McIlroy extends lead at Masters

2011-04-10 07:03:04

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McIlroy, who will be 22 next month, would become the second youngest Masters champion after Woods won at 21 years, three months and 14 days when he captured the first of his four Green Jackets and first of 14 major titles in 1997.

"It's a great position to be in," said McIlroy."I stayed patient. I'm really happy with the way I stuck to my gameplan and it paid off in the end. I feel comfortable with my game, with the way I've prepared and all of a sudden I finally feel comfortable on this golf course."

McIlroy edged to 11 under with a birdie on the short fourth but handed it back immediately at the tough par-four fifth as playing partner Day took over the lead with a birdie. Day dropped two quick shots to slip back but when McIlroy bogeyed the 10th he found himself in a three-way lead with Day and Choi.

The South Korean quickly dropped two shots though and Day bogeyed the long 13th as McIlroy made a birdie to re-establish a two-shot lead.

Both birdied the par-five 15th, and when Day bogeyed the par-three 16th McIlroy had a three-shot lead over the Australian and clubhouse leaders Cabrera and Schwartzel. McIlroy advanced to 12 under with a 33ft putt on 17 and parred the 18th to put him in sight of a first major title on only his third visit to Augusta. The average for a Masters winner is six trips to Augusta before a first win.

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Masters debutant Day, 23, a winner on the PGA Tour last year, is bidding for his first major title and the chance to become the first Australian to win at Augusta, after Greg Norman finished second three times (1986, 1987, 1996).

Choi, 40, placed third in 2004 and fourth last year and is also bidding for his first major, while Cabrera beat Kenny Perry in a play-off for his second major title two years ago.

"Obviously I'm playing my 12th Masters, I've won here before, it's very special," said the 41-year-old Cabrera.

"You've got to see how it evolves, how everybody is playing, how the weather is, and depending on that, then you start making decisions on what kind of strategy you're going to use."

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