Rory McIlroy has surged to the forefront of the Masters leaderboard with a dazzling third round. This included two impressive eagles, placing him two shots ahead of Bryson DeChambeau and on the brink of clinching the elusive career Grand Slam in golf.

To accomplish the rarity of a career Grand Slam, McIlroy would need to outperform the formidable DeChambeau in the final round, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown that echoes their intense battle at last year’s US Open.

DeChambeau, who secured victory at the US Open by capitalizing on McIlroy’s late collapse last year, solidified his position in the final pairing at Augusta with a thrilling 48-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

This upcoming pairing marks only the fourth time in the past thirty years that a major championship’s final pairing will feature two players, each with multiple major titles under their belt.

Expressing anticipation for the grand challenge, DeChambeau acknowledged the electrifying atmosphere expected on Sunday.

Conversely, McIlroy emphasized his focus to avoid viewing the final round as a rematch, preferring to remain concentrated on his game strategy.

With intense focus, McIlroy concluded his Saturday round, envisioning the potential of wearing the Green Jacket and fulfilling his 11-year quest to win all four of golf’s major championships.

Apart from the headliner between McIlroy and DeChambeau, the competition remains fierce, with other prominent players such as Corey Conners, Patrick Reed, and last year’s runner-up, Ludvig Aberg, also vying for the title.

With the defending champion Scottie Scheffler among those trailing, the stage is set for an exhilarating conclusion on Sunday. Both McIlroy and DeChambeau acknowledged the high stakes and the importance of maintaining composure and executing their game plans effectively.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/4/13/golf-rory-mcilroy-leads-the-masters-closes-in-on-career-grand-slam?traffic_source=rss