Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is back in position to capture an elusive Masters championship, understanding that the stakes might never be higher when he reaches Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday.
“It’s going to be a little rowdy and a little loud,” McIlroy said. “I’m just going to have to settle in and really try to keep myself in my own little bubble and keep my head down.”
McIlroy roared into the lead early in Saturday’s third round and finished with a 6-under-par 66 to build a two-stroke advantage over Bryson DeChambeau in Augusta, Ga.
McIlroy, aiming to complete a career grand slam while earning his first win in a major since 2014, made some Masters history Saturday. He became the first player in The Masters’ 89 tournaments to shoot 5 under through the first five holes.
He sits at 12-under 204 entering the final round — boosted by recording two eagles Saturday. His lead reached four shots late in the round. But DeChambeau birdied three of the last four holes to post a 69 and move to 10 under. He figures he’ll have to be even better Sunday.
“I think it’s fun, feeling like you have to hit every single shot to the best of your ability, and you can’t let off the gas pedal,” DeChambeau said. “You just have to focus and play the best — absolute best golf you possibly can.”
England’s Justin Rose, the leader after the first and second rounds, shot 75 and slumped to a tie for sixth place at 5 under.
Canada’s Corey Conners (70 on Saturday) is in third place at 8 under, while Patrick Reed (69) and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (69) are at 6 under.
Conners, who was paired with McIlroy, called it an amazing start for his playing partner.
“Rory is a world-class player and a lot of people cheering him on,” Conners said. “Certainly a lot of people were cheering me on, as well. Felt great to be in that type of atmosphere.”
McIlroy, in his 17th Masters, became the first golfer in Masters history to begin a round with five consecutive 3s. He then added a sixth 3 to the streak, which equated to three birdies, an eagle and two pars.
He logged eagles on the second and 15th holes, both par 5s — the first of those with a chip-in from the green fringe. He didn’t par any of the par 5s as he added a bogey and a birdie on the longer holes.
“I think I am quite a sort of momentum player,” McIlroy said. “There is a balance, though. You have to sort of try to ride that momentum as much as you can, but then also temper it with a little bit of, you know, rationale and logic.”
McIlroy tied for 22nd place a year ago at Augusta. He owns seven top-10 Masters finishes, including a runner-up effort in 2022.
DeChambeau, who won the 2024 U.S. Open when McIlroy struggled down the stretch at Pinehurst No. 2, was the only golfer with two sub-70 rounds through Friday. He made it three straight Saturday with a long birdie putt from the fringe on the final hole.
“Those last few holes, I just kept thinking to myself, just get in the final pairing,” DeChambeau said. “Just execute those shots the best you possibly can and give yourself a chance. … I made a beautiful putt to finish it off.”
Conners hopes to be contending late in the day Sunday.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in my game,” he said. “What the other guys do is kind of out of my control.”
Rose began the round with a two-stroke lead, but produced just two birdies Saturday while playing with DeChambeau in the final pairing. His biggest blunder might have come at the par-3 16th, when he needed three putts from inside 10 feet and took a bogey. His troubles worsened with a bogey at No. 18.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (72), Ireland’s Shane Lowry (72) and Australia’s Jason Day (71) are at 5 under.
Scheffler looks like a long shot to repeat.
“It doesn’t matter to me who’s on top of the leaderboard,” he said. “I try to shoot the lowest score that I can shoot on a given day.”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton chipped in for birdie on No. 15, but had two bogeys after that and finished at 2 under thanks to a third-round 75.
–Field Level Media
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy roared into the lead and carries a two-stroke advantage into the final round after shooting 6-under-par 66 in the third round of the Masters on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
McIlroy, aiming for his first Masters championship to complete a career grand slam, became the first player to shoot 5 under through the first five holes of a round in the famed tournament.
He’s at 12-under 204 going into Sunday’s final round. He recorded two eagles Saturday.
Bryson DeChambeau birdied three of the last four holes to post 69 and move to 10 under.
England’s Justin Rose, the leader after the first and second rounds, shot 75 and slumped to a tie for sixth place at 5 under.
Canada’s Corey Conners (70 on Saturday) is in third place at 8 under, while Patrick Reed (69) and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (69) are at 6 under.
McIlroy, in his 17th Masters, became the first golfer in tournament history to begin a round with five consecutive 3s. That equated to three birdies, an eagle and a pars. He also had a 3 for par on No. 6.
He logged eagles on the second and 15th holes, both par 5s — the first of those with a chip-in from the green fringe didn’t par any of the par 5s, also posting a bogey and a birdie on the longer holes.
McIlroy tied for 22nd place a year ago at Augusta. He has seven top-10 finishes, including a runner-up effort in 2022.
Rose began the round with a two-stroke lead. He produced just two birdies. His biggest blunder might have come at the par-3 16th, when he needed three putts from inside 10 feet and took a bogey. His troubles worsened with a bogey at No. 18.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (72), Ireland’s Shane Lowry (72) and Australia’s Jason Day (71) are at 5 under.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton chipped in for birdie on No. 15 but had two bogeys after that and finished with 75 at 2 under.
–Field Level Media
