Rory McIlroy will head into the final round of the Masters with a two-shot lead, a position he has not enjoyed since 2011. The drama of the third day at Augusta National was nothing short of extraordinary. McIlroy, after making history, briefly looked set to fall victim to his own past heartbreaks, only to regain his composure and extend his advantage over the field. The weight of his career Grand Slam pursuit was evident, but by the end of the day, McIlroy had emerged with a clear lead and the kind of focus that suggested he had exorcised some of the demons that have plagued him at Augusta.
McIlroy’s second consecutive 66 brought him to a total of 12 under par, with Bryson DeChambeau his closest challenger at 10 under. Corey Conners is two shots further behind. The final round has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion, with DeChambeau providing an added layer of tension, especially after his dramatic victory over McIlroy in last year’s US Open. McIlroy knows better than to take anything for granted, but the thought of avenging that defeat on such a grand stage looms large.
Saturday’s round had its fair share of drama. McIlroy began with five consecutive birdies, a feat never before accomplished in a Masters round. He then added a sixth birdie on the 6th hole, signaling that he was in the mood for something special. By 2:53 pm, McIlroy had chipped in for an eagle from behind the 2nd green and briefly snatched the lead. Over the next 13 holes, he surged from seven shots off the lead to holding a two-shot advantage. It appeared that McIlroy had everything under control, as he stretched his lead to four strokes while DeChambeau bogeyed the 7th hole. But, as is often the case with Augusta, things rarely remain straightforward.
McIlroy’s dropped shot on the 8th threatened to derail his momentum. Meanwhile, Conners, his playing partner, responded with back-to-back birdies on the 9th and 10th holes. McIlroy’s three-putt on the 10th allowed Conners to close the gap to just one stroke. The old McIlroy, haunted by the ghosts of Augusta’s past, might have faltered, but this McIlroy remained steadfast. A birdie on the 13th and a brilliant second shot on the 15th set up a 6-foot eagle putt, which he converted to restore his four-shot lead.
DeChambeau was not about to go down without a fight, however. He excited the crowd with a birdie on the 16th and looked poised to make a charge. McIlroy, though, had a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th that slid to the left. His fortunes improved on the final hole, where a fortunate bounce saw his drive find safe ground after initially veering right.
Elsewhere, Ludvig Åberg continued to impress, moving to six under after a 69, and could have made further inroads but missed a crucial birdie putt on the final hole. He, like many others, knows that when McIlroy is on his game, he is almost impossible to catch. McIlroy’s current form makes him a formidable opponent for anyone trying to catch up.
Among those further back, Scottie Scheffler struggled, carding a 72 to stay at five under. Patrick Reed moved to four under with a 69, keeping himself within striking distance. Past Masters champions Zach Johnson and Xander Schauffele are also in the mix, tied at four under after both shot 66s. Other contenders like Jason Day and Shane Lowry remain in the hunt, but their margin for error is growing smaller as McIlroy shows no signs of faltering.
Despite the drama and controversy elsewhere, including a penalty for Min Woo Lee and complaints about mud balls from Jordan Spieth, all eyes will be on McIlroy as he looks to finally complete his career Grand Slam. With the prize fund at a record $4.2 million, the financial reward will be substantial, but for McIlroy, the real prize has long since been about silencing the critics and securing his place in history. The stage is set for what could be one of the most memorable Masters conclusions in recent memory.
