Everything Rory McIlroy, Cam Young Said After Moving Into Tie for Lead on Masters Leaderboard

Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy said he "didn't quite have it" Saturday while watching his historic six-stroke lead evaporate during the third round at Augusta National.

McIlroy, who gained the largest 36-hole advantage in Masters history through two rounds, fell back down the leaderboard after hitting a 1-over 73 on Saturday.

Cameron Young, meanwhile, recorded a 7-under 65 to grab a share of McIlroy's lead heading into Sunday's final round.

"I'm still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can't forget that, but I do know I'm going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win," McIlroy said after Saturday's round.

He continued: "This golf course has a way of, when you're not quite feeling it, you struggle, and you have to dig deep."

"I'd like to think that I'll play a little bit freer, and I'll play like I've already got a green jacket, which I do," McIlroy said about Sunday. "Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that."

The Masters has been topped in each of the past two years by the winner of THE PLAYERS Championship, with Scottie Scheffler winning both tournaments in 2024 before McIlroy repeated the feat in 2025.

Young is now looking to follow in their footsteps after a recording one of the largest final-round comebacks in tournament history last month at TPC Sawgrass.

He had to rally again this weekend at Augusta National after heading into the weekend eight strokes back of the lead. Only Jack Burke Jr., who won the Masters in 1958, has come back from a larger deficit to don a green jacket.

"Just got off to one of those starts. Everything I did was not quite right, and this place will take it to you when it's going that way," Young told CBS' Jim Nantz. "So it's really just a turnaround of really small things."

Young recovered over the next two days by converting a combined 14 birdies on Friday and Saturday, including four on the back nine on Saturday.

"There certainly is no lead that's safe out here, but at the same time, Rory loves it here, and he's obviously playing some great golf, so I don't think anyone would have been surprised if he went out and shot 65 today, too," Young said. "It's just one of those times that, if he does open the door, you have to take advantage, and thankfully I was able to get myself a little closer here today."

He also said he's expecting the crowd at Augusta National to be pulling for McIlroy during the final round.

"I feel like the support, some fans that cheer for me have gotten louder over the last year," Young said. "It will still be lopsided, I think. Rory's kind of a world favorite."

Four other players are heading into Sunday within three strokes of Young and McIlroy's lead, including Sam Burns, Shane Lowry, Jason Day and 2025 runner-up Justin Rose.

Young will continue to eye his first major victory, while McIlroy will continue his bid for his sixth win when the pair tees off at 2:25 p.m. ET Sunday.