Masters 2011: How Will Rory McIlroy Handle Sunday Pressure at Augusta?

Rory McIlroy has held the lead at the 2011 Masters Tournament since day one.

And if his play in sweltering heat during the third round today—also known as "moving day"—is any indication of what we are to expect from him tomorrow, there's a good chance he'll walk off the 18th green and into a green jacket.

McIlroy fired a two-under-par 70 this afternoon as he increased the size of his lead to four shots over the nearest competitors. Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day are all at eight-under-par heading into Sunday's final round.

"It's a great position to be in," McIlroy said during his post-round presser. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."

True, it's better to be up by four shots than to trail by that margin. But while McIlroy's play has been nothing short of impressive thus far, Sunday at Augusta is an altogether different situation to find yourself in.

Just ask Greg Norman, whose six shot lead in 1996 disappeared amidst a Sunday meltdown that saw Nick Faldo winning by an extraordinary five shots.

Or Ken Venturi. In 1956, his four shot lead evaporated with a final round 80 as Jack Burke Jr. walked away with the victory.

It certainly isn't a given that a seemingly wet-behind-the-ears, 21-year-old Masters rookie will hold onto his 54-hole lead without a struggle. As evidence, each of his three rounds has scored progressively worse than the previous one.

But when you consider the way he's handled the pressure so far, with a mere three bogeys during three rounds of golf, you have to like his chances to successfully finish what he started.

"Four shots on this golf course is not that much," McIlroy said. "I have to, in my mind, start tomorrow fresh and just play solid golf."