Tranlate this title Rory McIlroy prepares tactical shift as Masters lead slips heading into final round in spanish

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy lost his lead on the third day of the Masters in Augusta and will enter the final day of the fight for the prestigious green jacket tied with American Cameron Young. 

McIlroy carded a 73 (one-over-par round) on the historic course in the American state of Georgia, after a great first two days.

McIlroy started the day with a record six-stroke lead. After the third day of the tournament, with 11 strokes under par, he is tied with the American Young and is just one stroke ahead of another American, Sam Burns.

In addition to Young, the third day of the Masters was also marked by an excellent round of 65 by American Scottie Scheffler, world number 1, who is now in seventh place and only four strokes behind. 

In fourth place is the Irishman Shane Lowry.

McIlroy, the defending champion, showed unexpected weakness, sending the ball into the trees and into water hazards. The 36-year-old struggled especially on the 11th hole, where he found the water and made a double bogey.

After the 13th hole, Young and Burns were tied with McIlroy. The fight for the green jacket is thus completely open again.

So far, only Jack Nicklaus (1965/66), Nick Faldo (1989/90) and Tiger Woods (2001/02) have successfully defended the title. Five-time major winner McIlroy could join that elite trio on Sunday.

McIlroy wants to change tactics

Rory is aware that if he wants to achieve another big result and a magnificent feat, he has to change something in his game during the final day. The Northern Irish golfer openly said at the press conference that he plans to change his approach compared to the final round last year.

The nervous ending of 2025 is the reason why Rory McIlroy does not want to repeat the mistakes, aware that this time he has to play at a much higher level. The experienced golfer pointed out that he wants to play much more freely.

A big advantage on the way to another victory will be the fact that he has already managed to win the Masters, which means that he will have less pressure.

The 36-year-old emphasized that he is not too worried about whether he will win or not, and wants the atmosphere to carry him further.

“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do,” he told reporters on Saturday night.

“Sometimes I may just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of the pairing will be just a little bit easier. The atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier.

Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all. I wish I were a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days. Playing with him again tomorrow. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”

One of the significant problems faced by Rory McIlroy during the penultimate day is that he is aware that he could have played much better, but he explains the reasons why he encountered difficulties at certain moments.

One of the main problems for him was mishits to the left, which is why he will have to be much more focused this time.

Rory McIlroy emphasizes that the most important thing for him is «to keep his lower body moving». 

If he really succeeds, he will have a serious chance to win the Masters title again and thus become the fourth player in Masters history who managed to defend the title.

“I think a couple of them were because of the lies that I had,” McIlroy explained. “The ball was above my feet quite a bit, but yeah, I was trying to hit a draw into the pin on the sixth hole, and I just overdid it.

Then on 12, I had a bit of an awkward yardage. I was trying to hit, like, a three-quarter held wedge, and just body stopped and went left on me.

But everything else, I think, for me it’s just about keeping my lower body moving. If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, then that should sort of fix it. But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit.”

Many players are close behind him, but it seems that the main threat will be Cameron Young, who played a phenomenal tournament.

The Masters is a tournament that carries enormous pressure, so McIlroy is looking for his chance precisely in that, aware that Young and the others have much more pressure than him.