starting with Scotty (Scheffler), Cam, and everyone else.”
“I wasn’t feeling great at all today. Even from the first hole, I hit that soft bogey. I was trying my best. I scrambled a lot on the front nine.”
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Rory McIlroy reflected on his disappointing third day of the Masters, where he lost a six-stroke lead heading into the final round.
“I kind of came back with a birdie on the 10th. After that, I didn’t hit a good drive, but luckily I was able to hit the fairway on the 11th. I felt like I hit a good second shot, but I just started riding into the wind a little bit.”
“I bounced back well with birdies on the 14th and 15th. It was disappointing to make bogey on the last few holes.”
McIlroy’s lackluster display has led to a group of strong players entering the fray, but he insists he still has a strong chance of retaining the title he won 12 months ago and completing a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy added: “I would have liked to have been in a better position tomorrow as we start with a six-shot lead, but we still have a big chance.”
“I’m in the final group, which is exactly where you want to be. I wish I had a little more cushion, but I’m going to go to the practice range here and try to figure it out. We need to be better tomorrow.”
“It’s great (to get the chance). That was the goal here. I still have a big chance, but if I’m going to win tomorrow I’m going to have to be a little bit better than I was today.”
“It should be easier than last year.”
McIlroy’s victory last year came after an 11-year drought for the Northern Irishman, making his bid for a career Grand Slam one of the sport’s biggest stories in a decade in which he tried and failed.
The fact that he was paired last Sunday with Bryson DeChambeau, the rival who stole the 2024 U.S. Open title from him, added even more spice.
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Rory McIlroy and some of golf’s most recognizable faces reminisce about the moment he achieved his lifelong dream of winning the Masters and completing a lifetime Grand Slam.
McIlroy thinks the combination of winning last year and playing in a different type of final group will help his chances.
“I want to play a little more freely and play as if I’m already wearing the green jacket, which I am,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes I might have to remind myself of that.
“But I also think it will make the stakes, such as pairings, a little bit easier. It will also make the atmosphere a little easier.”
“I’m not worried at all. I wish I could have gotten a few more shots, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days, and I’ll play with him tomorrow. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”
BEAM: ‘Great mindset’ could help McIlroy on Sunday
Sky Sports Golf’s Rich Beam believes McIlroy’s resilience will allow the 36-year-old to put the disappointment of losing the lead on Saturday behind him in time for Sunday’s final race.
“Even though he completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters last year, his desire to win the tournament that means the most to him hasn’t changed, and this is obviously one of them,” Beam said.
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Rory McIlroy shot a stunning 7-under 65 at Augusta National and held a record 36-hole lead at the Masters.
“A lot of times he was on his back, on the canvas, and you wonder how he recovers from that.
“He just kind of comes up like nothing happened. He has such a great mindset that you forget what happened the day before or even a couple of holes ago.”
“He’s not afraid to make mistakes. He’s made a lot of mistakes in his career. He’s taken some bad shots.
“But you know, he comes back again and again and that’s why he’s our defending Masters champion and that’s why he’s won Grand Slams in his lifetime because he’s not afraid to fail and get back up and succeed again.”
How can I watch the final day of the Masters?
Live coverage of the final round will begin at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday, with full coverage beginning at 5pm and continuing until long after the final putt has been holed.
The infamous Amen Corner stream will also be available, focusing on the famous three-hole stretch from No. 11, and that featured group of programming will be available to watch on the Sky Sports+ channel.
Feeds for holes 4, 5 and 6 will go live each day as soon as the opening group arrives on that part of the course, with separate streams covering holes 15 and 16, and featured groups will also be available on Sky Sports+.
Can McIlroy win the Masters? Watch the final round live on Sky Sports Golf from 4.30pm on Sunday and enjoy special coverage on Sky Sports+. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
