Second-ranked McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets, reeled off three birdies in a row at the par-five 13th, par-four 14th and par-five 15th then parred to the clubhouse.
Burns, the 54-hole leader at last year’s US Open, birdied the par-three 12th as well as 13th and 15th to make his charge.
Australian Jason Day and Americans Patrick Reed and Kurt Kitayama were on 69.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Americans Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler were on 70 with England’s Justin Rose, a three-time Masters runner-up who closed with back-to-back bogeys.
Top-ranked Scheffler, a four-time major winner, is seeking his third Masters victory in five seasons.
Gary Woodland made bogey at the par-five 15th and shot 71. Woodland revealed his fight with anxiety since 2023 brain surgery last month and two weeks ago won the PGA Houston Open for his first triumph since the 2019 US Open.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and American Collin Morikawa were on 74 while Bryson DeChambeau opened on 76, Spain’s Jon Rahm fired a 78 and Scotsman Robert MacIntyre shot 80. (AFP)
