Patrick Reed posted a third-round 67 and will take a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy into Sunday’s finale of the 2018 Masters Tournament, setting up a heavyweight rematch between the two Ryder Cup stars.
Winner gets a green jacket.
Playing in the penultimate pairing, one group ahead of 54-hole leader Reed, McIlroy reeled off three birdies and an eagle in a six-hole stretch (Nos. 3-8) to tie Reed for the lead at 9 under.
But the American then carded a hat trick of gains on Nos. 8-11 to move ahead by three again, and after Reed cruised through Amen Corner at par-bogey-eagle, Captain America was up by four shots.
A birdie on 15 by McIlroy was topped by an eagle from Reed, which gave the Augusta State product a five shot edge.
A final three holes of bogey-par-par from Reed though was trumped by a par-par-birdie finish from McIlroy to cut the lead to a more manageable three-shot deficit with 18 holes to play.
Reed finished the day with four birdies and two eagles against three bogeys en route to a three-day score of 14-under par, three clear of McIlroy, who posted a low-round 65 to reach 11-under par.
The stakes for Sunday couldn’t be higher. Reed will be seeking his first major title, while McIlroy would become just the sixth player in history to complete the career grand slam.
“It’s the last round of a major championship, and we’re both going for … Patrick is going for his first and I’m going for something else,” McIlroy joked. “It’s going to be good fun.”
Reed countered: “I’m not out there to play Rory. I’m out there to play the golf course.”
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Rory chips in for eagle on the 8th to tie for the lead with Reed.
.@McIlroyRory chips in for eagle on No. 8 and moves into a tie for the lead with Patrick Reed at 9-under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/h30vo4zWU7
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Reed birdies No. 9 (his second of three-straight gains on 8-10) to move ahead by two shots.
.@PReedGolf extends his lead to two after the lengthy birdie putt on No. 9. #themasters pic.twitter.com/4kCTO2YbI2
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Reed birdies No. 9 (his second of three-straight gains on 8-10) to move ahead by two shots.
.@PReedGolf extends his lead to five after recording his second eagle of the day on No. 15. #themasters pic.twitter.com/U0xRtG52q7
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Reed moves ahead by three after this eagle on the par-5 13th.
.@PReedGolf moves to 13-under par after his eagle on No. 13. #themasters pic.twitter.com/M7K5OFExqD
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Reed goes up five shots after his second eagle of the day on the par-5 15th.
.@PReedGolf extends his lead to five after recording his second eagle of the day on No. 15. #themasters pic.twitter.com/U0xRtG52q7
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
Rory cuts the lead to three with a birdie on No. 18.
.@McIlroyRory closes his third-round 65 with a birdie on No. 18. #themasters pic.twitter.com/e1ypqB3SPB
— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 7, 2018
