Australian golf followers are daring to dream that Jason Day can win the nation’s second ever inexperienced jacket after a chaotic transferring day at The Masters.
Rory McIlroy squandered his file six-shot lead, throwing the match broad open with a legend declaring that a lot of the high ten have a sensible shot at successful.
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McIlroy’s stumble has created a captivating ultimate pairing showdown between two of the world’s greatest that gives a totally completely different narrative to his battle with Bryson DeChambeau a yr in the past.
In the meantime, a comparability between McIlroy and a polarising Australian nice resurfaced, to the disgust of considered one of golf’s most outstanding voices.
Augusta Nationwide itself was additionally within the highlight.
Many have been left disillusioned by a serious change carried out by the match organisers that led to a record-breaking third spherical.
Scroll down for the most important speaking factors from the third spherical of the 2026 Masters!
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Day speaks on stellar Spherical 3 exhibiting | 01:59
COULD SUNDAY BE JASON’S DAY?
It’d lastly be Jason Day’s time.
The 38-year-old former world No.1 has put a inexperienced jacket inside hanging distance as he heads into the ultimate spherical simply three photographs behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Younger.
Day has a captivating historical past with Augusta Nationwide.
That is fifteenth Masters appearances and he has 5 high tens beneath his belt.
He’s nicely versed within the strain cooker that it’s Masters Sunday.
On debut in 2011, Day shared runner-up honours with countryman Adam Scott as Charl Schwartzel birdied the final 4 holes to spoil the celebration.
Two years later, Day completed third, having been within the hunt to virtually the very finish, as Scott broke Australia’s Augusta drought in a playoff.
Even final yr, Day couldn’t be counted out till two late bogeys diminished him to a share of eighth.
After so many close to miss, it’d lastly be the 38-year-old’s time.
Eleven years have previous since he gained his sole main championship so far at that PGA Championship.
He’s additionally considered one of solely 4 gamers in historical past to safe the undesirable runner-up profession grand slam – having come second in any respect 4 majors.
It’s a resume that feels prefer it deserves extra.
A victory would even be a outstanding triumph contemplating 4 years in the past, Day didn’t even play The Masters as a crippling again harm threatened to derail his profession.
Whereas others might really feel the load of attempting to lastly breakthrough at Augusta, Day believes he’s the contender who can play with whole freedom.
“I really feel like the fellows which might be main proper now have all of the strain,” Day mentioned.
“I’m the chaser. Normally the chasers don’t actually have plenty of the strain. Guys on the high of the leaderboard at all times are attempting to defend the lead, whereas I’m pushing ahead attempting to chop into the lead.
“I be ok with my sport. I really feel very pleased with the place issues are. I’m wanting ahead to the problem at the very least.
“If I can get myself across the lead on the again aspect, I’ll be very happy.”
One of many key points of Day’s play to date has been his spectacular means to restrict errors.
Throughout 54 holes, he has made solely 5 bogeys.
Solely two gamers within the subject have had fewer blemishes on their scorecards.
Day is aware of he can cling robust to present himself an opportunity when The Masters actually begins, on the again 9 on Sunday, because the saying goes.
“You’ve simply received to attempt to get your self the chance on the again aspect,” Day mentioned.
“If you may get someplace near the lead on the again aspect, something can occur.
“The purpose is to attempt to minimize into the lead tomorrow by way of 9, and if I can try this, nice, then get myself someplace close to the lead on the again aspect and attempt to give myself alternatives.”
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‘SEVEN GUYS HAVE A CHANCE’
Whereas all Australian eyes are on Day, a person who helped break the nation’s hearts 30 years in the past mentioned the ultimate spherical is probably the most broad open in a number of years.
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Younger will go head-to-head within the ultimate pairing.
However they’re just one shot away from Sam Burns and Shane Lowry, who added to his illustrious checklist of hole-in-ones at iconic programs, is simply two again.
Day is three again, alongside final yr’s runner-up Justin Rose, whereas the world No.1 is daring to tug off a miracle after he charged 17 locations up the leaderboard with a 3rd spherical 65.
Three-time inexperienced jacket winner Sir Nick Faldo, who gained when Greg Norman collapsed with a six-shot lead in 1996, believes it’s much more than a two-horse race.
“I believe Rory’s sport is just a bit inconsistent, as we noticed at present. If he can discover the swap tonight and proper it, then he’s received an opportunity to do one thing particular,” the Englishman mentioned on Sky Sports activities.
“However I’ve received to take a look at Cam Younger, the best way he’s simply stormed his manner by way of the week after a foul begin. He’s clearly received plenty of confidence from successful the gamers. There’s much less negativity in his sport.
“Perhaps Shane. He’s received his greatest buddy. Wouldn’t he love to do one thing. J-Day has a shot, Rosey’s on a mission after final yr.
“Scottie Scheffler, bear in mind what he did on the Olympics when he was manner out of it, so he’s a severe hazard man.
“There are seven guys who genuinely have an opportunity to win tomorrow.”
As for McIlroy, Faldo confused that he can’t preserve taking part in the best way he has been and win a second straight inexperienced jacket.
The Northern Irishman has been wayward off the tee, hitting simply 50% of fairways for the match.
His method play suffered because of this within the third spherical.
McIlroy hit solely ten greens in regulation as his iron play additionally lapsed.
“Rory had a possibility. If he shot three or 4 beneath, it could be over and finished with, however we’ve nonetheless received all the joy and drama stacked up for tomorrow,” Faldo mentioned on Sky Sports activities.
“I don’t actually know which manner that is going to go.
“Rory can’t hit brief irons as poorly tomorrow and get away with it, I wouldn’t have thought, as a result of there are too many guys actually respiratory down his neck.
“You’ve received to suppose one or two of them are going to have a fantastic rating on Sunday.”
McIlroy leads after rocky Spherical 3 begin | 02:35
WORLD NO.2 V WORLD NO.3 SHOWDOWN
It’s not as spicy a ultimate pairing as Rory McIlroy’s battle with Bryson DeChambeau final yr, however McIlroy’s upcoming conflict with Cameron Younger is one for the golf purists.
McIlroy and DeChambeau, who missed the minimize this week, went head-to-head for a maiden inexperienced jacket with an array of sub plots hanging over them.
There was, after all, the PGA Tour v LIV Golf side.
Whereas there was current unhealthy blood between the pair after McIlroy collapsed within the US Open the yr prior, whereas DeChambeau claimed victory and later publicly taunted his rival about choking.
Off the again of that, the momentum gave the impression to be with the American.
He opted for a gladiatorial type entrance by way of the gang to the primary tee to determine a hostile ambiance.
It backfired a couple of holes later as his sport unravelled.
As soon as the rivalry was out of the equation, the again 9 was purely in regards to the golf.
That’s what McIlroy versus Younger guarantees.
“I believe the stakes by way of the pairing will probably be just a bit bit simpler and the ambiance on the market will probably be a little bit bit simpler,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I’m not anxious about that in any respect. I want I used to be a couple of photographs higher off, however I’m snug.
“I performed with Cam the primary two days, taking part in with him once more tomorrow. I believe it’s a cushty group for each of us.”
The pair stand on reverse sides of the Ryder Cup divide, however Younger will not be a combative determine like DeChambeau.
He very not often expresses any emotion on the golf course.
He was ridiculed for his lack of jubilation when he gained The Gamers final month.
However Younger doesn’t attempt to be something he’s not.
He’ll attend church along with his household within the morning earlier than heading to the golf course.
As soon as he has pushed down Magnolia Lane, all of his focus will probably be on every shot.
Till final yr, Younger was tarnished with the comb of not figuring out find out how to win.
He registered Seven runner-up finishes earlier than his breakthrough PGA Tour win on the Wyndham Championship final August.
That stretch of seconds together with the 2022 Open the place Australia’s Cameron Smith claimed victory at St Andrews when McIlroy had appeared destined to win.
Historical past is now on Younger’s aspect.
He may develop into the third consecutive participant to win The Masters after conquering TPC Sawgrass a month prior – Scheffler and McIlroy did so the previous two years.
The Ryder Cup participant is aware of he has come alongside manner, however will nonetheless be taking part in the position of celebration pooper if he prevails.
“I don’t get the sense that I’ll be the fan favorite,” Younger mentioned.
“However I really feel just like the assist, the followers that cheer for me, has gotten louder over the past yr.
“It’s going to nonetheless be lopsided, I believe, Rory’s type of a world favorite.
“A yr in the past if I’d been in the identical state of affairs, there would have been little or no.
“Now, there’ll be a little bit extra so I can take what I can get and be pleased with that.”
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SHARK COMPARISON SHUTDOWN
As Rory McIlroy shot 73 on Saturday, whispers and murmurs swept by way of the bushes at Augusta Nationwide.
Till his Masters triumph final yr, McIlroy was usually in comparison with Greg Norman.
Like McIlroy, ‘The Shark’ was extensively thought to be the participant of his era however routinely got here up brief on the majors.
The comparability was famous by many who McIlroy began the weekend with a six-shot lead.
The identical quantity Norman began the ultimate spherical with in 1996 earlier than melting down with a 78.
When McIlroy hooked his second shot into the water at 11 and did not get up-and-down at 12 to give up his lead, the parallels started to be drawn.
It was a comparability that was well-liked throughout the time the place McIlroy performed the position of spokesman for the PGA Tour within the disagreement that erupted when LIV Golf emerged with the Australian as CEO.
However understandably dropped away as soon as the Northern Irishman received his inexperienced jacket.
The actual fact he wobbled within the third spherical shouldn’t be a cause for it to come back again, in keeping with former skilled turned broadcaster Brandel Chamblee.
“Look, Greg gained one of many 4 majors. He gained it twice, however Rory’s gained each single main championship,” Chamblee mentioned on Stay from The Masters.
“If you wish to make comparisons to his up-and-down nature, you may be Mickelson, you may be Arnold Palmer, you may be Seve Ballesteros.
“I believe these are extra correct comparisons.”
Chamblee continued: “Because of this we marvel at Tiger Woods.
“It’s the rarest of athlete that is available in and may be the very same particular person when he’s constructed a big lead.
“Ben Hogan tied for the lead, 1952, right here, shot 79 on Sunday.
“He had a three-shot lead, 1954, misplaced it.
“Tom Watson had a five-shot lead on the PGA Championship, 1978, misplaced it.
“You choose a participant. Tiger Woods had a two-shot lead 2009 on the PGA, misplaced it.
“You choose a participant right here. Ed Sneed had the massive lead, misplaced it.
“Seve Ballesteros had a ten-shot lead with 9 to go, three holes later he had a three-shot lead.
“Choose a participant and so they have at all times struggled besides Tiger Woods.
“What we noticed at present from Rory was in keeping with what we noticed when he first burst onto the scene in 2010.”
‘PLAYERS HATE IT’: AUSSIE’S INTERESTING ADMISSION
Whereas many patrons and viewers have been in awe of the birdie fest that ensued within the third spherical because the chasing pack reeled in Rory McIlroy, some have been outraged with what they have been seeing.
After the primary spherical, Shane Lowry mentioned we may be in for the toughest Masters in current reminiscence.
Day mentioned the successful quantity was most likely going to be within the single digits.
However within the two days since, there have been three 65s shot.
Three gamers are already in double digits beneath par with a spherical to play.
The third spherical scoring common of 70.63 was the bottom in historical past.
The character of the match clearly modified.
“I believe it’s a little bit too comfortable,” former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley mentioned on Stay from The Masters.
Heat and dry climate was tipped to trigger carnage because the greens received firmer and sooner.
However the hosing of the placing surfaces by the bottom workers has allowed the world’s greatest to go birdie searching.
Day was happy to see the change, saying the distinction to typical Augusta weekend circumstances was truthful, however he loved it as he shot 68.
“Sometimes typically you get to, , Saturday at Augusta and so they’re bouncing,” Day mentioned.
“It’s actually troublesome to carry some photographs. So I assumed the inexperienced speeds have been beautiful. I assumed the inexperienced firmness was nice. It was very reasonable, and I believe that’s why you’re seeing plenty of, like, first rate scores on the market, which brings in plenty of the gang, which is nice.”
Whereas world No.1 Scottie Scheffler mentioned that the end to the match was within the fingers of match organisers.
He even joked that the may replicate the Arnold Palmer Invitational, one of many trickiest stops on the PGA Tour.
“It is dependent upon what the management right here desires to do,” Scheffler mentioned.
“In the event that they need to see some decrease scores, they’ll make them softer if they need. I imply, they’re already fairly agency, to allow them to simply go full Bay Hill and simply allow them to die. It’s Augusta. They’ll determine it out after that.”
Augusta Nationwide has additionally made important adjustments to its course in current occasions to fight the added size off the tee of the trendy gamers.
These strikes have been some extent of rivalry with three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who missed this yr’s occasion for household causes, taking to social media to precise his disappointment with the 2 again 9 par 5s.
Australia’s Adam Scott was requested about Phil Mickelson’s feedback.
He admitted that the fifteenth, specifically, makes for excellent leisure whereas giving gamers nightmares.
“Effectively, this yr 13 is trickier, for positive, to go for since you’re simply standing again additional actually on a giant aspect slope, and also you’re weighing up. Like plenty of holes right here, it’s an enormous threat. Massive reward; large threat. There are plenty of them on plenty of holes right here,” Scott mentioned.
“15 has been within the go zone, however the inexperienced is agency. So it’s simply stress, however you don’t need to lay up, as a result of then you definitely’ve received to wedge in there with a tough inexperienced. So it’s only a laborious gap, but it surely’s definitely within the go zone.
“However the greens are agency this yr, and that’s due to the climate actually.”
He added: “I’m positive the followers adore it. The gamers hate it, however I’m positive the followers adore it.
“I believe there have been three 9s on Thursday on that gap. I don’t know every other par-5 prefer it, to be completely sincere. Yeah, I believe it’s nice.”