McIlroy controls Masters’ outcome
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 US Masters | Round Three | 10 Apr 2011
21 year old Rory McIlroy takes a four shot lead into tomorrow’s final round of the 2011 Masters Tournament, his strong finishing burst in round three breaking him clear of an otherwise congested leaderboard.
MCIlroy, at 12 under, is clear of four players who share second position namely Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day with another shot back to Adam Scott and Luke Donald.
To perhaps state the obvious this is now McIlroys’ tournament to win or lose. It would seem that if he can break par tomorrow – or perhaps even shoot par – he is likely to be crowned the champion but if he was to stumble in the slightest then as many as a dozen or so, maybe even more, players are close enough to take their opportunity with one great final round.
What a prospect and amongst those in the thick of things are two Australians in Day and Scott. Geoff Ogilvy is not yet completely out of it either although he would not only need something very special tomorrow but also more than a little help from the leader.
McIlroy led through the turn by one over Day and Choi but when he bogeyed the 10th after missing the green all three were tied at 9 under. Choi bogeyed the 11th and 12th – the latter after missing a very realistic birdie chance – but there were other challenges coming from further back.
Angel Cabrera, the winner of this event two years ago, played an hour and twenty minutes ahead of the final pairing of Day and McIlroy and put together a round of 67 to get within one of McIlroy and Day when he finished his round.
Adam Scott was another to make a big move from back in the field. When he birdied the 15th he had moved to 8 under himself but he would drop shots at the 16th and 17th and although he birdied the 17th from close range he would finish at 7 under and ultimately five behind the lead. Despite the three bogeys today however his round of 67 was impressive and something similar tomorrow might yet be good enough.
Asked afterwards about Jason Day and the role he himself might have played in Day’s development on the PGA Tour Scott was quick to respond. “I don’t know. It’s hard to mentor a guy who is beating me. (Laughter) Maybe he’s got some advice for me. I don’t really think I’m at that point, but Jason and I have known each other for a fair while now. At 23 or 22, I don’t know, he’s pretty young. He’s already achieved so much.
“I think I should stay out of his way really and let him do what he’s doing, because he’s doing everything right it seems. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and obviously looks to me, from where I sit, he works very hard. He’s passionate about it. So I think he’s doing a lot of things right. I don’t need to tell him too much.”
Charl Schwartzel was another to make a lot of ground on day three. The South African finished his round of 68, 50 minutes ahead of the final pairing and when he did he was only two behind MciIroy as he walked from the final green.
Back on the golf course, McIlroy edged ahead when he birdied the 13th to Day’s faltering bogey and the difference was two. McIlroy would two putt the par five 15th for yet another birdie but Day was able to match him with an excellent birdie putt after so nearly finding the water.
McIlroy’s coupe de grace however would come at the 17th when he was left from the tee but found the back edge of the green with his second. From 35 feet, the double breaking putt poured in the middle of the hole and at 12 under he led by four. He had one last opportunity at the 18th from 18 feet but it was never a genuine chance and those behind on the leader-board were at least given a ray of hope.
MCIlroy described the secret to his effort today. “Patience and patience. Yeah, I stuck to my game plan really well, stayed really patient. You know, things weren’t going that well for me, 1-over through 12 holes, and then played the last six holes in 3-under. It was great. Yeah, that was the key thing for me, just really staying patient.”
Day was also aware of how difficult it might be to get past the Northern Irishman tomorrow. “Well, Rory, the way he’s hitting the ball, he can pretty much go out there and he can shoot a couple under par I think and probably win. There are a lot of guys, four shots back, so there’s a lot of pressure on us to obviously go out there and score early and try and put some pressure on him so he can make some mistakes I guess. But, you know, he’s very mentally tough. He’s a great golfer, and if he wins this thing tomorrow, he deserves it, definitely.”
Tiger Woods had his moments and said after his round that he had actually played well but missed several chances. I know what he is suggesting but if you do not convert your chances you have not played well.
You might have struck the ball when and created many opportunities but this game is not about the chances you create but how you convert them. His bogey at the last after appearing to miss-club from the fairway led to one final bogey and at 5 under and a massive seven shots from the lead his task appears too great.
Pre tournament favourite Phil Mickelson is at 3 under and nine shots from the lead. He would need at least a 64 tomorrow and even then that may not be good enough.
Aaron Baddeley was the only other Australians to make the cut but after three quick birdies he dropped six shots in the next five holes to finish with 74 and is at 3 over.
