Juddering McIlroy simply can't stop riding Masters rollercoaster
Rory McIlroy says he will have to play better on Sunday if he is to defend his Masters title after letting slip a six-shot lead at Augusta National.
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Notable Quotes
"I knew it wouldn't be easy, the quality of the chasing pack is obvious."
— Rory McIlroy , Athlete
"I will go to the range and figure it out. I still have a great chance, but if I am going to win I will have to play better."
— Rory McIlroy , Athlete
"I will have to play better on Sunday if I am to defend my Masters title."
— Rory McIlroy , Athlete
"I have always wanted to put the Green Jacket on for a second time."
— Patrick Reed , Athlete
"I’m happy. Obviously there is a long way to go but having a late tee time on Saturday afternoon is always a nice place to be in."
— Shane Lowry , Athlete
"I think my results have got better the last few years, which is nice."
— Tyrrell Hatton , Athlete
Key People
Cameron Young is an American golfer who competed in The Open Championship.
Iain Carter is a BBC golf correspondent.
Justin Rose is a professional golfer from England.
Kristoffer Reitan is a professional golfer from Norway, recognized for his strong performances in various tours.
An American professional golfer and winner of the 2018 Masters.
Rory McIlroy is a professional golfer and Masters champion from Northern Ireland.
Sam Burns is a professional golfer from the United States.
Shane Lowry is an Irish golfer and former Open champion.
Tiger Woods is a professional golfer and one of the most famous athletes in sports history.
Tommy Fleetwood is a professional golfer from England.
Tyrrell Hatton is an English professional golfer known for his performance on the LIV Golf Tour.
Tags
All Coverage
Rory McIlroy says he will have to play better on Sunday if he is to defend his Masters title after letting slip a six-shot lead at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy holds a commanding six-shot lead heading into the third round of the 2026 Masters in Augusta, Georgia, following an exceptional second-round 65, highlighted by six birdies in his final seven holes.
At the 2026 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, the championship prize purse has reached a record $22.5 million, the highest among the four golf majors. The winner is set to earn $4.5 million—an increase from the $4.2 million awarded last year.
After spending 16 years as the hunter, Rory McIlroy is relishing his position as the hunted. The defending Masters champion has reached the halfway point of the 2026 staging in a style that asserts his desperation to hang on to the Green Jacket.
Rory McIlroy surged into the lead at the 2026 Masters after an impressive second round, where he birdied six of the final seven holes to reach 12-under-par. He holds a commanding six-shot lead heading into the weekend as he aims to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win back-to-back Masters titles.
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