"Rory McIlroy held a six-stroke lead after the first two rounds of the 2026 Masters Tournament, the largest 36-hole lead in the tournament's history. However, he struggled in the third round, finishing with a 73 and falling into a tie for the lead heading into Sunday."
"Despite a birdie on the third hole, McIlroy faced setbacks with a double-bogey on the fourth and a bogey on the sixth, dropping two shots off the lead. He rallied with back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth holes, regaining control of the tournament."
"Entering the final hole with a two-shot lead, McIlroy's tee shot went right into the pine straw, creating a challenging approach shot. He needed to execute a precise right-to-left shot to clear a large tree and secure his victory."
Rory McIlroy started the 2026 Masters Tournament with a historic six-stroke lead after two rounds. However, his performance declined in the third round, resulting in a tie for the lead. Despite a shaky start on Sunday, McIlroy regained control with birdies on holes seven, eight, twelve, and thirteen. He entered the final hole with a two-shot lead but faced a difficult tee shot that put his victory at risk. McIlroy's journey exemplified his resilience and ability to recover under pressure.
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