Rory McIlroy said he “needs to be better” to retain his Masters title on the final day after giving up a six-shot lead in the second round.
McIlroy held a record lead through the tournament’s midway stage after opening rounds with rounds of 67 and 65, but a 1-over 73 on Saturday left him tied with Players champion Cameron Young at 11 under.
McIlroy struggled for accuracy with his irons, hitting just 10 of the 18 greens in regulation, three fewer than he managed in the first two days. After finding the water, he made three bogeys along with a double bogey on the 11th hole.
speaking Sky Sports Golf Immediately after the round, McIlroy said: “I knew today wasn’t going to be easy. The quality of the chasing pack was very evident and a lot of guys went out and played their best golf, starting with Scottie (Scheffler) and then Cam and everyone else.
“I was a little lacking today. I had such a soft bogey from the first hole. I did my best to hold on. I was very upset on the front nine.
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Rory McIlroy reflects on a disappointing third day at the Masters when he lost a six-shot lead heading into the final round.
“I felt like I had turned things around with a birdie on the 10th hole. I didn’t hit the drive well, but luckily I came back to the fairway on the 11th hole. I thought I hit my second shot well, but the wind started to pick up a little.
“I birdied the 14th and 15th holes and bounced around well. I made bogeys on the last two holes, which is disappointing.”
While his poor form has sparked debate from several leading names, McIlroy insists he holds a great chance of completing the career Grand Slam by retaining the title he won 12 months ago.
McIlroy added: “I wanted to start tomorrow with a six-stroke lead and be in a better position, but I still have a good chance.”
“I’m in the last group, exactly where you want to be. I wish I had a little more cushion, but I’ll get here to the range and try to figure it out. I’ll have to be better tomorrow.”
“It’s amazing (to have the opportunity). That was the goal coming here. We still have a good chance, but we’re going to have to be a little better than we were today to win tomorrow.”
‘It will be easier than last year’
McIlroy’s victory last year came after a severe 11-year drought for the Northern Irishman, and his bid to win a career Grand Slam became one of the biggest stories in sport after he tried and failed to achieve it for a decade.
What made it even more interesting was that last year on Sunday, he was paired with rival Bryson DeChambeau, who lost a win to him at the 2024 US Open.
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Rory McIlroy and some of golf’s most familiar faces recall the moment he achieved his lifelong dream of completing a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters.
McIlroy believes playing in a different type of final playing group than the one he won last year will help his chances.
“I’d like to think I’ll play a little more freely and play like I’m already in the green jacket,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes I may have to remind myself of that.
“But I think the risk will be a little easier in terms of things like mating, the atmosphere out there will be a little easier.
“I’m not worried at all. I wish we were a little better, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days. I’ll play with him again tomorrow. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”
Beem: ‘Great mindset’ could help McIlroy on Sunday
Sky Sports Golf’s Rich Beem believes McIlroy’s resilience will allow the 36-year-old to put the disappointment of losing the lead on Saturday out of his mind before the final is over.
“Despite completing the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters last year, nothing has changed in his desire to win the tournaments that mean the most to him, and this is one of them,” Beem said.
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Rory McIlroy maintained his record 36-hole lead in the Masters with an incredible 7-under-par 65 at Augusta National!
“He’s been on the canvas with his back to him so many times and you’re wondering how he’s going to get back on the canvas.
“He just seems to pop up like nothing happened. He has a great mindset where he forgets exactly what happened the day before, even two or three holes ago.
“He’s not afraid of failure. He’s had a lot of failures in his career. He’s hit terrible shots.
“But you know, he comes back again and again. That’s why he’s our defending Masters champion. The reason he won a career Grand Slam is because he’s not afraid to fail and get back up and succeed.”
How can I watch the final day of the Masters?
Live coverage of the final round begins at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday, with full coverage starting at 5pm and running until long after the final putt.
The infamous Amen Corner stream will also be available from the 11th, focusing on the famous three-hole stretch, with the featured group service available on the Sky Sports+ channel.
Feeds for the fourth, fifth and sixth holes will go live each day as soon as the opening group reaches that part of the course and another stream will cover holes 15 and 16. The featured group can also be viewed on Sky Sports+.
Can McIlroy close out the Masters with a win? Watch the final round live on Sky Sports Golf from 4.30pm on Sunday. Additional coverage is also available on Sky Sports+. Access or stream Sky Sports with no contract.
