Seven Golfers Have a Realistic Chance of Winning - Can McIlroy Maintain His Lead?

According to three-time Masters champion Sir Nick Faldo, seven golfers have a genuine chance of winning the tournament. This assessment comes ahead of a thrilling final Sunday at Augusta National, where six players are within four shots of co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. If we expand this to six shots, which is the lead McIlroy lost on Saturday, 12 players are within striking distance. Faldo noted that McIlroy's game has been inconsistent, particularly with his tee shots, as evidenced by his one-over 73 on Saturday. However, if McIlroy can find his rhythm and correct his mistakes, he may still achieve something remarkable. Other contenders include Cam Young, who has been gaining momentum throughout the week, and Shane Lowry, who is driven to succeed after his past experiences. Justin Rose is also in the running, having been on a mission since his third runners-up finish last year. Scottie Scheffler, who has a history of performing well under pressure, is another serious threat. Given Faldo's assessment, let's take a closer look at the seven golfers he believes have the best chance of winning the Green Jacket on Sunday. McIlroy, the defending champion, seemed poised to successfully defend his title with a record 36-hole lead of six strokes. However, this lead was quickly reduced to two strokes within a couple of holes as he bogeyed the first hole and Patrick Reed recorded three consecutive birdies. McIlroy acknowledged that the quality of the chasing pack was exceptional and that many golfers played superb golf. Despite not having his best game, McIlroy remains optimistic about his chances, recognizing that he needs to improve his performance to win. Young, the recent Players champion, has been in impressive form, recovering from a poor start to finish 15 under par at Augusta National. His past victories, including the Players, have given him the confidence to compete at the highest level. Burns, who has won five times on the PGA Tour, is still relatively inexperienced in majors but has shown resilience in the face of pressure. He will be in the penultimate pairing on Sunday and is focused on executing his game plan. Lowry, a major winner, has been in fine form, highlighted by his ace on the par-three sixth tee. He is eager to add a Green Jacket to his collection, especially given his friendship with McIlroy. Day, a former world No. 1, has been quietly making his way up the leaderboard and is now in contention after a late surge on Saturday. Rose, who has been consistent throughout the tournament, recognizes that he needs to shoot lower to challenge on Sunday. He has the capability to do so, as seen in his final round last year when he carded 10 birdies. Scheffler, the world No. 1, has been struggling with his form lately but came back strong on Saturday with a joint-lowest round of 65. He is well capable of going low again on Sunday to complete a hat-trick of Masters victories. The final round of the Masters will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf, with additional coverage available on Sky Sports+.