Comment: Rory McIlroy's swing and a miss Saturday at the Masters gives him work to do to retain green jacket
Rory McIlroy find himself under pressure for the first time this week at The Masters after posting a one-over-par 73 on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy’s game plan for moving day at the Masters was to ‘keep swinging’.
It was the ploy he hatched to keep his rivals at bay after going into the third day at Augusta National with a six-shot lead at 12-under.
It was the biggest lead the Masters had experienced after 36 holes of competition.
However, the plan of action was more reminiscent of a swing and a miss as the reigning champion succumbed to the chasing pack.
In fairness, the Holywood man still occupies the top spot on the leaderboard after carding a one-over-par round of 73.
Yet he’s not alone there now, with playing partner over the first two days, Cam Young, joining him at the top of the standings on 11 under after he posted a third-round score of seven-under par (65).
Meanwhile, the rest of the pursuing group have also closed in on world number 2. Sam Burns (-10), Shane Lowry (-9) Jason Day, Justin Rose (both -8) and two-time green jacket winner and world number 1 Scottie Scheffler (-7) all posted below-par scores on Saturday as they reeled McIlroy in.
On Friday, it was the back nine that propelled the Ulsterman seemingly out of sight of his rivals. It was his undoing 24 hours later, though. A double bogey at 11 was then immediately followed by a bogey on 12.
Quick-fire birdies at holes 14 and 15 looked to have salvaged the situation somewhat. However, another bogey on 17 meant McIlroy posted his first over-par round of the week around Augusta National.
His trusted short-game and putting all of a sudden let the Ulsterman down, with his troubles off the tee on Thursday and Friday showing little sign of improvement, either.
There’s clearly some work and thinking to do before Sunday’s final round, as witnessed by McIlroy taking to the practice ground immediately after his third round.
And if the strategy to keep swinging remains, he needs to quickly redicover the killer touch he displayed earlier in the week if a second green jacket is to don his shoulders.