Round 3 of the Masters is set to get underway Saturday at Augusta National, with Rory McIlroy holding a commanding lead and all eyes on whether the four-time major champion can maintain control on moving day.
McIlroy enters the third round at 12-under, six shots clear of the field after a dominant performance through 36 holes that has separated him from the pack and put him in position to take full control of the tournament.
Trailing him are Sam Burns and Patrick Reed at 6-under, while a group at 5-under — including Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Shane Lowry — remains within striking distance if the leaderboard tightens early Saturday.
With Augusta National historically known for dramatic swings on moving day, Round 3 presents a pivotal opportunity for contenders to apply pressure — or for McIlroy to extend his lead even further heading into Sunday.
This post will be updated throughout the day with live leaderboard movement, key moments, and notable performances from Augusta National.
Masters 2026 Round 3 Leaderboard Updates
(Updates will be added here throughout the day — most recent at the top)
End of Round 3: Rory McIlroy will enter Sunday at the Masters Tournament tied for the lead after a dramatic shift late Saturday at Augusta National.
McIlroy sits at 11-under par through three rounds, alongside Cameron Young, who surged into a share of the lead with a standout 7-under round on Saturday.
After beginning the day with a commanding multi-shot advantage, McIlroy’s Round 3 turned turbulent on the back nine, including a costly double bogey at the par-4 11th that opened the door for the chasing pack.
6:05 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy is now tied for the lead at 11-under par through 14 holes in Round 3 at Augusta National, alongside Cameron Young, who posted a 7-under round to reach 11-under for the tournament.
Young briefly grabbed the solo lead earlier in the afternoon after charging up the leaderboard, but McIlroy has since steadied to pull even heading into the final stretch.
After holding a six-shot advantage entering the day, McIlroy has played his third round in 1-over par through 14 holes, allowing the field to tighten dramatically behind him.
Sam Burns sits alone in third at 10-under through 14 holes, while Shane Lowry is fourth at 9-under through 15.
A group at 8-under includes Li Haotong, Jason Day, and Justin Rose, all still within striking distance entering the final holes of Round 3.
5:15 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy leads the Masters at 13-under through 10 holes in Round 3, holding a two-shot advantage over Cameron Young, who sits at 11-under with four holes remaining in his round.
A group including Li Haotong, Sam Burns and Shane Lowry is further back at 8-under, leaving limited margin for error as the leaders move into the back nine at Augusta National.
Further down the board, Scottie Scheffler has posted 7-under after completing his round, while Patrick Reed sits at 6-under through 10 holes. With McIlroy beginning the inward half, the pressure now shifts squarely to the chasing pack to make a move before the gap widens further.
4:05 p.m. ET: Rory McIlroy leads the Masters at 12-under through six holes in Round 3, holding a three-shot advantage as the leaderboard tightens behind him. Cameron Young and Li Haotong are both at 9-under, with Shane Lowry and Sam Burns at 8-under and within striking distance heading into the middle portion of their rounds.
Further back, Scottie Scheffler remains near even for the day and has work to do to close the gap, while Patrick Reed sits at 6-under. With the leaders now well into their rounds, the next stretch at Augusta National will be critical in determining whether the chasing pack can apply real pressure.
2:20 p.m. ET: The leaderboard is beginning to take shape early in Round 3, though several of the top contenders have yet to tee off. Rory McIlroy remains the clubhouse leader at 12-under ahead of his afternoon start, with Sam Burns and Patrick Reed currently tied at 6-under. Early movers including Brooks Koepka and Matthew Fitzpatrick have posted solid starts, but the tournament’s direction will be decided once the final groups get underway.
12:15 p.m. ET: Early movement on the leaderboard has tightened things up as Round 3 gets underway at Augusta National. Players from the morning wave — including Alex Noren and Jon Rahm — have moved near the top, though many of the tournament’s biggest names have yet to tee off.
Masters Round 3 Tee Times and Featured Groups
Saturday’s tee sheet is loaded with marquee pairings, with the leaders set to tee off in the afternoon as the tournament builds toward a critical third round.
Notable tee times (all times ET):
- 1:33 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, Brooks Koepka
- 1:55 p.m. – Jason Day, Cameron Young
- 2:06 p.m. – Haotong Li, Kristoffer Reitan
- 2:17 p.m. – Wyndham Clark, Tyrrell Hatton
- 2:28 p.m. – Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood
- 2:39 p.m. – Patrick Reed, Justin Rose
- 2:50 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns
Earlier in the day, players like Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, and Collin Morikawa will look to climb the leaderboard and post scores that could apply pressure to the leaders later in the afternoon.
Rory McIlroy Takes Control Into Moving Day
McIlroy’s position atop the leaderboard represents the defining story of the tournament heading into Saturday.
He followed an opening-round 67 with a blistering 7-under performance in Round 2, eliminating the big mistakes that have plagued him in past Masters appearances and building a significant cushion over the field.
With a six-shot lead, McIlroy has the advantage — but Augusta National has a long history of punishing even the smallest mistakes, particularly on moving day.
Maintaining composure while continuing to capitalize on scoring opportunities will be critical as he looks to carry momentum into the final round.
Who Can Make a Move on Saturday?
Despite McIlroy’s lead, several players remain within range if the leaderboard begins to shift.
Sam Burns and Patrick Reed sit closest at 6-under and will be paired in the final group with McIlroy, giving them a direct opportunity to apply pressure.
Just behind them, a group at 5-under — including Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Shane Lowry — will need to go low early to close the gap and force movement at the top.
With scoring chances available on the back nine, particularly at holes 13 and 15, the leaderboard can change quickly if momentum shifts.
Masters 2026 Round 3 Leaderboard: Live Updates from Augusta National