Cameron Young reels in Rory McIlroy with pack on their tails for Masters finale | The Masters

Rory McIlroy started this Masters with Cameron Young and will finish it with Cameron Young. McIlroy arrived at this tournament as the holder of the Green Jacket. By Sunday evening, he will…? Only God knows. Proven day three predictions are a fool’s errand at the Masters.

Such drama unfolded Saturday at Augusta National that at the end of the game it was extraordinary to see McIlroy’s name still atop the leaderboard, albeit now with Young as the scorer. Both are at 11 under par. After holding a six-shot lead early in the round – and eight over Young – McIlroy inexplicably faltered. His 73 was one that involved intense wrestling. “I knew today wasn’t going to be easy,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t really have it today. I’ll have to be better tomorrow.”

The events of 2025 are important in this context. If McIlroy wasn’t already a Masters champion, there would be reason to worry about the impact of his 36-hole lead evaporating. Instead, while McIlroy is desperate to retain his title, he’s at least playing with house money. Unlike Young – and Sam Burns, who is adrift – McIlroy has already successfully exited this film.

Young’s position here is incredible. He was four over par after the front nine of his first round. He played his next sequence in 15 under. He displays an unflappable attitude that will come in handy on Masters Sunday. The success of the Young’s Players Championship last month will also help.

“I like the position I’m in,” Young said after turning 65. “If you had said on Thursday around noon that I was even going to be two or three ahead going into Sunday, I would have taken it in a heartbeat, especially considering I was watching Rory play.

“Here, that’s a big part of the battle. You’re going to have good breaks, you’re going to have bad breaks. You’re going to hit a bad shot or two. The ability to just suck it up and move on and hit your next shot, the emotions, the frustration, whatever it is, I think this place really punishes you if you play angry or impatient.”

McIlroy’s woes began on the first hole. An overshot approach shot left a putt in the grain from the fringe. It was too tricky, resulting in a bogey. In front, Patrick Reed reached nine under against McIlroy under 11 thanks to three consecutive birdies. McIlroy stabilized by recovering a shot on 3 but an elite squad hovered. McIlroy played the rest of the first nine evenly, thanks to some breakout acts that Paul Daniels would applaud.

At the 10th, McIlroy made a superb approach to score a birdie. Things took a remarkable turn on the next hole, where McIlroy clipped a tree with his drive and found water with his second. A double bogey reduced his lead over Young to just one. McIlroy’s problem seemed more technical than between his ears; a short iron shot to 12 meant a cry of “Oh no!” and a bogey, which left the defending champion behind. Young had reached the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on the 16th.

McIlroy needed a spark. He didn’t make it to the 13th, where he found himself in pine straw and had to climb a par. Instead, McIlroy matched Young’s score with a converted 19-foot putt on the 14th. The birdie seemed important; with two commanding shots, he was on the dance floor at the par-five 15th. With a four, he was once again the man to beat. It was an exhausting and exhilarating thing.

McIlroy’s 16th was uneventful. His drive flew straight onto the penultimate hole. “Give me back my son!” roared a member of the crowd, who will likely be supporting a bridge over I-20 to Atlanta by tomorrow morning. McIlroy’s second cleared the green, from where he could not save par. He cut a sad figure on the final green as more than five hours of labor came to an end. Burns, alongside McIlroy, signed for an impressive 68. McIlroy was the only player among the top 19 names on the board to score over par. No wonder he headed to the training ground.

The general chaos was playing out elsewhere. Rafa Nadal, who was once again in the stands, looked captivated. Li Haotong, who is actively participating in this conversation at seven under, put his ball in the water on the 15th. “I had negative thoughts about my backswing,” Li said. Shane Lowry became only the seventh man in history to make the 6th. The hole-in-one inspired Lowry, who is just two off the lead. “I thought if Rory could shoot a 68 today, he could win the tournament,” Lowry said. But he didn’t and he didn’t do it.

Lowry added: “We all know it’s all about tomorrow. Obviously it matters today, but when we get to tomorrow we’ll see what everyone’s made of.”

Jason Day rolled back the years with a 68 just shy of Lowry. Justin Rose is also at eight under after a 69. Scottie Scheffler took umbrage at a “horrible” question – which was actually perfectly valid – from a member of the media following his 65. Scheffler is at seven under alongside Li. It would be stupid to write off the world number 1. Reed’s chances may have been fatally damaged by a late bogey, which dropped him to six under.

As the dust settled, it was worth remembering that it was only Saturday. Screenwriters should look to Augusta National for lessons.