The Masters Third Round Tee Times as Rory McIlroy chases yet more history at Augusta National

Rory McIlroy has opened up a record six-stroke lead entering the weekend as he closes in on yet more history at The Masters.

McIlroy, 36, incredibly closed out his second round with six birdies on the last seven holes to vault to 12-under par for 36 holes at Augusta National.

The Northern Irishman takes a six-shot lead over Sam Burns and Patrick Reed (6-under par) at golf's first major of the season in Georgia. 

It marks the biggest 36-hole lead in Masters history. 

Only two golfers in the history of the sport have held a larger 36-hole lead in a major since The Masters began in 1934. 

Sir Henry Cotton was nine shots ahead at the 1934 Open, and Brooks Koepka held a seven-shot lead at the 2019 US PGA. 

McIlroy is now looking to become just the fourth player in history to sucessfully defend The Masters.

The world number two would join Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in the record books should he once again slip on the coveted green jacket in the Butler Cabin this Sunday. 

Woods was the last player to go back to back at The Masters in 2002. 

As sun began to set in Georgia on Friday evening, McIlroy could not hide his delight as he continued his recent love affair with Augusta National. 

The Ulsterman told Sky Sports Golf he feels like he's playing with a sense of freedom now having completed the career grand slam at The Masters in 2025. 

"This course enables you to get on runs, of course I didn't envisage making six birdies on the last seven, but I've always felt like you can get momentum around here and keep it rolling," a beaming McIlroy said after his sizzling 65, which included a chip-in birdie from 50 yards on the 17th. 

"I've always loved this tournament and this golf course, even when I felt like it didn't love me back. It's just such a pleasure to be here, it's such a unique tournament. I wanted so badly to win here so I could always come back here and thankfully I can do that now after last year. I feel like I'm playing with house's money now and it's a nice feeling to have."

In terms of taking a huge six-shot lead into the weekend, McIlroy said: "I hit more fairways than I did yesterday so that was good and that was one of my key goals today to keep it in play a bit more. I think just making good decisions, the way the course is playing you have to think your way around. If I can just keep thinking well and making good decisions, putting one foot in front of the other, and hopefully we can do that on the weekend and everything works out."

McIlroy will now join Burns in the final pairing of the third round. 

Reed will join Justin Rose in the penultimate match.

Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood will then meet in an all European Ryder Cup pairing in the third last match. 

Rose, Lowry and Fleetwood round out the top five on 5-under par. 

Here's how we stand heading into the third round of the 2026 Masters: 

The cut came at 4-over par. 

Some huge names will miss out on the weekend at The Masters, none bigger than LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau, who made a shocking triple-bogey seven on the 18th hole to miss out by two shots. 

Other notables to miss the cut included last week's Texas Open champion and reigning US Open champion JJ Spaun, Akshay Bhatia and Scotland's Bob MacIntyre, who was reprimanded by Augusta National Golf Club following his rude gesture on Thursday. 

GolfMagic has listed all the third round tee times at Augusta National below.

The Masters 2026: Third Round Tee Times - Saturday 11 April 

All times EDT