Augusta (United States) (AFP) - Justin Rose fought to shed his “nearly man” Masters label while defending champion Rory McIlroy and American Cameron Young chased landmark triumphs as an epic back-nine Sunday battle loomed at Augusta National.

England’s 45-year-old Rose, a three-time Masters runner-up and two-time playoff loser, birdied four of the last five holes on the front nine to reach 12-under par with a one-stroke edge over McIlroy.

Rose, who lost a playoff to McIlroy last year, would become the second-oldest Masters winner after Jack Nicklaus at 46 in 1986.

Americans Russell Henley and top-ranked Scottie Scheffler were also in the mix as last-duo Young and McIlroy made the turn as a tension-packed fight for the green jacket and a record top prize of $4.5 million was on tap.

Rose chipped in from 27 feet to open with a birdie but made bogey at the third.

Rose sank a 28-foot birdie putt at the fifth, then at seven blasted an incredible approach from the trees to within inches of the hole, setting up a tap-in birdie.

The 2013 US Open winner added a four-foot birdie putt at the par-five eighth and when Young couldn’t make a sand save from 10 feet at the seventh and took a bogey, Rose was alone at the top.

Rose followed with a 14-foot birdie putt at the ninth, giving a fist pump at doubling his lead.

McIlroy, who shared the lead with Young at 11-under when the day began, two-putted from 25 feet to birdie eight and reach 11-under but missed a seven-foot birdie putt at nine to remain one adrift at the turn.

The world number two from Northern Ireland birdied the third hole but made double bogey at the par-three fourth and took bogey at the par-three sixth before a birdie at seven.

Young, trying to become the third straight Players Championship winner to capture the Masters the following month, birdied the par-five second. Bogeys at six and seven dropped him back but he sank a seven-foot birdie at the par-five eighth to reach 11-under.

Henley, whose best result in 44 major starts was a share of fourth at the 2023 Masters, birdied four of the first eight holes before taking his first bogey at the par-three 12th to stand with Scheffler on nine-under.

Reaching 10-under late was England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who reeled off four birdies in a row starting at the par-five 13th.

Despite lightning-fast greens baked intensely over a rain-free week, traditional Sunday pin placements helped deliver impressive shotmaking and excitement to inspire spectator roars through the Georgia pines.

Henley, whose best result in 44 major starts was a share of fourth at the 2023 Masters, birdied four of the first eight holes before taking his first bogey at the par-three 12th to stand with Scheffler on nine-under.

McIlroy, seeking a sixth major title, is trying to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back winners in Masters history.

The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland ranks last in driving accuracy and first in driving distance.

Scheffler, a four-time major winner seeking his third Masters crown in five seasons, sank an eight foot birdie at the first and blasted out of a bunker to five feet to set up a birdie at the third and reach nine-under then followed with eight pars.

Scheffler, last year’s British Open and PGA Championship winner, could complete the greatest 36-hole comeback by a Masters winner.

The 29-year-old American was 12-strokes behind McIlroy on Saturday before firing a bogey-free 65.

The greatest 36-hole comeback in Masters history, and the best final-round rally to win as well, was Jack Burke recovering from eight strokes adrift to win the 1956 title.