2026 Masters Final Round Preview: McIlroy and Young Share Lead Heading into Championship Sunday

The 2026 Masters reaches its climactic finale with defending champion Rory McIlroy no longer holding a comfortable lead after Saturday's struggles at Augusta National.

Leaderboard Shakeup

McIlroy entered Saturday with a commanding six-shot advantage but encountered accuracy issues throughout his third round. His most costly mistake came at the 11th hole, where he found water with his second shot, leading to a double bogey. He signed for 73 (+1), dropping to 11-under par heading into the final round.

Meanwhile, Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler fired matching 65s (-7) to dramatically close the gap. Young surged into a tie for the lead with McIlroy, positioning himself for his first major championship victory. Scheffler moved to 7-under par, sitting four shots back in third place.

Sunday Viewing Guide

Television Coverage: CBS provides final-round coverage from 2-7 p.m. ET Streaming Options: Multiple platforms including Masters.com, Masters App, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, and ESPN App begin coverage at 10:15 a.m. ET

The final pairing of Young and McIlroy tees off at 2:25 p.m. ET, setting up a compelling battle for the Green Jacket.

Championship Implications

With Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Sam Burns, and Jason Day also in contention, Sunday's final round promises high drama as multiple players vie for major championship glory at Augusta National.