Augusta (United States) (AFP) – Rory McIlroy headed for the Augusta National practice range after a disappointing second round erased a six-stroke edge on Saturday and left him tied for the lead at the Masters. McIlroy fired a one-over-par 73 to stand alongside third-ranked Cameron Young on 11-under 205 entering Sunday’s final round, which figures to be a shootout with 11 players five shots back or nearer.
“I have to look at the positives even though there aren’t that many,” McIlroy said. “I did bounce back. I hit some good shots coming in. I’m in a great position. I wish I was a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable. I just know I need to be better tomorrow to have a chance.”
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McIlroy, who had a Masters record six-stroke lead through 36 holes, found himself among the trees off the tee and out of position most of the day, needing wedges and putts to salvage pars tested by swing issues. “If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, that should sort of fix it,” McIlroy said. “But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit.”
McIlroy wasn’t as committed as he should be on every shot. “It’s just having trust in yourself and commitment that you’re going to make the swing you want to make,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t always do that today, but I still felt like I stayed committed to what I was doing, which is a good thing.”
McIlroy hopes to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets after Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo. “I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and play like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that.”
McIlroy, playing alongside Young as he did the first two days, felt he answered the challenge posted by firm and fast Augusta National. “This golf course has a way of, when you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle,” he said. “You have to dig deep, and I felt like I did that on the front nine and made a lot of good par saves.”
His approach sailed left at 11 for a double bogey, and a missed green at the par-three 12th set up a bogey that briefly handed Young the solo lead. “When I made the double at 11, I probably got a little bit uneasy on 12 and 13, which I think is understandable,” he said. “I bounced back well with birdies on 14 and 15. The course was obviously gettable. There were a lot of good scores out there, and the quality of the chasing pack is obvious.”
“There’s a lot of guys in with a chance tomorrow. I’m still tied for the best score, so I can’t forget that, but I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.”
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