2026 Masters LIVE: Rory McIlroy begins nervy battle to retain his inexperienced jacket after Augusta meltdown

After much deliberation with caddie Harry Diamond, McIlroy gives himself a great look for a birdie at the first.

He hits it just over the pin, using the bank to take the momentum out of the shot and roll it slightly back down the hill.

Out of the bunker, Young is on the green but slightly further away than his playing partner.

One hole played, one birdie for Sam Burns. He’s now up to 11-under alongside McIlroy and Young.

Early blow for Shane Lowry, who drops a shot at the first to fall back to eight-under.

What a few hours we’ve got in store.

American Young is first up and appears to find the sand down the right side. That’s been a common theme among tee shots in the final few groups.

McIlroy is next and his drive is heading towards the same bunker. Fortunately it stops just short and he’s safe in the fairway.

What a start.

Rose missed his approach to the first green but left himself a short chip towards the flag, which he holed.

Incredible start for the Englishman, who is up to nine-under and two off the leaders.

The penultimate pairing of Sam Burns and Shane Lowry have just teed off.

Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young are on their way to the first tee.

A rare smile just appeared on the face of Tyrrell Hatton after he holed out from 131 yards for an eagle at the 7th. He’s now down to six-under.

Moments later, former champion Jordan Spieth chipped in from the bunker at the 13th for an eagle.

A year after his heartbreaking playoff loss to McIlroy, Justin Rose begins the final round three off the lead.

He has finished runner-up on three occasions at Augusta. Is this the year he grabs a green jacket?

Playing with Jason Day, the Englishman finds the fairway with a perfect drive.

It’s the perfect start for the world No. 1.

The American hit his first drive of the day down the right side in a less than convincing start to his round.

But a special recovery saw him hit a fade around a tree to within six feet before he holed out for birdie.

Fellow American Jake Knapp has also birdied both the first and third to move to seven-under.

Scottie Scheffler is now making his way to the first tee.

He almost equaled the course record yesterday to bring himself to within four shots off the lead.

After a quiet first two rounds by his standards, he’s lurking in the chasing pack.

DANIEL MATTHEWS AT AUGUSTA: Players and patrons are already frying under the sun, with temperatures approaching 85f (30c). This is going to be a long day.

By 8.45am this morning, there were already 35 rows of camping chairs climbing up the banks around the 18th green. Unprecedented in recent years, according to someone who would know. But perhaps it’s no surprise – just look at the leaderboard.

Unlike yesterday, some of the early starters have ripped through Augusta. Gary Woodland, Viktor Hovland, Keegan Bradley and Jon Rahm among them. Does that mean we are in for a sprint finish later?

It might depend on how firm the greens become in this heat. I was down on 15 as the first group came through and Charl Schwartzel went for the par five in two. His approach landed on the green and made an almighty thump before bouncing off the back.

Just a year after McIlroy became just the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam, he’s chasing more records today.

The reigning champion could become only the fourth golfer to win back-to-back Masters titles.

The other three? Jack Nicklaus in 1965 and 1966, Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990, and Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002.

That would put McIlroy in pretty rarefied air.

ISABEL BALDWIN AT AUGUSTA: Haotong Li was on the verge of withdrawing from the Masters on Friday morning. When he stands on the first tee just four shots off the lead on Sunday, he will be glad that he didn’t follow through with that decision.

The Chinese star admitted on Friday that he had spent the previous night ‘living in the toilet.’ It left him fearing he would be unable to endure a full 18 holes over Augusta National. He was simply glad he ‘survived the day.’

24 hours later and Li did more than survive. On Saturday, despite claiming that he was still ‘battling,’ he made it into contention. Whatever sickness struck him down, The Masters provided the medicine.

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