Reed, McIlroy chase golf history, green jacket at Masters

Augusta, USA: Rory McIlroy takes aim at a career Grand Slam while leader Patrick Reed eyes Augusta National records and a first major title in Sunday's final-round showdown of the 82nd Masters.

An emotional back-nine drama with golf history at stake was set to unfold in cool, overcast conditions among the Georgia pines with Reed atop the leaderboard at 14-under 202 through 54 holes and last-pair partner McIlroy three strokes adrift.

"We're both trying to do something pretty special," McIlroy said.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy can capture his fifth major title and his first green jacket to complete the career Slam, at least one win in each of the four major championships.

"I want to keep the pressure on him," McIlroy said. "If I can get off to a good solid start that will be enough to keep me hanging in there.

"If I can stay within two or three going to the back nine, that's when things can happen out there."

Reed could become the first player to shoot four rounds in the 60s at the Masters and has a chance to break the 72-hole course record of 18-under 270 shared by Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

"I almost feel like I can kick it into another gear and go even deeper," Reed said. "If I hit that one shot, I can pump myself up and try to get going and try to flip that switch."

McIlroy outscored Reed by two strokes each day when playing alongside Reed on the first two days of the 2014 Masters, but the biggest memory of them as rivals was from the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, when US firebrand Reed edged Europe's McIlroy 1 up in an epic clash.

"It's probably one of the best matches we ever played. It was probably also one of the most exhausting matches we ever played," Reed said.