Leaderboard
- -12 McIlroy (F)
- -11 Scheffler (F)
- -10 Rose (F), Hatton (F), Henley (F), Young (17)
- -9 Morikawa (F), Burns (F)
Selected Irish:
- -1 Lowry (F)
Watch McIlroy’s birdie at the 12th:
Good man Gerry, you raised arguably the greatest golfer Europe has ever known.
That’s all from me on a special night that will live long in the memory. Good night!
Here are some images as McIlroy is presented the green jacket:
Butler’s Cabin interview with McIlroy
A strange set-up in Augusta National with no amateur or previous champion in Butler’s Cabin, it’s just Rory, Fred Ridley and Jim Nantz:
“I think my perserverance has paid off, I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, I’m so happy to get it done. It felt pretty similar to last year, I made a double on 4, I played flawless golf after that. It’s nice to have a two-shot cushion instead of one. I looked at the board after I made the bogey on the 6th and thought I needed to get to -14.
“The tee shot on 12 and the tee shot on 13 were key, I struggled with that tee shot all week. I made a really committed swing on 13, to make birdie there after the birdie on 12, that was massive.”
“It’s the second Major my mum has been in, there was a piece of them that didn’t want to be here, because they weren’t here last year and thought maybe that was the reason. But we’ll have a great time tonight.
“There were a few guys that made a run, but there was nobody who made a run like Justin did last year.
“Thank you for all the support back home. I was a little kid with a dream and the support that I have from my family, my friends back home. People thought it was outlandish to have the dreams that I did but thank you for all the support.”
From Philip Reid at Augusta National:
“The green jacket has proven to be a perfect fit for Rory McIlroy, so much so that it will remain in his wardrobe for another year. On another of those roller-coaster days which have formed such a part of his DNA, the Northern Irishman lost control of his own destiny and then brilliantly reclaimed it to put on a masterclass around Amen Corner to find deliverance, again!
“Where it took a playoff win a year ago, McIlroy’s mastery– after a shaky start – saw him stand clear and alone atop the leaderboard in this 90th edition of the Masters, after a final round 71 for a total of 12-under-par 276 gave him a one stroke winning margin over Scottie Scheffler.
“McIlroy doesn’t do easy. The colour-friendly green Whoop device on his right wrist clocked every up and down of a heartbeat which, when it mattered most in the heat of battle, remained calm and collected so that he became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to successfully retain the title, joining an elite group of four men numbering Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.
“But that’s the company that McIlroy’s standout career has merited.”
Mother Rosie and father Gerry are here this time, it’s special moments. Ah would make you tear up. What a legend. Meets daughter Poppy and wife Erica too. “I’m glad you came,” he says to his parents. A well deserved win by one shot, with a final round 71.
Here is Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood to meet him, not to be Shane’s day, but maybe some time in the future.
RORY MCILROY HAS WON THE MASTERS!
He bogeys the final hole but it doesn’t matter. A sixth Major. Gerry looks delighted at the side of the green. He’s there this time. He’s tearful again.
No massive release like the knees on the ground this time but a big cheer.
Good bunker shot! McIlroy (-13) does what he needs to do, on the green and 15 feet left for par. Two-putts for the win.
McIlroy (-13) walks up to have a look at his situation. He looks nervous but who wouldn’t as he pushes the gallery to the right to create space.
Here we go, the nerves are shot. He’s aiming at the bunker at the right and it’s a strange one as it’s not clear from the camera where it finished. Maybe in the bunker in front of the green?
Yep, it’s confirmed in the bunker, not the best lie. Doesn’t want to go the way of DeChambeau on Friday, who took five from there.
McIlroy (-13) slices it way right off the 18th tee and shakes his head. Still plenty of shots to play with, but not the finish he had envisaged.
McIlroy is in the pine straw and a long way back but there does seem to be some gaps to manufacture a shot. But still lots of potential danger too. He’s a showman to the end.
One hole left for McIlroy to become the first player since 2002 to defend the Masters title. To become one of only four players in history to do so - Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. A bogey 5 will do it.
Brilliant chip by McIlroy (-13), no nerves this time! Should make his par from up the hill. This is a different Rory this time.
151 yards for McIlroy (-13) has blocked his iron to the right at the 17th. and it’s a very unconvincing shot, not over yet. Needs to get up and down to not have a nervy final hole.
Low bullet by McIlroy (-13) up 17 into a perfect spot on 17. Looking very good indeed.
Par for Scheffler! He signs for 68 and the clubhouse lead on -11
He is there waiting if McIlroy messes up. It’s all on Rory now over the last three holes.
McIlroy at the 16th takes out the putter and aims 30 feet left of the hole. He’s seen this slop before from Tiger Woods in 2005 and he’s putted it beautifully to stone dead. Par for McIlroy! Another hole out of the way.
Bogey for Rose! That could be his race run, he misses from four feet for par, sad to see but doesn’t look like being his year this time once more.
McIlroy (-13) hits it over the green at the 16th. Had a great line but adrenaline and maybe a wind behind and he’s left himself with a nervy one to get up and down.
Lowry (-2) is unfortunately seven over for the day and fallen to tied 24th.
Incredible putt by Burns (-10) on 16 to hole a putt the whole length of the green for birdie.
Scheffler (-11) misses the green on 18! He hit a good shot but it just landed at the top of the slope under the hole and then slowly and gradually spun back off the green at the front. Young (-10) misses on 15.
Rose (-11) goes for it at 17 and it’s a great effort but again it’s about a yard off and goes down to the front of the green.
Young (-10) went over the green with his second shot and has a 10-footer for birdie to get -11.
McIlroy (-13) had a long look at the big leaderboard on the 15th to see what position he’s in. It’s a two-shot lead Rory and he has 40 feet up the hill for birdie.
Par for McIlroy! Lags it beautifully and another hole out of the way.
Rose (-11) gets a bit of that Cameron Young luck from earlier in the day and bounces out of the trees on 17. Scheffler (-11) is on the fairway at 18.
McIlroy (-13) leaves his wedge short and dangerously close to the water... not convincing but it’s over the water. A bit nervy, but it’s a horrible wedge shot to have under this pressure. Just ask Francesco Molinari in 2019.
Oh wow, so close! Scheffler (-11) hits an excellent putt down the hill at 17 and it edges past the hole by inches for birdie. The inches between winning and losing.
McIlroy (-13) can only chip out of the trees and it’s a daunting wedge left. This is the shot that could decide it. If he does what he did at 13 last year, then anything could happen. Golf has a funny way of giving you similar shots to your worst moments again.
Rose (-11) goes for it at the 16th but it’s half a club too much and hits it 30 feet past the hole.
Scheffler (-11) hits another superb iron shot. What a rally at the end of this tournament by the world number one and two-time champion. 15 feet for birdie.
McIlroy (-13) hits a fade that goes down the right into the trees. Probably not going for the green from there. Great drive by Young (-10), absolutely perfect down the fairway.
Scheffler (-11) has given McIlroy something to think about it and it’s another cracking drive at the 17th. The two greatest players of the era going at it!
Par for McIlroy! Cosies it down to the hole, taps in. Stays two ahead.
Birdie for Rose! He moves within two.
Birdie for Scheffler! He’s up to second on his own on -11, wow. He’s relentless.
McIlroy (-13) at the 14th doesn’t go for the pin, can’t blame him, and he has a decent length putt for birdie.
Rose (-10) takes a putt from off the green to close on the 15th and a chance to move within two.
Good drive by McIlroy (-13) on the 14th down the fairway. Scheffler (-10) is showing his class by hitting another great iron on the 16th to 10 feet for birdie. Could he birdie his way in to give Rory something to think about?
Rose (-10) goes well right on the 15th, he will need a good chip to get up and down for birdie.
Young misses for birdie! The stage is for Rory now to extend his lead...
Birdie for Scheffler! He was all over the place on the 15th but hit a towering iron from a gap in the trees from 180 yards and then holes the putt to get to -10.
But he would have to beat McIlroy!
BIRDIE FOR MCILROY! He moves three ahead! Brilliant putt again.
McIlroy (-12) eases it down the slope at the 13th from the back of the green, choosing a putter. It’s not a bad putt but he still has a bit left to make a birdie. Young (-10) from a similar spot opts for a chip and it looks better running at the hole, but it keeps going and work left too for birdie.
Rose (-10) hit a very poor shot on the 14th, way left of the green on what isn’t a particularly hard hole. Are the wheels starting to come off? Young (-10) is up the back of the green.
McIlroy (-12) has hit a 350 yard drive. He was about to his iron but he backed off. He double bogeyed this hole last year from short range. You can tell he didn’t fancy it but hits an iron to the back right. It’s over the water and safe.
McIlroy (-12) takes his drive on 13 and finally he gets the draw he needed and miles up there. Three days in a row in the trees and then much better today.
Here was Rory’s birdie on the 12th:
Rose (-10) for eagle hits it way too hard down the hill and has a testing putt to even make his birdie.
Par for Rose, oh he’ll be gutted about that one. But McIlroy leads by two now.
Young (-10) misses from 10 feet up the hill. The stage is set for Rory.
Birdie for McIlroy! From about seven feet, it’s a superb birdie under the highest pressure. He is two ahead!
What a shot at 12 by McIlroy! He goes for it instead of conventional wisdom to hit the middle of the green and sets up a great birdie chance.
Young (-10) follows him with an attacking shot only a little farther from the hole.
Rose (-10) is well down there on the 13th and hits a fantastic iron shot to set up an eagle chance! The shot tracer was completely wrong and looked like it was going in the water, but no 15-20 feet behind the hole.
Par for McIlroy! Confident putt in at pace and that’s a big par at the 11th, a hole he has sometimes struggled with. Next up is the 12th for McIlroy, which has ruined a few careers before.
Morikawa (-9) looks barely fit yet he birdies the 16th to make it five birdies in a row. Only two off the lead.
McIlroy (-11) with a long putt at the 11th, how’s his lag putting? Usually great, but not that good this time and plenty of work to do to make par.
Scheffler (-9) is not out of it and he lays up at the par 5 13th and hits a nice wedge to give himself a birdie chance.
Young (-10) hit a fine shot to make the green at the tough 11th but his putt for birdie was well short too.
Key shot then for McIlroy (-11) on the 11th, a hole he double bogeyed yesterday. It’s a safe shot to edge of the green.
Double bogey for Lowry! His Masters race is run as he falls to -4 after double bogeying 11. Terrible drive down the left but then very unlucky with the second as he hooked it around the trees and looked to be heading towards the green but went all the way into the water.
Big mistake by Rose! From the back of the 12th green, he fluffs a chip. Not on the green in two shots. Rose’s putt then is a little heavy-handed and has a tester to save bogey.
Bogey for Rose! He gets away without a double bogey, but McIlroy now leads the Masters!
Tyrrell Hatton signs for a 66
The Englishman will take the clubhouse lead and ends his round one off the lead. I would be very surprised if it’s good enough to win, but should be a top five finish as he’s on -10.
McIlroy (-11) heads for Amen Corner and it’s a good draw this time, well down the left. The driving is much improved so far.
Birdie for Henley! Lays up on the 13th, wise decision in the end, hits a great wedge that spins back towards the hole and holes the putt. Up to -10. Good drive then at the 14th.
McIlroy (-11) lags it up at the 10th, should make par, while Rose (-12) hits it over the green at the par 3 12th but he’s dry.
Rose (-12) hits a big flop and it’s a good one, doesn’t threaten going in the water at the back and has about 10 feet for par on the 11th.
It’s 222 yards left for McIlroy (-11) on the 10th and he hits it to the back edge, good shot, long birdie putt left.
Bogey for Rose! He misses on the 11th and McIlroy is back tied for the lead.
Rose (-12) goes conservative to the right on the 11th as is recommended but goes well right of that target and has a long pitch left now.
McIlroy (-11) takes a three wood off the tee but doesn’t really get down the slope on the 10th and will have a long approach left.
McIlroy misses the birdie, oh dear. That was a massive chance to tie Rose in the lead, unexpected miss there.
Bogey for Young (-10), it’s three bogeys in four, the tee shot was at fault there.
Bogey for Henley (-9) on 12 knocks him three off the lead. Young (-11) is in the trees off the tee at the 9th and dunts it out low, but ends up in a divot for his third shot.
McIlroy’s (-11) favourite hole is 9th historically he is all-time leader for best score there and he’s well down the middle as usual. From 137 yards with a wedge he hits it to 6 feet for birdie! That to join Rose in the lead.
Birdie for Young! He matches McIlroy on the 8th to get to -11 as well.
McIlroy’s eagle putt never threatened the hole but cosies it up close for birdie, will go to -11. Well in it now.
Birdie for Hatton! That’s four in a row to get to -10. Could he finish with six in a row?
Good creativity by Young (-10) pitching it up over the green past the slope and then spinning it back towards the hole to set up a birdie chance from inside 10 feet.
“It feels like a lot of club,” Rose says for his approach into 10. His caddie Fooch says “No, correct club mate.” He was right in that it was enough club, but middle of the green and long putt left.
Young (-10) is pin high to the right on the par 5 8th, good wood up the hill.
McIlroy has 229 yards, 5 iron, big draw and he runs after it for good reason. Brilliant shot! He has 20 feet for eagle!
Birdie for Rose! It’s three in a row and the putter is on fire as it was last year. Brilliant birdie on 9 and he moves two ahead.
Three birdies in a row for Hatton to get to -9, if he could post -10 or -11 as it firms up, you never know.
Great shot by Henley (-10) at the 11th sets up a birdie chance.
A strange sort of drive by McIlroy (-10) at the 8th, holds the finish all over the place but manufactured enough to keep it on the fairway on the left.
Shane Lowry update - Still on -6, he has had three pars since his double bogey on the 6th, but missed a chance to birdie the par 5 8th. On the eighth, he swore as he push his drive into the right bunker. He had a long approach and a mid-range birdie putt he couldn’t get. On the 9th now.
Bogey for Young! He goes first and it wobbles its way down and finally to the left. Amazingly, Justin Rose leads the Masters.
Birdie for McIlroy! Fantastic putt from six feet and he’s level with Young again, just one behind Rose. Big moment and he gets to -10.
Here is how Rose took the lead:
Birdie for Rose! He’s tied the lead on -11. Henley (-10) misses a big birdie chance on 10 so it’s just the Englishman who ties Young’s lead. Young (-11) is a similar distance to McIlroy for his par.
Brilliant low iron into the 10th by Henley (-10) as it rolls up to near the hole for birdie, could tie the lead there. Nobody expected him to be there.
People did expect Rose (-10) to be around on Sunday and he is, another fantastic pitch to three or four feet for birdie to get to -11 too.
McIlroy (-9) from 111 yards with a wedge hits a good one and a little unlucky it came too soft and didn’t go the whole way down to the hole. But a very good birdie chance. Young (-11) hits in the bunker, more signs of nerves for the leader.
McIlroy (-9) hits a cracking drive at the 7th, miles down right in the middle. Needs a birdie now with a generous pin. Rose (-10) is short in two at the 8th, but a good chance to get up and down for birdie at the par 5.
Bogey for McIlroy! Oh no, he’s three behind now and nothing is going his way. Disappointing.
Bogey for Young! Oh wow, first sign of nerves, pulls it from a few feet to make bogey.
McIlroy was 12 shots ahead of Scheffler on Saturday morning. Now they’re the same score. But with Young’s mistake, only two back all the same.
So close for Scheffler (-9) at the 8th from off the back of the green, excellent putt and just lips out. He’s right in it with conditions getting firmer.
Young (-12) has an excellent lag putt up the hill at the 6th and should make par.
McIlroy (-10) takes a putt from off the green and he leaves it well short, could be looking at another bogey.
Young (-12) goes the wrong side of the slope of the green on the 6th and has a long putt left to lag for par. McIlroy (-10) flies the green completely at the same hole, way too big and will have another tough chip left.
Young (-12) with a massive par putt on the 5th to stay where he is. Could have been a two-shot swing there, but instead him and McIlroy stay two shots apart. Rose cleans up for birdie to get to -10.
Box office golf from Justin Rose! From the pine straw he gives his Rory impression from last year on 7 and curves around the trees and down the slope to a foot for birdie. He could go to -10.
Average chip by Young (-12) leaves himself a decent distance left for par. Good effort by McIlroy (-10) up the hill but just hit too hard to take the break.
Young (-12) from 212 yards on the fairway at the 5th misses the green on the right but not too bad. 209 yards for McIlroy (-10), six iron and it’s a cracker to the sort of range where Rose hit it. Half-chance of birdie.
Henley surging from the pack today and has a chance to go to -10 and join McIlroy there at the 8th after a nice chip at the 8th. He gets the birdie!
Double bogey for Lowry! A very poor 10 minutes for the Irish. His putt just edges by, the damage done from the bunker at the 5th. He’s -6, six back of the lead.
Double bogey for McIlroy! His par putt slipped by on the left from about four or five feet. From maybe three feet back he lips out. Oh no.
Now two behind Young. It’s now quite windy at Augusta and it’s not playing as easy as some predicted. McIlroy needs to stick in it after that big setback. There is no better player for being resilient. Good response on 5 as he drives it well up the fairway.
Disaster for Lowry! Unfortunately he hit it in the bunker off the tee on the 5th and took on too much and hit the lip and then bounced way to the left, he’ll be blocked out in 3 shots and a long way to go. Staring at a double bogey. He hits a big rope hook and it’s a fine shot onto the front of the green, but a hard two-putt to save bogey.
Rose (-9) is in an attacking mood and goes for the flag again at the 6th, another birdie chance.
Young (-12) hits a good chip and has a chance to save par. Very good chip by McIlroy (-12) too, chance to make par.
Bogey for Lowry! Oh dear, that’s a poor three-putt from there at 4. He has struggled on that green all week, three-putting from much closer on Thursday. He falls back to -8.
Poor tee shot by McIlroy (-12) at the 4th, big pull left of the green, left of the bunker. Young (-12) is well short of the green and has a long chip or putt left.
Birdie for Rose! Massive putt and one against the field at the tough 5th to get to -9.
Birdie for McIlroy! His first of the day and he ties the lead, great confident putt. Young (-12) misses the putt and has a few feet left for par to stay there.
Lowry (-9) hits a poor putt up the hill at the 4th, left himself that five or six feet range left again for par.
Lowry (-9) hit a good iron at the long par 3 4th to the heart of the green.
Young (-12) hit a nice chip from where he was and has an outside chance for birdie. McIlroy (-11) has a tough bunker shot but he hits it well, somehow leaves it below the hole for birdie.
Par for Lowry! Gets his putt back to stay at -9, while it’s a bogey for Burns to fall to -8.
Cameron Young (-12) is a devout Catholic and went to Mass this morning with his family. His prayers have been answered at the 3rd as he hits it way right but off the trees he bounces back in play. As had happened a few times yesterday. McIlroy (-11) hit a good drive at 3, but it’s in the bunker to the left.
Cameron Young takes the lead
It’s a birdie for Young to get to -12, who gets away with one with his pitch, just covers the bunker by a few inches and rolls down to birdie range. But there was nothing lucky about the putt, using all the slope to hole for birdie. It was a good wedge by McIlroy inside him, but he missed the putt on the same line.
Lowry (-9) has a delicate pitch at the 3rd, but he can’t get it close and goes to the back of the green. His putt goes past the hole and has a tricky putt left for par.
Young (-11) hits a fairway wood towards the green and he’s short of the bunker, tight angle at the 2nd. McIlroy (-11) from the bunker lays up to wedge distance.
Bogey for Rose (-8) at the 3rd, gives up the shot he gained at the first hole.
Birdie for Lowry! That’s more like it, makes up for the bogey at the 1st with a fine birdie at the 2nd. Up to -9.
Double bogey for Burns! With his fifth shot is too far and on the edge of the green, tough ask to make a bogey there and his putt slips by. Back to two back.
Young (-11) goes for a three wood again on the 2nd, on the fairway. McIlroy (-11) is going for the big stick and he’s hit into the bunker. A high block, says Paul McGinley.
Burns (-11) has made a mess of the 2nd hole, hitting his drive miles right and got it to lay up after three shots, then hits a wedge way over the green. Not on in 4 at the par 5.
Excellent approach Lowry! His drive skips right of the bunker, but just into the pine straw. Then from his lay up he hits a lovely wedge into about 4 feet for birdie.
Young (-11) lags it up for par at the first. Rose (-9) doesn’t hit a good pitch and leaves him a long putt for birdie which he misses.
Birdie missed for McIlroy (-11), a very weak effort and stops two feet short of the hole. A par but not that confident.
Birdie for Scheffler! He’s birdies two of the first three and he’s within two. Went in the bunker on the 3rd off the tee at the short par 4 and gets up and down.
Good approach by McIlroy (-11), his strategy has paid off here and especially compared to yesterday and last year when he ended up with a double bogey. He has about 15 feet for birdie. Young (-11) from the bunker hits a good shot, outside Rory but still a birdie chance.
Big swing already...
Birdie for Burns! Great putt by someone who excels at that skill and he joins the lead at -11.
Bogey for Lowry! Pulls his putt, very disappointing start and falls to -8.
Lowry (-9) with a nervy chip at the 1st, leaves it well short of the hole, not really like him. Work to do for a par.
Rory McIlroy is under way
Cameron Young goes first with a three wood off the tee and he’s in the bunker, not the best start. McIlroy goes for a 3 wood today and he’s on the fairway. More conservative play, but safe. Maybe that’s the strategy.
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young coming to the tee, Young with an airpod in the ear, focused.
Burns (-10) gives himself a birdie chance at the first, Lowry (-9) is slightly blocked off on the left and missed the green at the first unfortunately.
Shane Lowry is under way
Good drive to start at the first, keeps on going towards the left rough but it’s fine and under way. Has gone 70, 69, 68.. a 67 today would put him right in the mix.
Birdie for Rose! He chips in at the 1st for birdie, can he get 10 birdies on the final day like he did last year?
Scheffler (-8) goes for the flag at the 2nd, absolutely nails the wood from the fairway and just over the green, but good chance to get up and down for birdie.
Birdie for Scheffler! Wow, the ideal start for the world number one. From the pine straw, he spins it into inside 10 feet and holes the putt to go to -8. Danger already.
Not the best opening drive by Scheffler (-7) at the 1st hole, down the right but avoids the bunker and might be able to manufacture one onto the green. Li (-7) is under way too, as we’re heading to the business end of the leaderboard.
A positive precedent for McIlroy, the 1975 Masters. Rory is on good terms with Jack Nicklaus, so he might have told him about this one. Nicklaus led by five shots after two rounds after 68 and 67, but shot 73 like McIlroy be caught by Tom Weiskopf on day three, who shot 66, and went in a shot behind.
Nicklaus fought back to win by one stroke, thanks to one of the most famous putts in golf history. “I think that’s one of the greatest putts I’ve seen in my life,” said the commentator, as Nicklaus nailed one from the bottom of the hill at 16 right in the cup. Weiskopf, one of the best players of his era, would never win the Masters.
From The Masters website: With Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, today marks just the second time that the final pairing features at least two of the top three players in the Official World Golf Ranking. And the world number one isn’t too far behind either.
Some other interesting stats from Justin Ray on X:
- Cameron Young opened the Masters with 40 on his first nine holes Thursday. With a win, it would tie Tiger Woods in 1997 for highest opening nine hole start by a Masters champion.
- 30 of the last 35 Masters champions have come from the final pairing.
- Scottie Scheffler was 12 shots back to begin the third round. Should he win Sunday, it would be the second-largest 36-hole comeback to win a men’s major all-time.
Shane Lowry got a stunning hole-in-one yesterday, and he spoke to Philip Reid about it. Let’s see it again, what a great moment.
On the course, the Scandinavians are going well - Viktor Hovland is -6 and -7 for the day through 14. Aberg is -6 too, -3 for the day through four holes. Aberg would probably need a 63 to have any chance.
McIlroy went to the range for a session after his 73 yesterday that included many errant shots. He was particularly going right with the driver and left with his irons.
He needs to fix it before his round starts in just over an hour if he’s to have any chance today. His short game and putting have been very good this week, but to get birdies he needs to hit a few more fairways. His drives on par 5s in particular have been very poor this week, forcing him to lay up despite his length off the tee.
Viktor Hovland is the main mover in the early leaderboard, he’s -6 for the day after 11 holes, -5 for the tournament, showing that there are plenty of chances for birdies again at Augusta. Gary Woodland is -7 for the day through 16 holes, although only good for -1 for the tournament.
Sergio Garcia has attracted attention in the early for the wrong reasons, smashing the driver and the tee box at the second in anger. Geoff Yang, the chairman of the competition committee at The Masters, spoke to Garcia on the 4th tee and gave him a code of conduct warning.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the final day of the Masters, like Christmas day for golf watchers around the world, generally doesn’t get much better or bigger than this. Especially when there are two Irish players in to contention. When Rory McIlroy led by six shots on Saturday morning, it threatened to be a procession today, but that is not how it has transpired at all. It was a poor round of 73 on a low-scoring day yesterday by McIlroy as he struggled with his game and was run down by the high-flying Cameron Young. It will be fascinating to see if he can turn it around again to win.
If he struggles again, then there are plenty who can take advantage, including Shane Lowry, who is only two shots behind. Lowry got a famous hole-in-one at the 6th yesterday to add to his collection and has been swinging the ball beautifully all week. Plenty of other stars are within range, including Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler. I cover this for a living and I have no idea what is going to happen, and that’s the beauty of it. All to play for, with Lowry teeing off first at 7.14pm.
