Masters Sunday Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young sit atop the leaderboard as the final round tees off
The old saying about the Masters is that the tournament doesn’t truly begin until the back nine on Sunday.
That might never be more true than this 2026 edition, and it’s almost here.
What once looked like Rory McIlroy’s romp to a repeat has turned into one of the most wide-open final rounds in years as 11 players start the afternoon within five shots of the lead. Given Augusta National’s penchant for giving up low scores this week, and its historic habit of devouring potential champions on the final day, a potentially classic day is teeing off in eastern Georgia.
McIlroy starts the day looking to reclaim the momentum he had on Thursday and Friday that saw him build the biggest halfway lead in tournament history. But his playing partner on Sunday, American Cameron Young, is the one with the wind at his back after his 7-under 65 on Saturday earned him a share of the lead to start Sunday.
Young said Saturday that he’s feeling as comfortable with his game as he has in years.
“It started with some really small things, and now I feel just much more comfortable, I would say, than before, Young told reporters. “It’s hard to say exactly what it is, but I feel like it’s just been very small things over the course of the last year or so that have just built up some steam. I feel very comfortable with my game.”
McIlroy has spoke all week about the comfort he feels knowing that the weight on his shoulders — the career grand slam and a first Masters title — was removed last year. But the erasure of his six-shot lead on Saturday brought back some difficult memories in the minds of his fans, if not in the Northern Irishman himself.
“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, you know, like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do. Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, like, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. You know, the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier,” McIlroy said Saturday of what he expects from the final round.
“Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all. I wish I was a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable.”
The difference between feeling comfortable and being comfortable on the scoreboard is often what defines the mindset of a Masters champion. And if McIlroy and Young, both at 11-under for the tournament, look too long at the names behind them on the leaderboard, they might feel some of that comfort slipping away.
Sam Burns sits one shot back at 10-under. Shane Lowry, who had a majestic hole-in-one on Saturday, is at 9-under. Behind them are Jason Day and Justin Rose, both at 8-under. Four shots back sits world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Li Haotong. Patrick Reed, Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay make up the rest of the chasing pack at five shots back.
If any of those players get hot and drop a low score on Sunday, the pressure on McIlroy and Young will only grow. The roars of the patrons echo around Augusta and it’s hard to ignore what other players are doing when the big charges come. The leaders will not be in any doubt if one of their competitors is suddenly nipping at their heels — or grabbing the lead themselves.
“It’s not easy to go out and go after it when you’re at the top of the leaderboard, Lowry said Saturday. “Not that it’s easy to do it. But when you’re down the field and you’re just having a go at it, it makes it a little bit easier and you can play a bit more freely. When you are out there in the hunt you need to be a little bit more protective of what you are doing.”
The best players find another level on these kinds of days, Scheffler said.
“That’s what great players and great competitors do is they’re able to rise to the occasion. I think when you look at the biggest tournaments, you’d be hard-pressed to find another tournament that’s bigger than this one, especially for myself,” he said.
“When you come here, I think that’s why it’s such a great test too, because not only do you have to conquer this golf course, you have to conquer changing conditions, a difficult country club golf course, but you also have to conquer your nerves as well to get it done around here.”
Ultimately, it may be Augusta that chooses the Masters champion.
The lack of rain in east Georgia — barely any in the last month — has allowed the notoriously difficult course to firm up. Club leadership chose to water the greens ahead of Saturday’s round, allowing the field to score plenty of birdies and cranking up the drama with Saturday charges.
But it will be revealed quickly if the course will be fully unleashed on Sunday, with dry greens revealing the full terror of putting at one of the world’s most famous courses. If that happens, look out.
“You’ve always got to respect the golf course. I think we’re seeing it this year. Kind of getting crispy and, you know, like the par-5s, you’ve got to be on point with your second shots. Otherwise, you’re not holding the greens,” Rose said.
“You enjoy the experience here Monday to Wednesday, and then I don’t think you enjoy another golf shot for the rest of the week, because everything is kind of – there’s high risk and high reward on every shot you hit here.”
