6:10 am: McIlroy is in some strife on 6 after missing the green at the par-3 well to the left. The irons have looked off so far today. Impressive chip to give himself a look at par, the short game has been immaculate this week and is continuing to show up for him.

Right in the heart, the defending champion remains three clear.

6:00 am: Burns and McIlroy trade pars at 5. Collin Morikawa holes out for an eagle on 15.

Back-to-back bogeys for Reed at 4 and 5.

Leaderboard

1 - McIlroy -12
2 - Li -9
3 - Lowry, Burns, Young -8
6 - Scheffler, Reed -7

5:50 am: A brilliant up-and-down from McIlroy at 4. The Northern Irishman found the greenside bunker from the tee. China's Hoatong Li hits a saucy fairway metal into the par-5 8th, he will have a short putt for eagle to get to nine under and into solo-second.

Patrick Cantlay birdies the last for a bogey-free 67.

5:40 am: Shane Lowry makes an ACE on 6 to get to eight under! What a golf shot!

 

 

5:30 am:  McIlroy drives the green on 3, leaves the eagle putt on the edge of the hole. Makes birdie to get the train back on the tracks.

 

 

5:25 am: Par at 2 for McIlroy, birdie for Burns, who has already made up three shots on the defending champion. 

Justin Rose makes a birdie at 3 to get to six under. Reed makes his third-straight birdie at the 3rd; he is just two back from McIlroy. 

Patrick Reed is coming. PHOTO: Getty Images.

5:20 am: McIlroy finds trouble at 2 off the tee. Burns finds the fairway bunker. McIlroy's second finds the patrons left of the green. Reed has a kick-in to get to eight under. It really is heating up at Augusta.

 

 

5:10 am: Wyndham Clark very nearly makes a 1 on the par-4 3rd and holes the putt, which is only the 20th eagle of all time at the hole.

 

 

Ludvig Aberg makes three birdies on the bounce on 10-12.

Sam Burns hits a lovely wedge shot into 1 and rolls in his birdie putt with authority, while McIlroy misses the green long. The defending champ then left himself a tricky 7-footer for par, which he missed; a bogey to start and a two-shot swing on the opening hole.

The lead goes from six to four.

5:00 am: Scheffler gets to -6. Reed birdies the first to get to -7. McIlroy and Burns both get their Saturdays underway with solid drives. 

McIlroy hits his wedge long at 1. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Birdie at 8 for Matsuyama, he joins the group of players at -5.

4:45 am: The penultimate pairing is underway, Justin Rose and Patrick Reed.

Scheffler is coming; he has a great birdie look at 11. This is a proper charge as McIlroy makes his way to the opening tee.

 

 

4:40 am: Par for Scott at 15, the Aussie is two under today. Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are underway; both are making comfortable pars.

Cam Young drives the green at 3; he has a long eagle putt pending. Scheffler has a great look for a fourth birdie on the trot at 10. 

Patrick Cantlay is bogey-free today; the American is three under for his round currently.

Jason Day has a short birdie look at the 3rd after a delicate chip. 

4:30 am: Plenty of movement is happening around the golf course. Rory McIlroy looks relaxed and composed as he gets some reps in on the chipping green. 

4:20 am: Scheffler nearly holes out on 9! That would've got him into a tie for second. Don't put a line through the world No. 1; cleans up for a birdie.

Big start from the World No.1. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Koepka makes his birdie at 4.

4:10 am: Hideki Matsuyama rolls in a short putt on 5 for his third birdie on the bounce. The former champion moves into a tie for fourth. Adam Scott rolls in a short one to get back to even par for the tournament on 14.

 

 

Brooks Koepka hits a brilliant wedge shot from a bare lie at 3; he has a good look at birdie and is two under for the tournament.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4:00 am: The World No.1, Scottie Scheffler, has started his pursuit of the lead. The Texan is four under par through eight holes today. Fellow major Champion Matt Fitzpatrick has also made a solid start, the Englishman two under through five, and three under for the tournament.