“There are seven guys who genuinely have a chance to win.”
That’s Sir Nick Faldo’s assessment ahead of a compelling final day at Augusta National, where six players sit within four shots of co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. Stretch that margin to six strokes — the lead McIlroy held at halfway that he surrendered on Saturday — and 12 players are within striking distance.
Faldo flagged McIlroy’s inconsistent tee play after the defending champion shot a one-over 73 on Saturday, losing the historic 36-hole, six-shot advantage he once held. “If he can find the switch and correct it, then he’s got a chance to do something special,” Faldo said, while also highlighting Cameron Young, Shane Lowry, Jason Day, Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler as real threats.
A look at the seven players Faldo views as the main contenders:
Rory McIlroy (-11)
McIlroy looked poised to defend his Green Jacket after building a record 36-hole lead of six shots, but a bogey at the first and a scrappy 73 on Saturday cut his cushion. He accepts the chasing pack has elevated the challenge. “I still have a great chance but if I’m going to win tomorrow, I’m going to have to be a little bit better than I was today,” he said. McIlroy remains one of the most complete players on the course if he can tidy his tee game.
Cameron Young (-11)
The reigning Players champion is arguably the form man. Young recovered from a four-over start on Thursday to be 15 under over his last 54 holes at Augusta. Saturday’s 65 — the joint-low round of the day — pushed him into a share of the lead. He’s confident after a strong week and famously won at TPC Sawgrass before taking the Green Jacket, an omen some point to.
Sam Burns (-10)
A five-time PGA Tour winner and two-time Ryder Cup representative, Burns has less major experience at the sharp end but showed composure on Saturday, shooting 68 in the penultimate group. He’s one back of the leaders and intends to focus on execution and attitude rather than what others do. Burns has the ball-striking and short game to contend, though Sunday pressure at majors has bitten him before.
Shane Lowry (-9)
Lowry’s Saturday included a hole-in-one at the par-3 sixth and a four-under 68 to move within two of the lead. A major winner at Royal Portrush in 2019, Lowry is a proven shot-maker around Augusta and has a track record of memorable aces — including at this course in past years. Momentum and course creativity make him dangerous on Sunday.
Jason Day (-8)
The former world No.1 and 2015 PGA champion surged late on Saturday, birdieing four in a row on the back nine to reach nine under before finishing the day at eight under. Paired with Young on Saturday, Day showed he can heat up quickly and believes getting near the lead on the back nine is the route to creating winning opportunities.
Justin Rose (-8)
Rose, a three-time runner-up at Augusta, has been steady with rounds of 70, 69 and 69. He produced a remarkable final round 66 last year to force a play-off with McIlroy and will look to channel that aggression again. Rose admits the field is deeper this year but remains confident he can conjure a special round to climb into contention.
Scottie Scheffler (-7)
World No.1 Scheffler was even par through two rounds and well off McIlroy’s 36-hole lead before a blistering Saturday 65 — featuring an early eagle at the 2nd and a run of birdies around the turn — pushed him into contention. A two-time Masters champion, Scheffler can go very low quickly and demonstrated he still has the aggression to threaten on Sunday despite a patchy recent run.
The chase is tight and varied: players with recent wins, long-term experience at Augusta, major pedigree and last-round scoring ability all sit within reach. McIlroy still leads, but the mix of hot form (Young, Scheffler), creativity (Lowry), consistency (Rose) and late-momentum players (Burns, Day) makes Sunday unpredictable.
How to watch
Live final-round coverage begins at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage from 5pm and extra Featured Group streams, including the Amen Corner feed, available on Sky Sports+.