AUGUSTA – Rory McIlroy survived multiple assaults on his Masters lead in Saturday’s third round to emerge four strokes clear of the field. That put him in pole position to become the first Irishman to win the Masters, the first European since Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999 and, at 21 years and 11 months, the second-youngest winner behind only Tiger Woods in 1997.
The Ulsterman battled hard all day for a two-under 70 that put him at 12-under par, four strokes clear of a international quartet consisting of Jason Day, Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel and KJ Choi. A stroke further back on five-under came Adam Scott and Luke Donald with Bo Van Pelt the leading American at six-under.
“I’m not getting ahead of myself, I know how leads can dwindle away very quickly. I need to go out there and play as well as I have over the last three days,” said McIlroy of his feelings going into Sunday. “I stayed really patient out there today, I feel comfortable with my game and with the way I prepared and finally I feel comfortable on this golf course.”
Woods, meanwhile, endured a torrid day on the greens with several lip-outs and near misses that had him shaking his head in despair as he had to settle for a 74 and a five-under total. He trailed McIlroy by seven strokes in a tie for ninth place, which left his hopes of winning a first major since 2008 and first title of any sort since November of 2009 in tatters.
“I am pleased with the way I played. I just made nothing (on the greens),” he said. McIlroy began the day two strokes ahead of 23-year-old Day and the two young guns went hard at it down the front nine, the lead changing hands several times in hot and humid conditions at Augusta National. But it was at the dog-leg par-five 13th, so often the key hole at Augusta, that McIlroy broke clear again. Day hit long with his second and then fluffed his chip from the back of the green en route to a bogey six.
McIlroy was safely on in two and two putts ensured a birdie that gave him a two-stroke advantage over his rival, who seeks to become the first Australian to win the Masters. Day then three-putted the par-three 16th and McIlroy was three clear in the lead. On the next hole, McIlroy was in trouble left after turning over his drive, but he played a daring second approach high over a bunker and sunk a 25-foot putt to send the gallery wild and give himself a four-stroke lead.
Day eventually signed for a level-par 72. “I came out of the gate firing, but bogeyed the sixth and seventh, A few mental errors and didn’t hole the putts I made yesterday,” Day said, referring to his second round of 64, which matched the lowest-ever in the second round. Ahead of the youthful pairing, a clutch of hungry contenders were jostling to put themselves in the picture for a run at Masters glory on Sunday. South Korean Choi, playing with Woods, was once again in perfect harmony with his putter as he came in with a steady 71.
Cabrera, the winner here in 2009 and the US Open champion two years prior to that, drifted in under the radar with five birdies and no bogeys for a 67. The Argentinian, who will play with McIlroy in the final pairing on Sunday, has been struggling for form in recent months and came into Augusta with little hope of doing well. “I actually stopped playing for four months from August to January. My swing wasn’t the same but I’ve been working on it and just keep plugging away,” he said.
Sweet-swinging South African Schwartzel joined him at eight under after carding a 68. A stroke further back came Scott and Englishman Donald. Playing in his 10th Masters, the Australian under-achiever bounded into contention with a 67, the equal best of the day, which included an eagle at the 13th and a bogey at the last. “It was a good move today,” Scott said.
“Everything is in good shape, my swing came into rhythm and it was better than the first couple of days when I was just battling to make a score. “The only disappointment is the bogey up the last. We are tired of hearing an Australian has never won here so maybe one of us can do it tomorrow.” Donald, who had been three over after 10 holes in the first round, joined Scott on seven under after a round of 69.
“It’s put me in a good position, I still got a great chance tomorrow, which is always the goal at Majors to be in contention and have a chance,” the Englishman said. Phil Mickelson, seeking to become just the fourth player to successfully defend the Masters title, once again failed to find his touch and came in with a 71 to stand all but out of the running nine strokes off the pace.
