Rory McIlroy has stormed to the highest of the Masters leaderboard with an electrifying third spherical that included two eagles to complete two photographs forward of Bryson DeChambeau and on the doorstep of successful the elusive profession Grand Slam in golf.
To achieve the promised land of a profession Grand Slam, McIlroy should get previous the big-hitting American who delivered some late fireworks on Saturday to arrange a high-profile final-round showdown that will probably be a rematch of their battle ultimately 12 months’s US Open.
DeChambeau, who took benefit of a late collapse by McIlroy to win final 12 months’s title, earned a spot in Sunday’s ultimate pairing at Augusta when he drained a monstrous 48-foot birdie putt from off the inexperienced on the closing par-four 18th.
Will probably be simply the fourth time within the final 30 years that the ultimate pairing of a serious will function two a number of main champions.
“Will probably be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a very long time, and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau mentioned after a three-under-par 69 introduced him to 10 underneath on the week and two photographs again of McIlroy.
The pairing presents McIlroy with the chance to get revenge in opposition to the American, who handed him a gut-wrenching loss ultimately 12 months’s US Open, however McIlroy mentioned he prefers not to consider it that method.
“The massive factor is to not make it a rematch and simply keep in my very own little world,” mentioned McIlroy, who shot a six-under 66 on Saturday and is 12-under par for the match.
McIlroy appeared targeted as he walked to the clubhouse after tapping in for par on 18, realizing that in 24 hours, he might be sliding on a Inexperienced Jacket and at last ending an 11-year hunt to win all 4 of golf’s main championships.
“Tomorrow in that ultimate group goes to be just a little rowdy and just a little loud,” he mentioned.
“I’m simply going to should settle in and actually attempt to maintain myself in my very own little bubble, maintain my head down and method tomorrow with the identical angle that I’ve tried to method the final three days with.”
Rory McIlroy separated from the sector in his third spherical. #themasters pic.twitter.com/LEFTZbXoRw
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
‘What desires are fabricated from’
DeChambeau, who birdied three of his ultimate 4 holes for a third-round 69, beamed an enormous smile and high-fived his delirious followers after his ultimate gap heroics because the solar started to set on Augusta Nationwide.
“That’s what desires are fabricated from proper there,” he mentioned.
“Two behind, couldn’t ask for something extra. Tremendous excited for the problem forward.”
DeChambeau, who returned to the vary to practise iron photographs after his spherical, mentioned he additionally expects an electrical environment on Sunday.
“I feed into the group, particularly the patrons right here, and so they give that power again,” he mentioned.
“It’s a cool feeling and I used {that a} couple occasions right now.”
McIlroy bought his spherical off to a scorching begin, going birdie-eagle-birdie en path to changing into the primary participant to start a spherical on the Masters with six consecutive threes, leapfrogging in a single day chief Justin Rose amid pristine scoring situations.
After beginning the day three photographs again of Rose, McIlroy led by as many as 4 on the entrance 9 however cooled off across the flip with bogeys on eight and 10.
He birdied 13 to grab the momentum again and his hovering method shot on the par-five fifteenth arrange a six-foot eagle putt that he coolly transformed to regain his four-shot lead.
However DeChambeau wouldn’t go away, drilling birdies on 15 and 16 earlier than his dramatic putt on 18 to maintain the two-time US Open champion’s dream of capturing a primary Masters title alive.
Whereas the concentrate on Sunday will probably be on the McIlroy-DeChambeau pairing, loads of different marquee names are additionally within the hunt.
Canadian Corey Conners is 4 again and in solo third place whereas former Masters champion Patrick Reed and final 12 months’s runner-up Ludvig Aberg are two photographs additional adrift.
World primary and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is amongst 4 gamers lurking seven photographs behind, heading into what ought to be an exciting finale on Sunday.
“We each need to win actually, actually badly, and there’s lots of nice gamers behind us too,” DeChambeau mentioned.
“Bought to be conscious of that and focus. It’s about who can management themselves and who can execute the golf photographs the perfect.”
