AUGUSTA, GA. (AP) - Rory McIlroy has teed off in the final round of the Masters, trying to protect a four-stroke lead on a sweltering day.
The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland was at 12-under 204 coming into Sunday and playing in the final group with 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera, the only player in the top eight with a major title on his resume.
Cabrera started the day at 208, in a group that also included K.J. Choi, Charl Schwartzel and Jason Day. Tiger Woods was a daunting seven strokes off the lead after a disappointing 74 in the third round. Any chance of a comeback by defending champion Phil Mickelson likely ended with a double-bogey at No. 5.
If McIlroy can hang on, he’ll be the second-youngest champion in Masters history to Woods in 1997.
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