Rory McIlroy produced one of the most electrifying starts in the history of the Masters, but even a spectacular Saturday wasn’t enough to shake off Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy’s defining moment came late in the round, when he struck a 6-iron with such precision on the 15th hole that he began walking forward before it even landed—just six feet from the cup, setting up a brilliant eagle. But DeChambeau, unfazed by the roar from the crowd, responded immediately by sticking his tee shot to four feet on the par-3 16th and drilling the birdie.
“When I made that, I looked up and said to myself, ‘I’m still here. I’m not backing down,’” DeChambeau said afterward.
McIlroy closed the day with another 6-under 66, earning his first 54-hole lead at a major since the 2014 PGA Championship—his last major title. He now finds himself one round away from finally capturing the elusive green jacket and completing the career Grand Slam, a feat only five golfers in history have achieved.
In a twist of fate, McIlroy will be paired in Sunday’s final group with DeChambeau, the same player who broke his heart at last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 by capitalizing on Rory’s late-round mistakes.
While McIlroy holds the sentimental edge after years of near-misses and heartbreak, DeChambeau has become a fan favorite in his own right, known for his raw power and larger-than-life presence.
Augusta National, golf’s most iconic battleground, promises high drama as two of the game’s biggest stars square off.
“This is going to be one of the most electric final rounds we’ve seen in a while,” DeChambeau said. “We both want it so badly. But there’s still a lot of talent chasing us. It’ll come down to who can stay in control and execute when it counts.”
McIlroy kicked off Saturday with a streak of six consecutive 3s on his scorecard, including a chip-in eagle on the second hole. His day finished with him at 12-under 204, two strokes clear of DeChambeau, who capped his round with a nearly 50-foot birdie putt from the edge of the 18th green for a gritty 69.
Corey Conners briefly made it interesting by slicing McIlroy’s five-shot lead down to one with a flurry of mid-round birdies, but he stalled out with eight straight pars to finish at 70, four shots off the lead in third.
No one else finished within six shots of McIlroy. Justin Rose, who began the day with a one-shot advantage, faded with a 75. Defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler never found momentum and settled for a 72, also seven shots back.
“You’re not going to go super low when you have to scramble from 100 yards just to make par,” Scheffler said.
Saturday’s round was packed with energy, starting from McIlroy’s booming opening drive to DeChambeau’s improbable finish.
Despite the buzz, McIlroy downplayed any notion that this is a revenge match against DeChambeau.
“I can’t make it personal,” McIlroy said. “I need to stay in my bubble. There are others who could still make a charge. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”
Meanwhile, DeChambeau showcased his short game in addition to his power, dazzling with deft chips and clutch putts. He’s thrilled to be in the mix—and in the final pairing with McIlroy.
“Two shots back? I’ll take it,” he said.
McIlroy’s round, while electric, wasn’t flawless. He had a soft bogey on the eighth after a weak chip and missed birdie chances on 9 and 17. A three-putt on the 10th also cost him a shot. Still, it was a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift at Augusta—and how important every stroke is.
Patrick Reed (69), Ludvig Aberg (69), and Shane Lowry (72) round out the group within shouting distance, but they’ll need something special on Sunday. Lowry, once within two shots, stumbled late with bogeys on 17 and 18.
Now, all eyes are on McIlroy, who’s been waiting over a decade for this moment. If he can hold off DeChambeau and the chasing pack, history awaits.
