Final Round: Who Secures The Green Jacket?

The final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament is set to begin Sunday morning, and what once seemed like a runaway victory for Rory McIlroy is now a sweat to the finish. Entering the third round of play with a six shot lead, he found himself struggling on the back nine with two bogeys and one double bogey as well. With the slip from the 2025 green jacket recipient, those like Cameron Young and Sam Burns have found themselves in position to overtake. It will come down to who can capitalize on the open birdie shots and stay consistent when the pressure is at its highest. 

Winner Take All 

McIlroy had many around Augusta in awe with his performance in the first two days, and now it seems as though he may have left the door open. A strong final round after one up for question is key, and ultimately the deciding factor in a back to back tournament victory. 

“There’s a lot of guys in with a chance tomorrow. I’m still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can’t forget that,” McIlroy said. “But I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.”

Yet, the man who has tuned things around in Young will now be battling it out for his first ever green jacket ceremony. Young set his own record at the Masters, being the first player to have at least a share of the 54-hole lead when coming behind from eight shots. Briefly taking the sole lead Saturday, his eight birdie performance was one that might be life changing. 

“You just are constantly aware of the fact that this place can bite you,” Young said. “So, to me, it’s just a really, really clear mandate that an easy par is never bad. And if you’re playing that well, you’re going to back your way into some birdies at some point.”

Green Jacket Sunday 

Sunday evening one player out of the countless number of names within the field, will have a chance to call themselves a Masters winner. There’s a very high chance to see a first ever tournament winner, while also still flirting with a back to back performance by Mcllroy. 

With everything on the line, attention to detail in every swing will be heightened. It only takes a ball in the pond, a bogey, or even missed fairway to cut your chances come tomorrow. Already seeing the many notable names who did not make the weekend cut, it’s only right to leave everything out on the green. 

“I put myself in position,” Scottie Scheffler said after his round . “It’s just a matter of getting the job done.”

Whether it’s a previous Masters winner or the newest 2026 green jacket recipient, the atmosphere Sunday should be one remembered in the PGA Tour for quite some time.