AUGUSTA, GA. (AP) - South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel is off to a fast start in the final round of the Masters, moving into a tie for the lead with Rory McIlroy.
Schwartzel chipped in for birdie out of the second cut at No. 1, but his best shot came at the third. With a wedge, he holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the shortest par-4 at Augusta National.
McIlroy got off to a rough start. He wasted a booming drive at No. 1, missing a 4-foot putt to take bogey. He went into two bunkers at the second holes and needed a brilliant shot out of the sand to save par. He was at 11 under, tied with Schwartzel.
Tiger Woods is also charging. He birdied four of the first seven holes to get to 7 under, three strokes off the lead.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
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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