Rory McIlroy’s third round splutters into life after vow to keep his foot on gas

Defending Masters champion Rory McIlroy had pledged to “keep his foot on the gas” despite his commanding lead but the third round spluttered into life for the Northern Irishman.

He bogeyed the first after going over the back of the green and what was a six-shot lead was already down to four as playing partner Sam Burns birdied, as had 2018 champion Patrick Reed in the group ahead of him.

And looming in his rear-view mirror, now only five back, was two-time winner and world number one Scottie Scheffler who was having a career-best round at Augusta.

By the time McIlroy had teed off on the first the American, who had gone out two-and-a-half hours before him, had recorded his best front nine (31) at Augusta and then birdied the 11th to be six under for his round having started at level par.

With the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history already ticked off, McIlroy has a new target in sight...

The largest 54-hole lead in Masters history is 9 shots by Tiger Woods in 1997