Rory McIlroy Leads by Six Strokes Entering Masters Third Round
Defending champion Rory McIlroy holds a six-shot lead at 12-under-par as the Masters enters its third round at Augusta National.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy enters the third round of the 2026 Masters with a commanding six-stroke lead, standing at 12-under-par. McIlroy's performance included six birdies in the final seven holes of his second round, culminating in a 65.
Sam Burns and Patrick Reed are tied for second place at 6-under-par. European players Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Tommy Fleetwood are one stroke behind them at 5-under-par.
The third round features notable pairings: McIlroy and Burns tee off at 2:50 p.m. ET, preceded by Reed and Rose at 2:39 p.m., and Lowry and Fleetwood at 2:28 p.m.
Fifty-four players made the cut at 4-over-par or better, including former Masters champion Jon Rahm, who advanced on the cut line after a second-round 70.
The third round is scheduled to begin at 9:31 a.m. ET, with coverage available on various platforms.
