Young's 65 Ties McIlroy for Masters Lead After Round 3

AUGUSTA, Georgia Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy saw his commanding six-shot lead evaporate during the third round on Saturday, as Cameron Young fired a seven-under-par 65 to join him atop the leaderboard at 11-under entering the final day of the 2026 tournament.

McIlroy, who entered the round with the largest 36-hole advantage in Masters history, posted a one-over 73 that included a sluggish start and troubles navigating the course's notorious Amen Corner. He opened with a bogey on the first hole and played the front nine at even par, missing birdie opportunities at the eighth and ninth. A birdie at the 10th offered brief momentum, but his approach on the par-four 11th drifted left into Rae's Creek, resulting in a double bogey. He followed with another bogey at the par-three 12th after a tee shot landed behind the green, briefly falling behind Young.

The Northern Irishman rallied with birdies on the par-fives at 14 and 15 to reclaim the lead, but a wayward drive into the trees at the 17th led to a final bogey, leaving him tied for the lead. McIlroy's driving accuracy has been a season-long issue, with only 50 percent of fairways hit through three rounds, the lowest...