Fans divided over Rory McIlroy remark to reporter minutes after losing six-shot Masters lead

Golf fans have been left divided over comments made by Rory McIlroy after he lost a six-shot lead at The Masters.

McIlroy headed into the third round at Augusta National on 12-under-par ahead of the second-placed duo of Sam Burns and Patrick Reed.

But he carded a one-over-par round of 73 on what was a difficult Saturday, as his nearest rivals all made up significant ground.

He scored four birdies but double-bogeyed the 11th after finding the water, while he pulled a number of tee shots and drives away from the fairway and greens.

He now shares the lead with Players Championship winner Cameron Young, who carded a seven-under-par round of 65.

Young enjoyed a remarkable Saturday, not only for the quality of his shots but also for occasional bouts of luck, including when his tee shot appeared to be heading out of bounds before hitting a tree and bouncing onto the fairway.

The American then found the water at 15, but recovered to only record a bogey six.

Young has never won The Masters, or indeed any major, but will be teeing off alongside career Grand Slam winner McIlroy on Sunday.

The Northern Irishman gave a post-match interview to The Golf Channel immediately after his round of 73 - and rubbed some fans up the wrong way with his comments.

"I'd like to think I'll play a little bit freer, and I'll play like I've already got a green jacket," he said. "Which I do. Sometimes I maybe have to remind myself of that.

"I think, as well, the stakes in terms of the pairing will be just a little bit easier, and the atmosphere out there will be just a little bit easier. So I'm not worried about that at all.

"I wish I was a few shots better off, but I'm comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days, I'm playing with him again tomorrow. I think it's a comfortable group for both of us."

"I'll play like I've already got a green jacket, which I do."

Rory McIlroy details his comfortable mentality going into his first Sunday in contention as a former Masters champion ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CjyhwmoudQ

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 11, 2026

Reacting to McIlroy's comments, one fan stated: "Winning last year made him insufferable."

A second wrote: "Good thing he has one [a green jacket] to give to Cam Young."

A third added: "Dude is unbearable. Let's go anyone. Literally anyone else."

While a fourth said: "This sort of comment is just cringe."

But others didn't see anything particularly wrong with McIlroy's statement.

"I mean he is and has been one of the best in the world a long time," one wrote. "Just an arrogant statement though."

A second said: "I like this Rory. He's been locked in all week."

And a third wrote: "Remind them that you are him. Let's go get another."