PGA Tour Brunch | The Masters
Final Round Preview of the 2026 Masters |Augusta National
By TERRY LYONS, EDITOR of Digital Sports Desk
AUGUSTA - Many of us are old enough to remember when Rory McIlroy held a six stroke advantage at The Masters, the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. That was yesterday. Today is today, so let the memory fade as it’s time to play the final round of the 2026 Masters at Augusta.
With that seemingly insurmountable lead of just a day ago vanished, McIlroy now shares the top slot on the leaderboard with world No. 3 Cameron Young. They’ve each managed to shoot an impressive (-11) through three round (54 holes), but they maintain a slim, one-stroke lead over Sam Burns and then a crowded pack of thirsty PGA Tour pros, all within three strokes off the lead.
Young’s (T1/-11) (65) marked his career low round at the Masters Tournament with the previous best being a (67) in (R1/2023). With a victory, young Young would become the third consecutive player to win THE PLAYERS Championship and the Masters Tournament in the same year (2024/Scottie Scheffler, 2025/Rory McIlroy)
McIlroy (T1/-11) shares his 22nd 54-hole lead/co-lead in individual stroke play events on TOUR and is 12-for-21 to date in converting them to victory. In 18 Masters appearances, McIlroy has carded at least one over-par round in all but one tournament, the 2015 Masters (71-71-68-66).
Masters Leaderboard | After 54 Holes
T1 Cameron Young 73 67 65 205 (-11)
T1 Rory McIlroy 67 65 73 205 (-11)
3 Sam Burns 67 71 68 206 (-10)
4 Shane Lowry 70 69 68 207 (-9)
T5 Jason Day 69 71 68 208 (-8)
T5 Justin Rose 70 69 68 208 (-8)
Full Leaderboard: (link)
The Masters
COURSE: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
ARCHITECT: Dr. Alister MacKenzie, Bobby Jones Jr.; Perry Maxwell (1937)
YARDS/PAR: 7,565 yards/Par 72
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $22.5m/$4.5m
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Rory McIlroy
OVERVIEW: (link)
PAST RESULTS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 750
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheMasters
2026 Masters | The Basics:
Tournament site: The Masters at Augusta Nationasl (Georgia).
Tee Times: 9:06am to 2:25pm (PGATourCom)
Weather: Today’s forecast is for sunny skies with temperatures soaring to 84 degrees by 1:00pm (local). Winds 3-to-7 mph. No chance of rain.
PGA Tour Brunch at The Masters to post at 12 Noon (EDT) on Monday.
How to Watch | The Masters
Sunday, April 12, 2026 - (All Times Eastern Daylight)
9:00-9:45 - “Mornings at the Masters” - Masters YouTube
10:00am - 12 noon, - “On the Range” - Masters.com, Masters app, CBS Sports Digital, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+
Broadcast:
12 noon-7:00pm - Masters.com, Masters app, Paramount+
2:00pm - 8:00pm - Masters Radio on Sirius/XM and online
2:00pm - 7:00pm - CBS
5:00pm - 6:00pm - ESPN Deportes
How to Watch: (PGATourCom)
Masters | Full Leaderboard
Masters Leaderboard: (link)
What They’re Saying at Augusta National
For Rory McIlroy, It’s Never Easy at the Masters (PGATourCom)
Final Round at The Masters | How to Watch (PGATourCom)
Masters Site for Full Coverage (Masters.com)
ESPN Site (ESPN.com)
PGA Tour Site (PGATourCom)
Estimated Purse and Winner’s Share (CBS Sports)
On This Day in Golf History
April 12, 1981 - Tom Watson won his second Masters title and his fifth major with a two-stroke victory over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller at Augusta National. “It’s better the second time around,” said Watson also the 1977 Masters champion. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
This Week
Parting Putt
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