Sunday at Augusta: The Green Jacket Contenders for the 2026 Masters Final Round

Augusta National Golf Club on a Sunday afternoon is unlike anywhere else in sport. The azaleas are in bloom, the patrons are hushed with anticipation, and the leaderboard at the 90th Masters Tournament is anything but settled. What looked like a coronation for defending champion Rory McIlroy who carried a commanding 36-hole lead into the weekend has turned into one of the most wide-open final rounds in recent memory. After Saturday’s dramatic moving day, a tightly packed leaderboard sets the stage for a classic Augusta shootout on the back nine.

The Co-Leaders: McIlroy and Cameron Young (-11)

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young head into the final round tied at 11-under par. It’s a stunning swing in momentum. McIlroy took a sizeable lead into Saturday but stumbled to a 1-over 73, while Young surged with a superb 7-under 65 one of the rounds of the week to pull level at the top.

McIlroy, chasing back-to-back green jackets, will need to reset after a costly stretch through Amen Corner, where dropped shots shifted the entire complexion of the tournament. His driving accuracy has been inconsistent, and that remains the one pressure point heading into Sunday. Still, he’s the defending champion, battle-tested in majors, and fully capable of producing a closing charge when it matters most.

Young, meanwhile, arrives with serious momentum. The American has steadily figured out Augusta over recent visits, and his poise on Saturday showed a player ready for the moment. If he carries that same controlled aggression into Sunday, he has a genuine shot at a career-defining win.

Sam Burns: The Quiet Threat (-10)

Sam Burns enters the final round in solo third at 10-under after a composed, bogey-free Saturday. He’s been steady all week exactly the profile that tends to thrive at Augusta.

Burns doesn’t overpower the course, but he manages it smartly. After outplaying McIlroy in their Saturday pairing, he’s now perfectly positioned just one shot back. If the leaders falter, Burns is the type to capitalise without forcing the issue.

Shane Lowry: Solo Fourth (-9)

Shane Lowry sits at 9-under and firmly in the hunt. His highlight moment, a hole-in-one!! Which lit up the tournament and underlined his comfort around Augusta’s trickiest greens.

Lowry’s short game and temperament make him dangerous, especially if conditions tighten late on Sunday. Three shots back is well within reach at Augusta, where momentum can flip in a matter of holes.

Scheffler and Li: The Lurking Contenders (-7)

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Haotong Li sit four shots off the lead at 7-under and both remain very much alive.

Scheffler’s bogey-free 65 on Saturday was a statement round. A two-time Masters champion, he knows exactly how to navigate Augusta’s final-round pressure. If he gets within two shots on the back nine, he becomes the most dangerous man on the course.

Li, on the other hand, is the wildcard. After battling through illness earlier in the tournament, he’s shown serious resilience. If his energy holds, his ball-striking gives him an outside shot at shaking up the leaderboard.

Jason Day, Justin Rose, and the Chasing Pack

Jason Day remains in contention after a strong Saturday built on dominant par-5 scoring. A consistent performer at Augusta over the years, he has the experience to mount a late push.

Justin Rose, still chasing that elusive green jacket, adds further depth to the leaderboard. With multiple near-misses at Augusta, he knows exactly what’s required. And how quickly things can change on Sunday.

Further back, players like Patrick Reed, Patrick Cantlay, and Russell Henley keep the field stacked, ensuring no margin for error at the top.

The Favourite to Win the Green Jacket

McIlroy still edges it as the favourite. Experience, pedigree, and the ability to respond under pressure all lean in his favour. But this is far from a one-man race.

Young has momentum. Burns has control. Scheffler has pedigree.

And Augusta has history.

One thing is certain when the back nine opens up and Amen Corner starts asking questions. This tournament will come down to nerve as much as execution. Sunday at Augusta rarely follows a script, and this final round looks set to deliver another classic.

Read about the history of the Green Jacket