The defending Masters champion, Rory McIlroy, spoke to the media on Saturday evening and said what everyone could already see.

McIlroy started the third round with a big lead, something most players don’t get in a major. But by the end, he was tied at the top with Cameron Young. He shot one-over-par 73, while others took advantage of the course and caught up.

“Yeah, didn't quite have it today. Yeah, even just starting at the first hole with that soft bogey, even though I hit a pretty good drive," McIlroy said in a clip posted by Flushing It on X.

He didn’t make excuses, and in fact, there was a reason for it.

The front nine was hard, and he had to work a lot, saving pars in tough spots. A birdie on 10 felt like things were getting better, but then came 11. His second shot went into the water because of the wind, scoring an unfortunate double bogey.

Although the Birdies on 14 and 15 kept him going, a bogey on 17 hurt him at a bad time.

"The course was obviously gettable. There were a lot of good scores out there," he said.

Young showed that perfectly, shooting a 65 in the third round to catch up. Many others are close behind, too, setting up a tense Sunday with no clear favorite.

Can Rory McIlroy Bounce Back on Sunday?

McIlroy went straight to the driving range after his media duties. His shots were going left and right during the round, and he knew why.

“I think it’s just about keeping my lower body moving through impact. That should fix it.”

Mentally, he still has something to build on.

"I'd like to think I'll play a little bit freer, like I've already got a Green Jacket, which I do," he said. "Sometimes I just have to remind myself of that."

He won here in 2025. If he wins again, he would join Tiger Woods, the last player to win back-to-back Masters titles in 2002.

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

Sunday is wide open, and McIlroy needs a strong round.

Can Rory McIlroy still pull it off and win the Green Jacket on Sunday, or is this one slipping away for good? Let us know below!

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kalp Thaker