Rory McIlroy loses Masters lead on Sunday to Cameron Young and Justin Rose

Cameron Young and Justin Rose are now tied for the lead at the Masters after Rory McIlroy's lead disappeared on Sunday. This is a big change from Saturday.
By Newsroom | Sports, Golf |

Augusta National witnessed a dramatic shift in the Masters leaderboard on Sunday, as defending champion Rory McIlroy saw his once commanding lead disintegrate during the final round. The Northern Irishman, who entered the day atop the field, faltered under pressure, opening the door for Cameron Young and Justin Rose to surge into contention.

McIlroy, holding a significant advantage at the start of Saturday's play, could not maintain his momentum, eventually tying for first place with Young at 11-under par heading into the final day. Young's impressive 7-under par performance on Saturday propelled him into a tie, while Rose, after a strong mid-round push, briefly held the outright lead at 12-under. Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley are positioned at 10-under, sharing third place.

The final round, characterized by significant swings and lead changes, saw McIlroy navigate a "roller-coaster start." After an opening double-bogey on the first hole, he briefly regained a one-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau. However, further struggles, including a "disastrous double-bogey on No. 13" followed by a bogey on the 14th, derailed his bid for a repeat victory and a career Grand Slam.

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"McIlroy appeared to be cruising to his first Masters win on Sunday," one report noted, underscoring the suddenness of his decline.

The pressure of protecting a lead at Augusta National proved immense. Even after reaching the green in two at the par-four 11th, McIlroy faced "lengthy putt[s] for birdie," struggling to convert crucial opportunities. Young, too, faced challenges on the greens, missing birdie putts on the tenth hole, mirroring McIlroy's own struggles.

Historical Context

Saturday's play saw a record number of players post bogey-free rounds, with five achieving the feat, a statistic noted as "the most rounds without a dropped shot in a single Masters round in recorded history." Notably, Cameron Young recorded his "lowest career round at the Masters" with a 65 on Saturday, while Justin Rose achieved his first bogey-free round at Augusta in 17 years with a 69. Earlier in the week, Shane Lowry delighted patrons with a hole-in-one, and Haotong Li showcased an "impressive" Masters week.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Rory McIlroy lose his lead at the Masters on Sunday?
Rory McIlroy had a difficult final round on Sunday at the Masters. He made a double-bogey on the first hole and struggled with other holes, losing his lead.
Q: Who is now tied for the lead at the Masters after Sunday's play?
Cameron Young and Justin Rose are now tied for the lead at the Masters. Young had a great round on Saturday, and Rose also played well to get into contention.
Q: What happened to Rory McIlroy during the final round of the Masters on Sunday?
McIlroy started the final round with a strong lead but faltered. He had a double-bogey on the first hole and later on the 13th, which hurt his chances for a repeat win and the career Grand Slam.
Q: How did Cameron Young and Justin Rose perform on Saturday to get into contention?
Cameron Young shot his lowest round ever at the Masters with a 65 on Saturday. Justin Rose also played well, shooting a 69 and his first bogey-free round at Augusta in 17 years.