AUGUSTA, Ga. – Rory McIlroy was hoping for a little sympathy on the 18th green.
No chance.
McIlroy birdied three of his final four holes in the third round, shooting a 1-under 71, but got beat by his amateur playing partner.
Jeff Knox, one of the best amateur golfers who happens to be a member at Augusta National, was selected to serve as a non-competing marker because an odd number of players made the cut. And Knox showed McIlroy a thing or two about Augusta. Knox shot 2-under 70 despite bogeying No. 18.
“I thought he was going to be nice and three-putt the last and we would have a half, but he beat me by one,” McIlroy said. “He obviously knows this place so well and gets it around. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone putt the greens as well as he does around here. He was really impressive. I was thinking of maybe getting him to read a few of my putts out there.”