McIlroy and Lowry Set for Masters Showdown as Rory Enters Final Round Tied for Lead
Rory McIlroy enters the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament on Sunday tied for the lead at 11-under par after squandering a historic six-shot advantage on Saturday, setting up a dramatic conclusion at Augusta National — with fellow Irishman Shane Lowry lurking just two shots behind.
Background
McIlroy arrived at Augusta as the defending champion, having won his first Masters title in 2025 to complete the career Grand Slam. A second consecutive Green Jacket would make him only the fourth player in history to achieve back-to-back Masters victories. He had built a commanding six-shot lead after 36 holes — the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history — and appeared to be cruising towards a historic triumph.
Saturday's Collapse
The third round proved a different story. McIlroy shot a one-over 73, including a double bogey on the 11th hole and bogeys on the 12th and 17th, as his swing stuttered and his driving accuracy deserted him. He hit only eight fairways all day. Meanwhile, American Cameron Young produced a stunning seven-under 65 — matching the lowest round of the week — to draw level with McIlroy at 11-under par.
McIlroy acknowledged the difficulty of the day, saying he "didn't quite have it" and that his swing continued to cause problems. He remains in the final pairing with Young, scheduled to tee off at 2:25pm ET on Sunday.
Lowry's Historic Hole-in-One
Shane Lowry provided one of the moments of the tournament on Saturday, making a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth hole using a 7-iron from 190 yards. The ball landed in the centre of the green, hopped twice, and rolled into the cup to a thunderous roar from the Augusta crowd. It was Lowry's second career hole-in-one at the Masters — making him the first player in the tournament's history to achieve that feat — and his fifth career ace on the PGA Tour.
Lowry, who also aced a hole at the Houston Open just three weeks earlier, was characteristically understated about the achievement: "That's wild, isn't it? You don't ever expect to make a hole-in-one. I just couldn't believe it. The walk down the sixth hole with everyone around 16 and the 6th was very special. I'll remember that for a while."
The ace moved Lowry to nine-under par, placing him in solo fourth position, two shots off the lead. He will play in the penultimate group alongside Sam Burns on Sunday.
Why It Matters
For Irish golf fans, Sunday's final round at Augusta is unmissable. McIlroy is chasing history — a second consecutive Masters and a place among the all-time greats. Lowry, meanwhile, is in genuine contention for his second major title. The prospect of an Irish one-two at Augusta would be extraordinary.
What's Next
The final round gets underway on Sunday afternoon. Sam Burns is one shot behind at 10-under, with Scottie Scheffler and others lurking further back. If McIlroy fails to win from this position, he would be the first player to blow a six-shot lead at Augusta National — a statistic that will weigh heavily on his mind as he tees it up on Sunday.
