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Rory McIlroy's frustrated outburst was picked up by Sky Sports at the Masters. He eventually went on to reclaim the Green Jacket, but a stunning day of low scoring at Augusta National did little to safeguard McIlroy's hopes of preserving his six-shot advantage before the final day.

His challengers, however, were swift to take advantage as the reigning Masters champion initially surrendered his lead, which stood at six strokes heading into Saturday. After a bogey at the first was offset by a birdie at the third, having driven the 350-yard par four, TV microphones captured McIlroy saying "oh I give up" following an errant tee shot on the 13th.

His advantage was subsequently reduced and then eliminated entirely, with Cameron Young - who had been four over after seven holes on Thursday - charging to 11 under through 14 holes. Haotong Li and McIlroy's close friend Shane Lowry sat two behind after the Irishman recorded his second Masters hole-in-one to ignite his round.

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Lurking menacingly was two-time champion Scottie Scheffler, five back, after the world number one posted a Masters career-best 65 that threatened to equal the course record at one stage.

The American, out two-and-a-half hours before McIlroy's final group, ripped through the front nine in 31, eagling the second and making three successive birdies to reach the turn, including nearly holing his approach at the ninth.

He added a further birdie at the 11th, yet his momentum began to wane as he failed to capitalise on the two par fives, eventually reaching seven under after finding the flag to within 10 feet at the short 16th.

A missed eight-footer at the next hole ended any prospect of a course record, though he produced a superb third shot to inches at the last to salvage par, having been forced to hack out from beneath a tree.

But McIlroy was able to get out in front again and on Sunday, kept his nerve to retain the Masters in stunning fashion.

"I can't believe I waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket, and now I get two in a row," McIlroy said. "I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.

"It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but I'm just so happy to hang in there and get the job done."

McIlroy added: "I checked the scoreboards after the rough start. I needed to know where I was in the tournament.

"I thought if I could get back to even par for the day, which I did with birdies on 7 and 8, I was going to be right there on the back nine. I was keeping an eye all day.

"There were a few guys making a run, but nobody like Justin last year. I'm fortunate the guys didn't really come at me this year either."