Golf: McIlroy hot on heels of classy Reed

Rory McIlroy finished his third round in style by sinking a birdie putt on the final hole. Photo / AP

The only thunder was on the ground, not in the sky, a series of ear-splitting roars for Patrick Reed and his two eagles, Rory McIlroy and his final birdie, and everyone else who tried desperately to keep up with them in the Masters.

"The roars ... it's hard not to know what's going on," McIlroy said.

By the end of a wet and wild day at Augusta National, Reed helped bring this Masters into focus.

Reed seized control with a pair of eagles on the back nine, two big pars and a 5-under 67 that gave him a three-shot lead over McIlroy as he goes for his first major in the city where he led undermanned Augusta State to two NCAA titles.

His primary challenger is McIlroy, in the final group at the Masters for the first time in seven years, this time with a shot at the career Grand Slam. This time it's for a green jacket, not a gold Ryder Cup trophy.

This is for themselves, not for team.

Reed and McIlroy are indelibly linked to that Ryder Cup singles match at Hazeltine some 18 months ago when they traded big putts and uppercuts until Reed prevailed on the 18th hole.

"It won't be quite as intense as that Ryder Cup match, I don't think," McIlroy said, alluding to the partisan and at times rude nature of cheers rarely found at Augusta National.

"I think we'll still be feeling it. It's the latest round of a major championship. Patrick is going for his first major. And I'm going for ... something else."

He paused and smiled upon hearing a few chuckles.

That "something else" is something grand. At stake for McIlroy is the final leg of the career Grand Slam, achieved by only five other players, and completed only once before at the Masters by Gene Sarazen in 1935.

Reed ran off three straight birdies around the turn, and he stretched his lead to as many as five shots with his eagles. He is at 14-under 202.

McIlroy made up a five-shot deficit in eight holes when he chipped in for eagle on the par-5 eighth. Reed was in the group behind him, and perhaps the cheers inspired him. He holed a 3m putt for birdie, the start of three in a row to regain control.

"Any time you hear a bunch of roars, you're going to get excited, especially if you feel like you're playing some good golf," Reed said.

McIlroy can only hope he didn't use up all his luck. He figures that chip-in at No8 was going off the green except that it struck the pin. He also feared the worst when his second shot on the par-5 13th went into a sea of pink azaleas. He found his ball, chipped out of the mess and escaped with par.

"Just a great day," McIlroy said. "To get myself into the final group, and have a chance to win another major ... you couldn't ask for much more."

The verbal gamesmanship may have started early.

"I feel like all the pressure is on him," McIlroy said. "He's got to go out and protect that, and he's got a few guys chasing him that are pretty big-time players. He's got that to deal with and sleep on tonight."

Reed didn't flinch when told of McIlroy's views. "I am leading," he said. "But at the same time, he's trying to go for the career Grand Slam. You can put it either way."

Rickie Fowler made eagle on the par-5 second and was 5 under through eight holes. Birdies at the last two holes left him five shots behind. Jon Rahm of Spain is at 8-under 208. Henrik Stenson (70) was seven shots behind. Tiger Woods shot a 72, and is 18 shots behind. More than any pressure with the Grand Slam at stake, McIlroy has a score to settle. He had a four-shot lead in the 2011 and shot 80 in the final round. Now it's the missing piece of the slam.

- AP