AUGUSTA, Ga. — Fourteen years after Tiger Woods’ monumental Masters victory, its impact is being played out on the same stage.
Rory McIlroy was one of the many kids influenced by watching Woods, then 21, win his first major by 12 strokes. The Northern Irishman put posters of Woods on his wall and targeted his records, just as Woods did with Jack Nicklaus.
McIlroy, 21, is on the verge of a similar coronation at the 75th Masters. He enters Sunday’s final round with a four-stroke lead over Angel Cabrera, Charl Schwartzel, K.J. Choi and Jason Day. Woods shot 74 to drop six spots into a tie for ninth, seven strokes back.
Through three rounds, McIlroy has separated himself in Woodsian fashion, combining power, a deft touch around the greens and poise beyond his years. He is 12 under after rounds of 65-69-70.
“I’m not getting ahead of myself,” McIlroy said. “I know how leads can dwindle away very quickly. I’m not taking anything for granted.”
A McIlroy victory would make a major impact overseas. He has been considered the heir apparent since turning pro at 19.
The prodigy has won on both sides of the Atlantic and is No. 9 in the World Ranking. But the majors provide the true gauge. Actually, Woods set the standard for McIlroy, who was 7 when Woods blew away the field in 1997.
“I remember watching with my dad,” McIlroy said. “That’s when Tiger sort of grabbed all our imaginations. It was a huge moment in the game of golf.”
Woods’ victory helped produce a new breed of player. Some of them are here this week. They have athletic builds, bomb drives over 300 yards and hail from all over the world.
The top seven through 54 holes are international players. Bo Van Pelt, tied for eighth, is the low American.
Schwartzel, a 26-year-old from South Africa, shot 68 on a more difficult day for scoring. Day, 23, turned pro at 19 and boldly proclaimed that he was gunning for Woods.
“When Tiger came along, he pretty much changed the game,” Day said. “Everyone turned into athletes. We are not fat slobs anymore.”
Although experience plays a key factor in negotiating Augusta National, McIlroy has played the course like a veteran. He has mostly avoided the danger spots — primarily keeping his ball below the hole — and shown patience.
Although he dropped to 9 under with a bogey on 10 and briefly shared the lead with Day, McIlroy never buckled. Instead, he took control with birdies on 13, 15 and 17. He played the final six holes in 3 under, highlighted by a birdie putt of about 30 feet on 17. Woods, in the 18th fairway, had to back off his shot because of the roar.
Unless McIlroy changes dramatically, it will be tough to keep him from becoming the 10th start-to-finish winner.
“It’s a great position to be in,” McIlroy said. “I was really happy with the way I stuck to my game plan, and it paid off in the end.
“I feel comfortable with my game, and all of a sudden, I’m feeling comfortable on this golf course. A combination like that, and you’re going to do pretty well.”
McIlroy will be paired with 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera, who shot 67 for the best round of the day.
The winner has emerged from the final group in 20 of the last 21 Masters.
“The young kids are playing very well, I think they deserve it,” Cabrera said. “But I have won the Masters, so that should help me a lot.”
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