Eyes on the prize

And so it proved as that horror show 80 was wiped from the memory banks in emphatic style.

The young Irishman started the day tied for the lead and finished it two shots clear after another superb display of golf.

With a hotter putter, he could even have matched that opening 65 but a three-under 69 still answered plenty of questions.

And while 21-year-old McIlroy leads the way, the round of the day belonged to 22-year-old Jason Day - the young Aussie tearing up the course with a brilliant eight-under 64.

It's a bit disturbing that the combined age of the final pairing in round three of this year's Masters is 43. That's just one year older than I am although I can take comfort from the fact that I'm still 10 years younger than one of the men in tied seventh, Fred Couples.

Keeping McIlroy and Day company over the first 36 holes was 23-year-old Rickie Fowler and he too is in the hunt at five-under while Alvaro Quiros, aged 28, is also bringing youthful vigour to Augusta National and will start round three in tied fifth.

That veteran called Tiger (aged 35) is right in it, of course, after an excellent 66 but the main storyline so far has been youth.

McIlroy is keeping loose this week by playing American football in the street with some of his mates he's invited over from his home course back in Northern Ireland.

Like naughty schoolboys they were told off by an old lady neighbour the other day but the collective giggling is probably just what he needs. As he said, golf is the last thing he wants to talk about when he walks out of Augusta National each day.

I, meanwhile, am awaiting news of the ballot that determines which lucky members of the press will get to play the course on Monday.

I bought my raffle ticket this morning after deciding that I'd probably just about have enough time to play before my flight goes on Monday evening.

Admittedly, there are a couple of hurdles. I haven't played golf since November and haven't got any clubs with me. But for now that doesn't concern me.

The thing is though, if my name does get pulled out I reckon I'll get less sleep the night before than 21-year-old Rory McIlroy even if he's the leader of The Masters with a round to go!