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AUGUSTA, Ga. — Lack of confidence doesn’t appear to be an issue in Sunday’s showdown round at the 2018 Masters.

Three shots separate leader Patrick Reed at minus-14 and Rory McIlroy at minus-11. No one who follows golf can forget their fun, raucous back-and-forth match in Sunday singles in the 2016 Ryder Cup the United States won at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club. Reed beat McIlroy 1-up; those two were their team’s best players all weekend.

In a prelude to Sunday’s Masters final round, Reed shot a 67 Saturday and McIlroy shot one of three 65s posted during an afternoon when rain and clouds softened the greens and gave players a chance to go low. Rickie Fowler had one of those and is at minus-9, thanks to a hot putter since Thursday and his first bogeyless round at the Masters Saturday, and fearless young Spaniard John Rahm, at minus-8, had the other.

Henrik Stenson had a solid 70 Saturday and is in semi-striking distance at minus-7, but such ho-hum steadiness mean squat on a day reserved for heroics.

Reed led by two going into Saturday’s moving day at the Masters, and move they did, including Reed. His 67 pushed the lead to three, boosted by eagles on 13 and 15 and flowered-up by five birdies; his bogeys came on 3 and the second-nine’s two par 3s, which included a three-putt from 45 feet on 16. He rebounded with pars on 17 and 18. Today he’ll try to become the first Masters competitor ever to shoot four rounds in the 60s.

As marvelous as the round was for a 27-year-old with a solid professional record but no majors—especially considering eight winners of majors trailed him by no more than seven shots when the day began—it was far from the finest round of the day. Those belong to the guys who own the trio of 65s sitting right behind Reed on the leaderboard.

The most confident of the trio has got to be McIlroy, who is trying to become the sixth player to win the game’s Grand Slam, joining Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, and Woods.

“My game’s in fantastic shape; I have every shot that’s needed to win out here,” he said. “There’s no reason I can’t go out and shoot a great round tomorrow.

“Patrick’s got the lead,” McIlroy said. “He’s got to sleep on that.”

“I guess the pressure’s on me; I’ve got the lead,” Reed said with a smile. “I didn’t wake up this morning feeling any pressure. The key is execution. Just come out here and play golf. I’m not playing Rory; I’m playing the golf course.

“Hopefully,” he said, “we’ll get some fireworks going out there and have some fun tomorrow.”

A flashback to Hazeltine came in mid-afternoon Saturday. McIlroy played bogey-free with five birdies Saturday and an eagle on 8, a feat which momentarily tied him with Reed, who stood in 8 fairway in the group’s final pairing and heard the roars over the humps that guard the dogleg par-5. “Sure,” Reed said, “I knew what had happened.”

But he also knew he had a chance at birdie on the same green. A few minutes later, he made it to retake the lead. He birdied 9 and 10, too. After McIlroy’s eagle on 8, Reed played the next 11 holes in 5-under; McIlroy played them in 2-under.

Fowler has made five putts of 20-feet or more in the first 54 holes, best in the field. He left a birdie putt on 18 an inch short in the jaws; before that came an eagle on 2, birdies on 5, 6, 8, 15, and 17. He’s looking for his first major championship and playing the best he’s played here since he tied for fifth in 2014.

Rahm’s highlights included two birdies out of the chute, then a chip-in eagle on 8 and birdies on 10, 16, and 17.

“I’ve shot 7-under before,” he said, “but not at a place like this. That’s my first round that good in a major, in a place where Spanish history is good. You know, Seve and Sergio.”

Speaking of good players and majors winners, Jordan Speith, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Justin Thomas couldn’t take advantage of the scoring conditions; each shot 71 except Thomas, who shot 70. Any are capable of shooting a 63 to tie the tournament’s course record, but it won’t be enough Sunday.

In 1956, Jack Burke Jr. came from eight shots back in the final round to defeat amateur Ken Venturi.

In 1996, Nick Faldo rallied from a six-shot deficit, aided by a Greg Norman meltdown, to win his third green jacket.

And in 2011, Charl Schwartzel trailed McIlroy by four shots after 54 holes but birdied the final four for the victory. He got a lot of help from McIlroy, who shot 37-43 for an 80 and finished 10 back.

That’s the historical note that matters Sunday in what’s basically a two-horse race. But what a fun two horses.

“This is my first final group here since 2011,” McIlroy said. “I hope I learned a lot from that day. I hope I can come in Sunday and spoil the party.”

McIlroy has won four majors since then. But…

Reed has the lead. By three. Sunday is the encore. And the way this pair and the guys lurking are playing…

“Whatever happens,” Reed said, “it’s going to be a fight.”

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