Rory McIlroy entered Sunday with a shattered cushion after Saturday’s collapse at Augusta. The Northern Irish star had built a six-shot lead through 36 holes, the largest in Masters history, only to see it evaporate under the pressure of Amen Corner. A double‑bogey on 11 and a wayward tee shot on 13 left him tied at 11-under with Cameron Young.

Saturday’s missteps stemmed from an over‑drawn approach on 11 that found water and a tentative swing on 12 that missed the green. McIlroy managed a birdie on 14 and a two‑shot birdie on 15 to briefly regain momentum, but a par on 16 and a missed putt on 17 cemented his over‑par round as the field posted a 70.63 scoring average.

Going into the final round, McIlroy shares the lead with Young while seasoned contenders Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry sit within striking distance. Scheffler’s 65 on Saturday keeps him in contention, and the pressure of defending a historic lead may force McIlroy to play more aggressively. Sunday will decide whether his earlier dominance translates into a green‑jacket triumph.