Rory McIlroy's commanding six-shot lead at the Masters, built on a sublime 65 on Friday, was cut down to a tie after a struggling third round of 73. The culprit was a familiar and costly swing flaw: a persistent left miss with his approach shots.
McIlroy identified the issue as a stall in his lower body through impact, causing his arms and hands to close the clubface. This technical error led to several wayward shots, most notably during Amen Corner where it resulted in a double bogey on the 11th and a bogey on the 12th.
The problem was exacerbated on holes where McIlroy was between clubs and attempted knockdown shots. The instinct to avoid hitting the ball too long can cause the body to stall, triggering the left miss. McIlroy plans to work on the range to neutralize his ball flight before the final round.
If McIlroy can correct this flaw, he is poised to regain his earlier form and secure a second consecutive green jacket. If not, the title could slip to a competitor like Cameron Young, with whom he now shares the lead.