>McIlroy on the brink of history with Masters lead

>

Fourteen years ago, Tiger Woods finished the third round of the Masters. A fresh-faced kid with the weight of enormous expectations on his shoulders had obliterated the field, shooting 7-under 65 to take a nine-shot lead going into the final round of his first major as a professional.

The next day, Woods extended his lead by three more shots in a victory lap of a round which crowned him king of the sport.

Nearly a decade-and-a-half later, Woods may abdicate the throne to a new wunderkind whose name means “red king.”

With a third-round 2-under 70, Rory McIlroy carries a four-shot lead into the final round of the 2011 Masters.

McIlroy withstood an early charge from playing partner Jason Day, who briefly took the tournament lead away from him with a two-shot swing at the par-4 fifth hole. He managed to go out in even par – steady enough to keep the lead as the Aussie faded quickly from view.

The second nine was not without peril, though. McIlroy dropped a shot at the 10th hole to reach his lowest mark of the day. But like an old pro, McIlroy made easy birdies out of the par-5s at Nos. 13 and 15.

Then, McIlroy finally was rewarded on the greens for an outstanding three days of ballstriking. Excited by the moment, McIlroy hit a beautiful hook around a tree in front of him with a wedge from 155 yards. Facing a lightning quick 33-foot putt from the back of the green, McIlroy hit it with perfect speed. The ball dived left at the end and into the hole for a rousing birdie to get to 12-under.

Immediately, the putt conjured images of the silver anniversary of Jack Nicklaus‘ 1986 win at 46 years of age. Yes, sir, it did.

Of the putt, McIlroy said, “It was great, because I had been waiting on a putt to sort of drop all day and for it to drop there, it was great timing.”

Twenty-five years ago, a putt just like that gave Nicklaus the lead. McIlroy saw the tape of that win for the first time in preparation for this tournament, as well as oft-viewed footage of Woods’ maiden Masters win.

After becoming the youngest player to take a share of the 18-hole lead on Thursday, McIlroy said he has extensively studied tape of Woods’ win from 1997.

He said Thursday, “I could nearly tell you every shot Tiger hit in ’97.”

If McIlroy is to win on Sunday and become the second-youngest champion in the 75 playings of this event, there is a good chance youth will commit his four rounds to memory. McIlroy acknowledged it, albeit indirectly, after his third round.

“[Woods has] done so much more for the game than I ever could or will, breaking down barriers,” McIlroy said. “But a win for me – personally, it would be huge.

“And for the game of golf, it would be nice, as well.”

He plays Sunday with Angel Cabrera – the only player in the top eight with a major championship win. It’s of no mind to McIlroy, playing while wearing blinders.

“It doesn’t matter who is beside me to be honest,” McIlroy said. “As I said before, all I can control is myself and my own golf game, and that’s it.”

The greats of the game who were in this position on Saturday at a young age predict triumph for the Ulsterman. Woods was a winner in ’97, as well was Seve Ballesteros, whose 54th birthday was Saturday, in 1980. McIlroy, well aware of the bittersweet occasion, tweeted birthday wishes to Ballesteros.

Though McIlroy does not lead by nine shots like Woods did in this spot 14 years ago, but he very well could be. McIlroy has missed putts inside of 15 feet throughout the week, but especially in the last 27 holes. Had more putts dropped for the Ulsterman, he could easily be ahead of the pack by more than nine.

While he says a four-shot lead is not safe on this course, McIlroy has found a way to make himself seem like a lock on Sunday. Nevertheless, he will feel some butterflies Sunday afternoon at the first tee – as he says he should.

“It’s natural to get nervous. If I wasn’t nervous in the first tee tomorrow, there would be something wrong.”

If he can get past the initial nerves and repeat what he has done to this point, McIlroy will look sporty in an Irish green jacket.

“I’m not getting ahead of myself. I know how leads can dwindle away very quickly. I have to go out there tomorrow, not take anything for granted and go out and play as hard as I’ve played the last three days,” McIlroy said. “If I can do that, hopefully things will go my way.”