{"id":603330,"date":"2026-04-13T03:58:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/603330\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T03:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T03:58:11","slug":"rory-mcilroys-collapse-jason-day-chases-first-green-jacket-cameron-young-final-group-augusta-national-softer-greens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/603330\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy\u2019s collapse, Jason Day chases first green jacket, Cameron Young final group, Augusta National softer greens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australian golf fans are daring to dream that Jason Day can win the nation\u2019s second ever green jacket after a chaotic moving day at The Masters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy squandered his record six-shot lead, throwing the tournament wide open with a legend declaring that most of the top ten have a realistic shot at winning.<\/p>\n

The only place to watch the Masters Live & Exclusive is Fox Sports. Available on Kayo. | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

FINAL DAY LIVE: Follow all the action<\/a><\/p>\n

McIlroy\u2019s stumble has created a fascinating final pairing showdown between two of the world\u2019s best that offers a completely different narrative to his battle with Bryson DeChambeau a year ago.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a comparison between McIlroy and a polarising Australian great resurfaced, to the disgust of one of golf\u2019s most prominent voices.<\/p>\n

Augusta National itself was also in the spotlight.<\/p>\n

Many were left disappointed by a major change implemented by the tournament organisers that led to a record-breaking third round.<\/p>\n

Scroll down for the biggest talking points from the third round of the 2026 Masters!<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

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\u2018ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN\u2019: J-Day reveals Masters finale plan as Aussie eyes green jacket heist<\/a><\/p>\n

TEE TIMES: Blockbuster final round pairings revealed<\/a><\/p>\n

Day speaks on stellar Round 3 showing | 01:59<\/p>\n

COULD SUNDAY BE JASON\u2019S DAY?<\/p>\n

It might finally be Jason Day\u2019s time.<\/p>\n

The 38-year-old former world No.1 has put a green jacket within striking distance as he heads into the final round just three shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young.<\/p>\n

Day has a fascinating history with Augusta National.<\/p>\n

This is 15th Masters appearances and he has five top tens under his belt.<\/p>\n

He is well versed in the pressure cooker that it is Masters Sunday.<\/p>\n

On debut in 2011, Day shared runner-up honours with countryman Adam Scott as Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to spoil the party.<\/p>\n

Two years later, Day finished third, having been in the hunt to almost the very end, as Scott broke Australia\u2019s Augusta drought in a playoff.<\/p>\n

Even last year, Day could not be counted out until two late bogeys reduced him to a share of eighth.<\/p>\n

After so many near miss, it might finally be the 38-year-old\u2019s time.<\/p>\n

Jason Day reacts on the 17th green during the third round.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

Eleven years have past since he won his sole major championship to date at that PGA Championship.<\/p>\n

He is also one of only four players in history to secure the unwanted runner-up career grand slam – having come second at all four majors.<\/p>\n

It is a resume that feels like it deserves more.<\/p>\n

A victory would also be a remarkable triumph considering four years ago, Day did not even play The Masters as a crippling back injury threatened to derail his career.<\/p>\n

While others may feel the weight of trying to finally breakthrough at Augusta, Day believes he is the contender who can play with total freedom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like the guys that are leading right now have all the pressure,\u201d Day said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the chaser. Usually the chasers don\u2019t really have a lot of the pressure. Guys at the top of the leaderboard always are trying to defend the lead, whereas I\u2019m pushing forward trying to cut into the lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good about my game. I feel very happy with where things are. I\u2019m looking forward to the challenge at least.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can get myself around the lead on the back side, I\u2019ll be very pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Day looks on from the 18th green.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

One of the key aspects of Day\u2019s play so far has been his impressive ability to limit mistakes.<\/p>\n

Across 54 holes, he has made only five bogeys.<\/p>\n

Only two players in the field have had fewer blemishes on their scorecards.<\/p>\n

Day knows he can hang tough to give himself a chance when The Masters really begins, on the back nine on Sunday, as the saying goes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve just got to try and get yourself the opportunity on the back side,\u201d Day said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can get somewhere close to the lead on the back side, anything can happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to try and cut into the lead tomorrow through nine, and if I can do that, great, then get myself somewhere near the lead on the back side and try and give myself opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

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\u2018Pfftttt, no?\u2019: Bryson\u2019s bizarre clash with reporter over 3D-printed club after Masters disaster<\/a><\/p>\n

Lowry delivers unreal Masters ace | 01:12<\/p>\n

\u2018SEVEN GUYS HAVE A CHANCE\u2019<\/p>\n

While all Australian eyes are on Day, a man who helped break the nation\u2019s hearts 30 years ago said the final round is the most wide open in several years.<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young will go head-to-head in the final pairing.<\/p>\n

But they are only one shot clear of Sam Burns and Shane Lowry, who added to his illustrious list of hole-in-ones at iconic courses, is just two back.<\/p>\n

Day is three back, alongside last year\u2019s runner-up Justin Rose, while the world No.1 is daring to pull off a miracle after he charged 17 places up the leaderboard with a third round 65.<\/p>\n

Three-time green jacket winner Sir Nick Faldo, who won when Greg Norman collapsed with a six-shot lead in 1996, believes it is a lot more than a two-horse race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Rory\u2019s game is just a little inconsistent, as we saw today. If he can find the switch tonight and correct it, then he\u2019s got a chance to do something special,\u201d the Englishman said on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019ve got to look at Cam Young, the way he\u2019s just stormed his way through the week after a bad start. He\u2019s obviously got a lot of confidence from winning the players. There\u2019s less negativity in his game.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Shane. He\u2019s got his best buddy. Wouldn\u2019t he like to do something. J-Day has a shot, Rosey\u2019s on a mission after last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cScottie Scheffler, remember what he did at the Olympics when he was way out of it, so he\u2019s a serious danger man. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are seven guys who genuinely have a chance to win tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for McIlroy, Faldo stressed that he cannot keep playing the way he has been and win a second straight green jacket.<\/p>\n

The Northern Irishman has been wayward off the tee, hitting just 50% of fairways for the tournament.<\/p>\n

His approach play suffered as a result in the third round.<\/p>\n

McIlroy hit only ten greens in regulation as his iron play also lapsed.<\/p>\n

\u201cRory had an opportunity. If he shot three or four under, it would be over and done with, but we\u2019ve still got all the excitement and drama stacked up for tomorrow,\u201d Faldo said on Sky Sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really know which way this is going to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cRory cannot hit short irons as poorly tomorrow and get away with it, I wouldn\u2019t have thought, because there are too many guys really breathing down his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to think one or two of them are going to have a great score on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy reacts on the 17th green.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

McIlroy leads after rocky Round 3 start | 02:35<\/p>\n

WORLD NO.2 V WORLD NO.3 SHOWDOWN<\/p>\n

It is not as spicy a final pairing as Rory McIlroy\u2019s battle with Bryson DeChambeau last year, but McIlroy\u2019s upcoming clash with Cameron Young is one for the golf purists.<\/p>\n

McIlroy and DeChambeau, who missed the cut this week, went head-to-head for a maiden green jacket with an array of sub plots hanging over them.<\/p>\n

There was, of course, the PGA Tour v LIV Golf aspect.<\/p>\n

While there was existing bad blood between the pair after McIlroy collapsed in the US Open the year prior, while DeChambeau claimed victory and later publicly taunted his rival about choking.<\/p>\n

Off the back of that, the momentum appeared to be with the American.<\/p>\n

He opted for a gladiatorial style entrance through the crowd to the first tee to establish a hostile atmosphere.<\/p>\n

It backfired a few holes later as his game unravelled.<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy reacts on the 18th green.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Once the rivalry was out of the equation, the back nine was purely about the golf.<\/p>\n

That is what McIlroy versus Young promises.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the stakes in terms of the pairing will be just a little bit easier and the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier,\u201d McIlroy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not worried about that at all. I wish I was a few shots better off, but I\u2019m comfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI played with Cam the first two days, playing with him again tomorrow. I think it\u2019s a comfortable group for both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair stand on opposite sides of the Ryder Cup divide, but Young is not a combative figure like DeChambeau.<\/p>\n

He very rarely expresses any emotion on the golf course.<\/p>\n

He was ridiculed for his lack of jubilation when he won The Players last month.<\/p>\n

But Young does not try to be anything he is not.<\/p>\n

He will attend church with his family in the morning before heading to the golf course.<\/p>\n

Once he has driven down Magnolia Lane, all of his focus will be on each shot.<\/p>\n

Until last year, Young was tarnished with the brush of not knowing how to win.<\/p>\n

He registered Seven runner-up finishes before his breakthrough PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship last August.<\/p>\n

That stretch of seconds including the 2022 Open where Australia\u2019s Cameron Smith claimed victory at St Andrews when McIlroy had appeared destined to win.<\/p>\n

History is now on Young\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

He could become the third consecutive player to win The Masters after conquering TPC Sawgrass a month prior – Scheffler and McIlroy did so the past two years.<\/p>\n

The Ryder Cup player knows he has come along way, but will still be playing the role of party pooper if he prevails.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t get the sense that I\u2019ll be the fan favourite,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I feel like the support, the fans that cheer for me, has gotten louder over the last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will still be lopsided, I think, Rory\u2019s kind of a world favourite.<\/p>\n

\u201cA year ago if I\u2019d been in the same situation, there would have been very little.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, there\u2019ll be a little more so I can take what I can get and be happy with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

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Cameron Young celebrates after a putt on the 18th hole.Source: AP<\/p>\n

SHARK COMPARISON SHUTDOWN<\/p>\n

As Rory McIlroy shot 73 on Saturday, whispers and murmurs swept through the trees at Augusta National.<\/p>\n

Until his Masters triumph last year, McIlroy was often compared to Greg Norman.<\/p>\n

Like McIlroy, \u2018The Shark\u2019 was widely regarded as the player of his generation but routinely came up short at the majors.<\/p>\n

The comparison was noted by many that McIlroy started the weekend with a six-shot lead.<\/p>\n

The same number Norman started the final round with in 1996 before melting down with a 78.<\/p>\n

When McIlroy hooked his second shot into the water at 11 and failed to get up-and-down at 12 to surrender his lead, the parallels began to be drawn.<\/p>\n

It was a comparison that was popular during the time where McIlroy played the role of spokesman for the PGA Tour in the war of words that erupted when LIV Golf emerged with the Australian as CEO.<\/p>\n

But understandably dropped away once the Northern Irishman got his green jacket.<\/p>\n

The fact he wobbled in the third round should not be a reason for it to come back, according to former professional turned broadcaster Brandel Chamblee. <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Greg won one of the four majors. He won it twice, but Rory\u2019s won every single major championship,\u201d Chamblee said on Live from The Masters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to make comparisons to his up-and-down nature, you could be Mickelson, you could be Arnold Palmer, you could be Seve Ballesteros.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think those are more accurate comparisons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy reacts on the 17th green.Source: AFP<\/p>\n

Chamblee continued: \u201cThis is why we marvel at Tiger Woods.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the rarest of athlete that comes in and can be the exact same person when he\u2019s built a significant lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen Hogan tied for the lead, 1952, here, shot 79 on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had a three-shot lead, 1954, lost it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom Watson had a five-shot lead at the PGA Championship, 1978, lost it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou pick a player. Tiger Woods had a two-shot lead 2009 at the PGA, lost it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou pick a player here. Ed Sneed had the big lead, lost it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeve Ballesteros had a ten-shot lead with nine to go, three holes later he had a three-shot lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cPick a player and they have always struggled except Tiger Woods.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we saw today from Rory was consistent with what we saw when he first burst onto the scene in 2010.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018PLAYERS HATE IT\u2019: AUSSIE\u2019S INTERESTING ADMISSION<\/p>\n

While many patrons and viewers were in awe of the birdie fest that ensued in the third round as the chasing pack reeled in Rory McIlroy, some were outraged with what they were seeing.<\/p>\n

After the first round, Shane Lowry said we might be in for the hardest Masters in recent memory.<\/p>\n

Day said the winning number was probably going to be in the single digits.<\/p>\n

But in the two days since, there have been three 65s shot.<\/p>\n

Three players are already in double digits under par with a round to play.<\/p>\n

The third round scoring average of 70.63 was the lowest in history.<\/p>\n

The nature of the tournament clearly changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s a little too soft,\u201d former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said on Live from The Masters.<\/p>\n

Warm and dry weather was tipped to cause carnage as the greens got firmer and faster.<\/p>\n

But the hosing of the putting surfaces by the ground staff has allowed the world\u2019s best to go birdie hunting.<\/p>\n

Day was pleased to see the change, saying the difference to typical Augusta weekend conditions was fair, but he enjoyed it as he shot 68.<\/p>\n

\u201cTypically sometimes you get to, you know, Saturday at Augusta and they\u2019re bouncing,\u201d Day said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really difficult to hold some shots. So I thought the green speeds were lovely. I thought the green firmness was great. It was very fair, and I think that\u2019s why you\u2019re seeing a lot of, like, decent scores out there, which brings in a lot of the crowd, which is great.\u201d<\/p>\n

While world No.1 Scottie Scheffler said that the finish to the tournament was in the hands of tournament organisers.<\/p>\n

He even joked that the could replicate the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of the trickiest stops on the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt depends on what the leadership here wants to do,\u201d Scheffler said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they want to see some lower scores, they can make them softer if they want. I mean, they\u2019re already pretty firm, so they can just go full Bay Hill and just let them die. It\u2019s Augusta. They\u2019ll figure it out after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Augusta National has also made significant changes to its course in recent times to combat the added length off the tee of the modern players.<\/p>\n

Those moves have been a point of contention with three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who missed this year\u2019s event for family reasons, taking to social media to express his disappointment with the two back nine par 5s.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s Adam Scott was asked about Phil Mickelson\u2019s comments. <\/p>\n

He admitted that the 15th, in particular, makes for great entertainment while giving players nightmares.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, this year 13 is trickier, for sure, to go for because you\u2019re just standing back further really on a big side slope, and you\u2019re weighing up. Like a lot of holes here, it\u2019s a huge risk. Big reward; huge risk. There are a lot of them on a lot of holes here,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n

\u201c15 has been in the go zone, but the green is firm. So it\u2019s just stress, but you don\u2019t want to lay up, because then you\u2019ve got to wedge in there with a hard green. So it\u2019s just a hard hole, but it\u2019s certainly in the go zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the greens are firm this year, and that\u2019s because of the weather really.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI\u2019m sure the fans love it. The players hate it, but I\u2019m sure the fans love it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think there were three 9s on Thursday on that hole. I don\u2019t know any other par-5 like it, to be perfectly honest. Yeah, I think it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australian golf fans are daring to dream that Jason Day can win the nation\u2019s second ever green jacket…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":603331,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[5487,293789,49720,64,11537,63,689,293778,6946,293798,9267,277140,293787,108977,3193,29743,10905,163509,293782,293786,293799,293791,117537,51342,25853,293794,47471,9266,293795,293801,293803,755,9262,293783,143867,181272,24416,293780,293802,293797,293052,293058,5499,6920,228208,293784,10917,677,9231,1205,159557,293793,293048,756,293788,293804,42352,10901,1656,293790,293796,289333,260902,2643,85,293781,7663,293779,47476,86315,9244,37088,120051,47480,47482,293792,293800,293785],"class_list":{"0":"post-603330","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-golf","8":"tag-adam-scott","9":"tag-approach-play","10":"tag-arnold-palmer","11":"tag-au","12":"tag-augusta-national-inc","13":"tag-australia","14":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","15":"tag-australian-eyes","16":"tag-australian-golf-fans","17":"tag-back-side","18":"tag-ben-hogan","19":"tag-birdie-fest","20":"tag-birdie-hunting","21":"tag-brandel-chamblee","22":"tag-cameron-smith","23":"tag-career-grand-slam","24":"tag-chasing-pack","25":"tag-chips-in-move","26":"tag-comfortable-group","27":"tag-crippling-back-injury","28":"tag-danger-man","29":"tag-ed-sneed","30":"tag-exclusive-club","31":"tag-family-reasons","32":"tag-fan-favourite","33":"tag-fascinating-final-pairing","34":"tag-final-group","35":"tag-final-pairing","36":"tag-final-pairing-showdown","37":"tag-five-shot-lead","38":"tag-giving-players-nightmares","39":"tag-golf","40":"tag-golf-course","41":"tag-golf-purists","42":"tag-green-jacket","43":"tag-green-jacket-winner","44":"tag-greg-norman","45":"tag-historic-change","46":"tag-history-stands","47":"tag-hostile-atmosphere","48":"tag-irish-golfer","49":"tag-irish-star","50":"tag-jason-day","51":"tag-justin-rose","52":"tag-live-ampampampampamp-exclusive","53":"tag-maiden-green","54":"tag-nick-faldo","55":"tag-oceania","56":"tag-paul-mcginley","57":"tag-phil-mickelson","58":"tag-pressure-cooker","59":"tag-putting-surfaces","60":"tag-record-six-shot-lead","61":"tag-rory-mcilroy","62":"tag-round-scoring-average","63":"tag-runner-up-career","64":"tag-runner-up-finishes","65":"tag-runner-up-honours","66":"tag-shane-lowry","67":"tag-shark-comparison","68":"tag-side-slope","69":"tag-simmering-feud","70":"tag-six-shot-lead","71":"tag-sky-sports","72":"tag-sports","73":"tag-sub-plots","74":"tag-talking-points","75":"tag-ten-shot-lead","76":"tag-three-shot-lead","77":"tag-three-time-champion","78":"tag-tiger-woods","79":"tag-tom-watson","80":"tag-tournament-organisers","81":"tag-two-horse-race","82":"tag-two-shot-lead","83":"tag-v-world","84":"tag-weekend-conditions","85":"tag-world-favourite"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=603330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/603330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/603331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=603330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=603330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=603330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}