McIlroy takes 4-shot lead after three rounds at Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – It was a roar that defines the Masters, so loud it startled even Tiger Woods.

Rory McIlroy, who already dazzled the crowd with a shot through the pines to the back of the 17th green, raised the putter in his left hand as the birdie putt turned toward the hole, then slammed his right fist when the ball disappeared into the cup.

The cheer was so clamorous that Woods, who had settled over his shot in the 18th fairway, had to back away. After all these years of crushing the hopes of so many others, the four-time Masters champ finally felt what it was like on the other end.

That moment – and right now, this Masters – belongs to McIlroy.

“I had been waiting on a putt to drop all day,” McIlroy said Saturday. “And for it to drop there, it was great timing.”

It sent the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland to a 2-under-par 70 and gave him a four-shot lead going into today, the largest 54-hole lead at the Masters since a 21-year-old Woods led by nine in 1997.

Woods is not close to him after a 74 to finish seven shots behind. Chasing after McIlroy are former Masters champion Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day.

“It’s a great position to be in,” McIlroy said. “I feel comfortable with my game, comfortable with the way I prepared, and all of a sudden I’m finally feeling comfortable on this golf course. With a combination like that, you’re going to feel pretty good.”

He is making it look easy.

That bounce in his step turned into a swagger as he walked to the 18th tee, ripped another drive and walked toward the green to a loud ovation – perhaps a preview to a coronation.

Following him around Augusta National was U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who missed the cut but didn’t want to miss out on his countryman having a chance to give Europe another major.

“He just texted me and told me he loves me,” McIlroy said. “I don’t know if that’s him or the beer talking. No, it’s great to see him out there and I appreciate his support. He’s going to know how I’m feeling. Here’s a major champion and he got it done last year at Pebble. Hopefully, I can emulate that feeling and get a major myself.”

McIlroy was at 12-under 204 and will play in the final group today with Cabrera, who won the Masters two years ago and is the only major champion within six shots of McIlroy.

Cabrera has fallen to No. 97 in the world, with only two top 10s in the last year. He didn’t think he had much of a chance when he arrived at Augusta, but he’s starting to believe after a 67.

“Now that I see that I’m playing well, I sure think I can do it,” Cabrera said.

The group at 8-under 208 also includes Schwartzel (68), Choi (71) and Day, the 23-year-old Australian who took the lead on the front nine with a long birdie on No. 5, but paid for his aggressive putting and had to settle for a 72.

The challenge from Woods, who started the third round only three shots behind, never materialized.

He squandered birdie chances with a fairway metal that went too long on the par-5 eighth, a 5-foot birdie putt that never had a chance on No. 9, a shocking miss for par from 2 feet on No. 11 and a three-putt par on the 15th after an amazing hook around the trees that barely cleared the water.

“The way he played yesterday, you would expect him to come and play well,” McIlroy said. “Sometimes it happens, and sometimes it doesn’t. But as I said, I really don’t care about anyone else in this golf tournament, other than myself.”

Woods ended his streak of 16 rounds at par or better at a major he won four times.