Tiger and Phil are done folks. This is an all European Tour members Masters. They won 3 of 4 last year and are about to start 2011 with yet another so let me turn this over to Scott Crockett form the European tour who is in Augusta.
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Rory McIlroy remains on course for Masters Tournament glory after three superb late birdies made it his day at Augusta National yet again.
Even with Tiger Woods unable to mount the charge he was looking for and defending champion Phil Mickelson remaining in the pack, McIlroy found it tough going for much of the third round.
But then, as the sun went down, the Northern Irish wonder kid regained control of the season's opening Major in thrilling fashion.After finding the green and two-putting the 13th and 15th, the two par fives on the back nine, the 21 year old gave his biggest fist-pump of the week when he rolled in a 25 footer at the 17th.
Suddenly, having trailed Australian Jason Day by one after five, he was four clear of the entire field and bang on track to become the second youngest winner of the title in history.
Then, after Woods had bogeyed the last for a 74 that dropped him to ninth place seven behind, McIlroy parred it for a 70 and 12 under aggregate.
With Day, Argentina's Angel Cabrera, South African Charl Schwartzel and Korean K J Choi in joint second place and then England's Luke Donald and Australian Adam Scott five back in sixth the overseas contingent are dominating the event - with five of the top seven European Tour Members.
This is also the first Masters Tournament where no American has featured in the top five with a round to play.
But to McIlroy it will not matter who is chasing him. He just wants to make only his tenth Major his first victory - after finishing third in the last two of last season.
"It feels good - I'm in a great position," he said, taking nothing for granted yet."I stayed really patient and I'm really happy with how I stuck to my game plans. It paid off in the end."I've been saying all week I feel comfortable and I'm posting good numbers."
Woods has won all his 14 Majors, including four Green Jackets, from the front and that does not look like changing.
"I hit so many putts early that looked like going in and didn't, then I had a couple of three-putts (on 11 for bogey and 15 for par)."That's not very good. Now I'm going to have to put together a good front nine and see what happens.
Lee Westwood, runner-up last year, also shot 74 and went from seventh at halfway to 18th with Mickelson.
Cabrera, winner two years ago after a play-off, came through with a 67 like Scott, while Schwartzel shot 68, Choi 71 and Day 72.
If McIlroy, Cabrera, Schwartzel, Scott or Donald triumph it will complete an unprecedented clean sweep of the Majors for European Tour Members.
How will the Golf Channel spin this tonight ??
Bryan Angus on twitter @mummmbles
Even with Tiger Woods unable to mount the charge he was looking for and defending champion Phil Mickelson remaining in the pack, McIlroy found it tough going for much of the third round.
But then, as the sun went down, the Northern Irish wonder kid regained control of the season's opening Major in thrilling fashion.After finding the green and two-putting the 13th and 15th, the two par fives on the back nine, the 21 year old gave his biggest fist-pump of the week when he rolled in a 25 footer at the 17th.
Suddenly, having trailed Australian Jason Day by one after five, he was four clear of the entire field and bang on track to become the second youngest winner of the title in history.
Then, after Woods had bogeyed the last for a 74 that dropped him to ninth place seven behind, McIlroy parred it for a 70 and 12 under aggregate.
With Day, Argentina's Angel Cabrera, South African Charl Schwartzel and Korean K J Choi in joint second place and then England's Luke Donald and Australian Adam Scott five back in sixth the overseas contingent are dominating the event - with five of the top seven European Tour Members.
This is also the first Masters Tournament where no American has featured in the top five with a round to play.
But to McIlroy it will not matter who is chasing him. He just wants to make only his tenth Major his first victory - after finishing third in the last two of last season.
"It feels good - I'm in a great position," he said, taking nothing for granted yet."I stayed really patient and I'm really happy with how I stuck to my game plans. It paid off in the end."I've been saying all week I feel comfortable and I'm posting good numbers."
Woods has won all his 14 Majors, including four Green Jackets, from the front and that does not look like changing.
"I hit so many putts early that looked like going in and didn't, then I had a couple of three-putts (on 11 for bogey and 15 for par)."That's not very good. Now I'm going to have to put together a good front nine and see what happens.
Lee Westwood, runner-up last year, also shot 74 and went from seventh at halfway to 18th with Mickelson.
Cabrera, winner two years ago after a play-off, came through with a 67 like Scott, while Schwartzel shot 68, Choi 71 and Day 72.
If McIlroy, Cabrera, Schwartzel, Scott or Donald triumph it will complete an unprecedented clean sweep of the Majors for European Tour Members.
How will the Golf Channel spin this tonight ??
Bryan Angus on twitter @mummmbles
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