This was emphatically Rory McIlroy’s day and this could yet be his most glorious week. In a startling third round, he made history for himself at The Masters and now European golf will watch the denouement to see if he can make history for his continent.
But Bryson DeChambeau’s outrageous 50-foot birdie on the 18th ensured there are only two shots in it and, of course, the still-fresh memory of the burly American overhauling McIlroy over the last few holes in last year’s US Open at Pinehurst will be trailed large.
DeChambeau, with three birdies in the last four holes for a 69, grabbed some of the McIlroy spotlight and the two-time major winner will not be overawed. With respect to Corey Conners on eight-under in third, it could be a classic head-to-head and DeChambeau might feel he has the emotional sway.
McIlroy has enough scar tissue to contend with, however, and he is adamant he will embrace the situation. “I am not going to shy away from it,” McIlroy said. “Days like tomorrow are the reasons why I get up and do what I do. I am excited by it.”
He stands on 12-under after successive 66s and appears to be in control. We all know McIlroy has been in this position before but do not listen to those who will only hark back to 2011 when he conceded a four-stroke lead in the final round. Since then, the 35-year-old has converted substantial advantages into four major titles.
On the bulk of the evidence presented during this enthralling Saturday, when his brilliance, fearlessness and sheer elan held the galleries in rapture, McIlroy is on the brink of ending his 11-year drought in the majors; but more importantly with a first green jacket that many have long considered his birthright, joining Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only male golfers to complete the career grand slam. No European has achieved that before.
When one considers the immortality of being enlisted in that particular club, the fact that he carved his name into the Augusta record books with his first six holes here perhaps seems insignificant. It was anything but. By posting a sextet of threes in this extraordinary start will have inspired many to believe this was the stretch when he at last confirmed his irresistible candidacy.
Granted, there was the five-under inward half on Friday that thrust himself back into contention, following the two double-bogeys in three holes late on Thursday that had so blighted his challenge. And there were also the three holes from the 13th on Saturday he played in threeunder. But still this beginning was something else.
McIlroy arrived on the first tee, two off the pace set by England’s Justin Rose and within 45 minutes he had forged a two-shot lead – and poor old Rose had not dropped a shot (the veteran eventually tumbled to five-under with a 75).
They say that the Masters does not begin until the back nine on Sunday and that was a maxim everyone here would have been wise to remember as the patrons sent the Saturday roars to previously unvisited decibels. But regardless of the result, McIlroy in this mood is box-office.
Golf’s favourite mantra is “stay in the moment” and the crowd were determined to show their appreciation for the entertainment, while, naturally, projecting forwards to what it could all mean. His ball-striking alone deserves every honour going. McIlroy’s first two drives travelled a combined 740 yards. He spun in his approach on the first to 10 feet and nervelessly holed the putt, before creating absolute pandemonium on the second green. He pulled his approach just off the green, but chipped in.
The world No 2 greeted the eruption of euphoria with a fist pump and at that moment it was amusing to think of the talk his sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella had delivered the previous morning. “Don’t try to do too much too early,” the sage told him. “Be patient.” Patient? McIlroy was clearly in a hellbent rush towards what he would consider his destiny..
McIlroy pitched it to six feet on the short par-three third and he was four-under for the opening trio. There was one last birdie in this scintillating six (he parred the par-three sixth) when he rolled in a 18-footer on the fifth. That sent the statisticians feverishly thumbing through the tomes.
Yes, it was a record, but he could not birdie the seventh that would have matched Jodie Mudd, who made seven consecutive threes elsewhere on the layout in 1987. As if to allow the galleries a breather, McIlroy bogeyed the eighth.
He had been four clear at that stage and inevitably that final-round 80, 14 years ago, came to mind. But, if anything, that memory made this entertainment even more pulsating, and if he prevails, will make the success that much sweeter.
Alarmingly, his lead disappeared to one when he also bogeyed the ninth and DeChambeau and Canadian Conners pulled to within one. Here we go again. Except he bounced back, birdieing the par-five 13th courtesy of a fine up-and-down. And two holes later re-emphasised his penchant for par-fives when eagling the 15th. A 348-yard drive, a 205-yard six-iron over the water to six feet. Dare we evoke the name of Tiger?
Certainly the rest will realise they will have to hunt down a legend. Ludvig Aberg, McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mate, played with him in the first two rounds. “It was great; he played very, very well,” the young Swede said after his 69 put him into some sort of contention on six-under, alongside the 2018 champion Patrick Reed.
“I’ve said it before, I think when he plays his best golf, it’s hard to catch him. In fact, I don’t think there’s a lot of guys in this world that can catch him when he plays at his best.”
On five-under stands McIlroy’s friend and countryman Shane Lowry and the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, who will still fancy his chances, despite his so-so 72. Jason Day will feel likewise, but he knows the front-runner’s qualities.
“Obviously Rory, outside of those two doubles, is playing pretty nicely,” the Australian said after his 71. “He’s making a boatload of birdies and had a lot of confidence after at Pebble [Beach, in February] and at the Players [last month]. I feel like if he can come back to us a little bit; Sundays at Augusta are unlike any other tournament.
“But he’s the best player of our generation for sure. He just makes things look so easy. There’s not many guys on this planet that are able to do something like he did today.”
McIlroy’s six threes in a row
Hole 1 – birdie: There were no first-tee nerves for McIlroy after he cleared the field with a 371-yard bomb to leave just 76 yards in. A flick with a wedge set up a simple birdie putt.
Hole 2 – eagle: Another huge drive was helped by kicking on off the downslope of a bunker to leave just 271 yards into the 575-yard par five. His approach was dart-like towards the pin but just flew over the green to leave a tricky chip which went in for eagle.
Hole 3 - birdie: All that was needed was short wedge after his tee shot left just 33 yards to the green. His approach hopped once and stopped dead just 7ft past the flag. The putt was read to perfection, just dying into the hole.
Hole 4 – par: A slightly pulled tee shot to the left could have produced a complication, but a well-managed Texas wedge from just off the green gave McIlroy his first par of the day.
Hole 5 – birdie: With his first full mid-iron approach shot on a par 4, McIlroy found the middle of the green and with 18 feet to the hole a par would have been respectable. Instead, McIlroy drained it with a confident stroke.
Hole 6 – par: An undercooked tee shot left 48 feet to the back-left pin on the 180-yard par 3 and a heavy lag putt left the Northern Irishman with a lot of work to do. However, another confident stoke put him in the Masters record books by becoming the first player to start a round with six consecutive threes.
12:45 AM BST
Anyone else like a kid on Christmas Eve...
...or is it just me?
Tomorrow promises much, let’s hope it lives up to the considerable expectations.
Join us from 4pm for all the action and the chance to read (hopefully) about McIlroy’s career Grand Slam.
12:39 AM BST
DeChambeau speaks to Sky Sports - ‘Every hole matters’
On his three-under 69...
“I wasn’t striking my irons well today so I’ve got to work on that and if I can get that locked in for tomorrow it’s going to be a fun match.”
On how he’ll approach the final round...
“Every hole matters, the most important thing is looking forward to the next shot and thinking ‘how can I give myself the best chance?’”
On how he’ll take on Rory McIlroy...
“Just one shot at a time – get into every shot and execute to the best of your ability. That’s all you can focus on.”
12:20 AM BST
Now for some bad news
As in news you probably have (understandably, on purpose) forgotten about/made sure you have deposited in the deepest, darkest recesses of your brains.
This will be the third time Rory will be in the final pairing at Augusta. The previous two occasions saw him shoot a final-round 80 to finish in T15 back in 2011 (the round/nightmare we are not going to talk about at all...) and then in 2018 he shot a final-round 74 to finish T5...
So, let’s first of all hope he breaks par tomorrow, avoids the anxiety dream being lived out for real in front of millions and then gets over the line...
12:11 AM BST
Rory McIlroy speaks to Sky - ‘ Days like tomorrow are why I get up’
On his dream start...
“It was a dream start. You want to be one or two under through three and I was four under. I had a little bit of a wobble around the middle of the round, but I felt like I steadied myself just to get through 11 and 12 on even par was important. Then all I was trying to do was take advantage of the par fives and the shot of the day for me on 15 with the six iron and being able to convert that.”
On what most pleased him about his round today...
“I think my iron play and my approach play was really solid today. I drove the ball well, hit a couple of squirly three woods. If I can keep the ball striking as it was, I felt like I left myself above the hole a lot so I couldn’t be aggressive with the putting.”
On the misses he’s had at Augusta before and playing with DeChambeau tomorrow...
“I think I am not going to shy away from it. Situations like tomorrow are the reason I get up and practice and try and do all the right things. If I didn’t want this moment, I wouldn’t be doing those things. These are the pairings I want to be in and I’m excited for that”
12:06 AM BST
DeChambeau birdies the last
Confirming it will be a Rory vs Bryson shootout - the Pinehurst protagonists from last year.
DeChambeau drains his putt a good 16 yards from just off the green. The crowd, sorry, done it again, I mean the patrons go wild and Bryson acts like a pumped-up all American hero, chest-thumping fun on the 18th green. It’s not hard to see why. He’ll go into the last round just two back of McIlroy.
What a last pairing that has the making for one of the all-time great Masters Sundays...there could be will be fireworks...
11:56 PM BST
As I was saying...
...while Rory does have scar tissue at Augusta (but, remember, we’re not talking about 2011...) he has plenty of great memories as well.
Most rounds of 66 or better, men's majors since first Masters in 1934:
Tiger Woods, 28
Rory McIlroy, 22 (including today)
Jack Nicklaus, 21— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 12, 2025
11:54 PM BST
Another six-under 66 for Rory
He two-putts at 18 and walks off the green on 12 under.
Let’s not talk about the 2011 Masters, let’s forget that ever happened, let’s pretend it was an actual nightmare and didn’t actually take place here on Planet Earth. Let’s also not talk, yet, about Green Jackets and career Grand Slams...
If McIlroy shoots 70 tomorrow he’ll give himself a great chance to lay all those ghosts to rest...
11:46 PM BST
Rory has 159 into the pin at 18
And his eight iron soars right to the back shelf and lands 15ish foot from the hole. He’ll have that to move to 13 under...
11:44 PM BST
Lowry has bogeyed the last two
And walks off 18 on five under. That’s a shame as he played really well today, but this course can mentally and physically take it out of you. That’s a par 72 for the 2019 Championship Golfer of the Year.
11:41 PM BST
Something to ponder...
What's the margin Rory has to be leading by for men in the 30-45 demo to sleep comfortably tonight?
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) April 12, 2025
11:38 PM BST
Rory’s drive at the 18th
Is a little tight on the right of the fairway. His approach may have a few overhaning branches to negotiate...
11:34 PM BST
Par for Rory at the 17th
His birdie putt, after a 178-yard approach, flirted half-heartedly with the hole but stayed visible. McIlroy remains at 12 under with one hole to go.
11:30 PM BST
Scheffler walks off the 18th
Five-under par. That’s after a a 72. It was a round that never got going and he is currently seven shots back of Rory. Too many? I reckon so...
11:28 PM BST
Oh dear...
That’s for Justin Rose who had a four-foot putt for birdie but walks off the 16th with a bogey. Yep, he three-putted from a matter of inches...ouch. What doubtless made it worse is that DeChambeau makes his birdie putt. The American is at nine under three back of Rory. Rose is back to six under...
11:21 PM BST
Great tee shot from DeChambeau at the 16th
He’ll have a three-footer to get to nine under.
Rose’s tee shot is almost a carbon copy of the American’s. Both should get one shot back on McIlroy...
11:17 PM BST
Birdie for DeChambeau at the 15th
He joins Conners on eight under. Rose laid up a the par five and cannot one putt so he stays at seven under.
Four good swings from Rory now will see him head into the last round with a decent-enough lead...
11:14 PM BST
An under-hit putt...
...means Rory walks off the 16th still on 12 under, a four-shot lead. His playing partner Conners also pars the par three and he’s the one in sole second place on eight under.
The lowest middle 36 hole total in Masters history is 131 (-13) by Tiger Woods in his wins in 1997 and 2005.
If Rory plays the last three today in -1 he matches the record
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 12, 2025
11:09 PM BST
Good tee shot a 16 from Rory
He hits his eight iron to 15 feet - can he get to 13 under?
After the run of five holes in two over, McIlroy seems to have found his mojo and you wouldn’t bet against him draining this putt.
11:04 PM BST
Four-shot lead for Rory!
He’s back! He drains the eagle putt and is now three-under for the past three holes, moving to 12 under.
As with earlier, I am not going to mention Green Jackets or career Grand Slams...nope, not doing it.
10:57 PM BST
Great chance for eagle at the 15th
For, yep, you’ve guessed it, Rory McIlroy. His drive at the par five (his undoing on Thursday) leaves him 205 to the pin and from the moment the ball left his six iron it looked like a heat-seeking missile. He’ll have a five-footer to move to 12 under.
Can he do it? Find out in the next post...
10:46 PM BST
Rory pars the 14th
Good par having been in the trees. He breathes a sigh of relief as he walks off the green on 10 under with the par-five 15th to come.
10:44 PM BST
DeChambeau pummels his drive at the 13th
Leaving him with just a seven iron for his second into the par five. However, he seriously overcooks the approach and finds the back bunker. His chip isn’t the best and he’ll have a snaking 20-footer for what he’d had deemed a regulation birdie (remember, he used to be Mr 67..?)
As I typed that his putt was short and he leaves the green with par to stay on seven under. He looks, understandably, annoyed.
Rose also walks off with a par having laid up. He stays at six under.
10:40 PM BST
Lowry gets to within three
Thanks to birdie at the 14th.
Meanwhile, having seen his drive find the trees at the same hole, McIlroy’s approach avoids the branches but not the spectators (sorry, I refuse to call them patrons at every turn....). He’ll have an up and down to stay at 10 under.
10:34 PM BST
Rory is back to 10 under
Thanks to a fine birdie at the 13th. His approach left him with a tricky up and down but he drains the five-footer to get back to a two-shot lead. That was his first birdie since the fifth.
10:29 PM BST
Bogey for DeChambeau at the 12th
His shot from the bunker goes to the back of the green and he’s unable to one putt meaning he’s back to seven under. Rose walks off with a par to stay at six under.
10:26 PM BST
Rory to the right of the green at 13 in two
His drive left him 236 to the pin and a five iron looks good in the air but trickles to the right and somehow avoids going into the bunker. He could do with a birdie here to get some momentum back into his round.
10:21 PM BST
DeChambeau in the bunker while...
...Rose will have a 15-footer for birdie at the par-three 12th.
10:18 PM BST
Aberg on the charge
The talented young Swede has birdied 14, 15 and 16 to move to six under, just three back of the lead.
10:14 PM BST
Pars for Rory and Conners at the 12th
Two good up and downs for the penultimate group.
Now comes the 13th and a chance of a birdie...
10:11 PM BST
Golf is a horrible sport at times
Exhibit #3876294836 is Rose’s approach to the 11th. He’s behind a tree and cuts a mid-iron right at the front-left pin but it’s slightly over done and trickles off the green leaving him a tricky up and down for par. That was a great shot and he may well have nothing to show for it.
10:09 PM BST
Neither Rory nor Conners find the dancefloor
At the 12th. McIlory is just off the back of the green and Conners is in the deep, front bunker.
10:07 PM BST
Jason Day is having a solid round
He’s two under for the day and six under for the tournament thanks to this chip in at the 14th.
10:06 PM BST
Phew...
That could be an important putt...Rory drains the eight-footer for par at the 11th to stay at nine under. Conners also walks off with a par to stay one back of his playing partner.
Now on to the most famous par three in world golf (apologies to the Postage Stamp and the 17th at Sawgrass...).
10:02 PM BST
McIlroy has 189 for his approach into the 11th
In the air it looks good but a gust of wind appears to get hold of it and it’s just short of the green. It’s not the toughest up and down and, not wanting to tempt fate, he should be fine to stay at nine under...
As I typed that his chip is short and curves away from the hole. He’ll now have a tough eight-footer for par...
10:01 PM BST
Scheffler’s not got going today
He’s just bogeyed Golden Bell, the par-three 12th, after his tee shot went long and left. The world No.1 is now back to four under.
09:54 PM BST
Two good drives on the 11th
From McIlroy and Conners. Both find the fairway on the left leaving them with a good look at the pin which in on the front-right of the famous green.
Rory needs a bit of a reset and he’s going to have to do in around Amen Corner. Strap in....
09:50 PM BST
Rory bogeys the 10th
The mood has changed a bit. That’s two bogeys in three holes. This one came courtesy of an overzealous approach. His drive of 327 yards left him 157 to the pin at the picturesque par four. His nine iron, however, came out too hot and left him with a devilish downhill putt. He takes three attempts to find the bottom of the cup and McIlroy is back to nine under, a lead of just one.
Meanwhile, playing partner Conners birdies the same hole to move to eight under...
09:46 PM BST
DeChambeau and Rose
Walk off the ninth with pars to stay at eight and seven under respectively.
09:36 PM BST
DeChambeau birdies the eighth
The American is on the green in two and two putts to move to eight under. Rory’s lead is back to two.
Meanwhile, Rose also birdies the par five and moves back to seven under.
09:34 PM BST
Rory misses the tiddler at the ninth
He stays at 10 under.
McIlroy’s out in 32. Not sure the last time someone shot that on the front nine at Augusta and possibly felt slightly disappointed. But such was his brilliance early on that Augusta’s first 29 looked on the cards.
09:30 PM BST
Rory’s drive at the ninth is...
...a tasty 347 yards. That leaves him just the 109 yards to the back pin and he stiffs it to within four feet - he’ll have that to get back to 11 under and a four-shot lead.
09:21 PM BST
BREAKING NEWS: Rory has actually bogeyed a hole
He was unable to get up and down at the eighth and he’s now back to 10 under. That was about the drive into the bunker and possibly being a bit too greedy with the shot out of the sandy trap. That’s his first blemish has come on a par-five will doubtless hurt, but he’s three shots clear.
09:20 PM BST
Dropped shots for Rose and DeChambeau
They’ve come at the par-four seventh. For Rose, courtesy of a drive into the left-hand trees and pine straw. His approach then finds the front bunker and three shots later he’s back to six under.
For DeChambeau it’s come thanks to another wayward drive, an approach that was short of the green and chip that left him a 10-footer that he was unable to make. He’s back to seven under.
09:17 PM BST
BREAKING NEWS: Rory is human
His drive at the par-five eighth finds the fairway bunker. His second shot then finds the face of said sandy trap and his third, from 189 yards, goes just over the back of the green. He’ll have an tricky up and down to make par and stay at 11 under.
09:12 PM BST
Scheffler just hasn’t got going
His approach to the tough (I am writing that about a lot of holes, aren’t I? There’s a theme...) ninth looks good but the ball trundles back to the front for the green down the slope. The world No.1 is looking slightly frustrated.
Meanwhile, Jason Day makes a brilliant par-save at the tough (see, another one!) 10th. His drive found the trees on the right but the Australian somehow makes a four thanks, in part to a brilliant chip out the right-hand bunker by the green. He’s at six under.
Still just one bogey or worse this week for Jason Day.
Since 2000, there are only 2 players to play the first 54 holes of a Masters with 1 bogey/worse (none have ever done it bogey-free) - Stuart Appleby in 2001 and Francesco Molinari in 2019.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 12, 2025
09:04 PM BST
Pars for Rose and DeChambeau at the par-three sixth
Both tee shots find the dancefoor but both birdie putts come out a but too hot. However, they drain the par putts to stay at seven and eight under respectively.
09:02 PM BST
A brilliant chip at the seventh...
...allows McIlory to par the seventh. It comes after his drive found the trees on the right. He was able to get the approach past the branches to the left of the green. That leaves him a tricky up and down for the four, but he makes it looks easy with an exquisite chip to leave him a three-footer. That third shot is as much a good sign as any of the brilliance we’ve seen from him so far this evening. He stays at 11 under.
08:56 PM BST
The chasing pack
Forgive me if you think I’ve focussed too much on Rory (he’s is playing golf from the Gods btw...)...
Rose is one over for the round, back on seven under - he’s now looking and sounding frustrated. DeChambeau is on eight under, with Shane Lowry on seven under after a birdie at the sixth. Scheffler, remember him (?!) (of course you do...) he’s back on five under level par for the day after a bogey at the seventh.
A mark of just how well McIlroy is playing is that we haven’t seen Scheffler play a shot in a while. Rory is the box-office hit and the crowds, sorry, patrons (and TV viewers, I assume) are loving it.
08:51 PM BST
Unprecedented brilliance from McIlroy
Just back in from watching Rory McIlroy’s initial birdie-eagle-birdie burst. There are plenty of corporate bros high-fiving each other, as you can imagine. It is extraordinary how impressive he can be when, in his words, he lets the score come to him. On his day, he is the most frightening front-runner in the game. Do not forget he won each of his first two major championships by eight shots. Six straight threes to lead by three? An unprecedented sequence in the history of Augusta National. The anticipation all around the course is palpable.
08:46 PM BST
A sixth three for Rory
3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3.
McIlroy is the first player to start a round at the Masters with six threes. The latest has come at the par-three sixth. His birdie putt came off the flat stick hot leaving him an eight-footer for par. It never even flirted with staying at ground level.
OK, while I am not mentioning Green Jackets I will say no one has gone out in 29 at Augusta...He’s five under for the round and 11 under for the tournament.
08:43 PM BST
Roars for Rory woe for Rose
The second-round leader has dropped back to seven under after a bogey at the par-three fourth. He three-putted from 37 foot - ouch...
Playing partner, DeChambeau walks off with a par and stays at eight under, in second place.
08:40 PM BST
One of the great starts to a round
We can remember, and it’s come in the third round at Augusta.
And to think many were questioning his character less that 48 hours ago.
08:39 PM BST
Ridiculous from Rory
An air of disbelief here. Rory McIlroy has begun his third round with five threes to go three clear. The last time he held a three-shot lead at Augusta was 14 years ago. We all know what happened then. So we will not mention it again. He is five-under for the day and 11-under for his last 14 holes. Ridiculous.
08:34 PM BST
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR RORY!
Are we in a dream? Is this what heaven looks like?
This is soooooooooo good (yes, the many Os are required...).
He’s drained the 18-foot putt at the fifth to move to 11 under. That’s five under through five holes and it’s fair to say McIlroy is tearing this fabled, tough course apart at the moment...
Still not going to mention Green Jackets and career Grand Slams...BUT while the fans, sorry, patrons are going wild he’s looking as calm as I’ve ever seen him out there.
08:27 PM BST
The par-four fifth is the toughest hole
McIlroy has 171 yards to the pin and his approach leaves him with a 20-foot putt for another birdie.
08:27 PM BST
The par-four fifth is the toughest hole
McIlroy has 171 yards to the pin and his approach leaves him with a 20-foot putt for another birdie.
08:25 PM BST
DeChambeau bogeys the third
His drive at the 350-yard par four was way left. He still would have fancied his chances of getting up and down but his chip leaves him short of the green and he’s unable to get up and down for par.
The American is back to eight under and Rory’s lead is now two.
From two-back to two in front in four holes...
Rose is level through three and stays at eight under.
08:21 PM BST
Perfect drive at the tough fifth from Rory
Much has been said and written about the scar tissue he has at Augusta BUT it’s fair to say he also has a lot of good memories around the fabled fairways and greens. He’s got six scores of 66 or better, only a certain Tiger Woods has more...
08:17 PM BST
Rory doesn’t birdie the fourth
Shocked...McIlroy has parred a hole.
Bit of a let down there...Well, obviously not, three at the tricky par-three fourth is a good score.
He stays at 10 under.
08:15 PM BST
Pinehurst rematch?
Incredible atmosphere out there and, of course, it has been new leader Rory Mcilroy conducting the cheers by playing the first three holes in four-under. But with Bryson DeChambeau moving to nine-under, one behind the Northern Irishman, there is the breathtaking potential of a rematch of last year’s US Open at Pinehurst. At this point, the script could not be any better.
08:14 PM BST
Rose is on eight under
He must feel as though he’s been hit by a jaggernaught (slight exaggeration, I admit...). He’s done little wrong, he’s level par for the round through two, and is now two shots back.
08:11 PM BST
Not mentioning Green Jackets for Rory...
...because there are other golfers out there bar McIlory.
DeChambeau is one of them and he’s delivered a huge two-putt from 73-feet to move to nine under with birdie at the second.
08:10 PM BST
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR RORY!
Sorry not sorry for the Caps Lock but this news is deserving of it.
McIlroy moves to 10 under thanks to birdie at the par-four third. His approach leaves him with a six-footer that looked in from the moment it left the putter.
He’s now four under for the first three holes and nine under for his past 12 holes.
Dare I say it...?
Nope, I won’t not mention Green Jackets and career Grand Slams etc etc until tomorrow, I promise.
08:02 PM BST
Another Irishman is on fire
By that I mean Shane Lowry has birdied the third to move to seven under. The leaders are all draining putts and chips at the moment, it’s utter mayhem in the best possible way.
07:56 PM BST
EAGLE FOR RORY!
He’s only gone and chipped in at the second to send the crowd (and some at Telegraph Towers) delirious!
McIlroy now leads by one on nine under!
It’s early doors (forgive the sporting expression (it is sport, though...)) in the third round but already it’s been some spectacle.
07:54 PM BST
Three hundred and sixty nine
In yards, that’s how far Rory’s drive at the second went. Fair to say the driver is working well for McIlroy...
That leaves him with 219 to the par-five green, his approach, that would have looked perfect in the air, just goes over the back. He’ll have an up-and-down for another birdie.
Meanwhile, DeeeeeCHAMBEAU (as Butch Harmon pronounces it) moves to eight under thanks to a 45-foot putt at the first.
That moves him to co-leader...
07:48 PM BST
Rose finds the right bunker with his opening drive
DeChambeau takes a three-wood and finds the short stuff.
The Englishman then hits a fine approach from the sand to leave him with a downhill 25-footer for birdie.
Meanwhile, Shane Lowry birdies the second to move to six under.
Everyone is seemingly off to a good start. Bodes well for what is already promising to be an exciting next four hours.
07:45 PM BST
Rory birdies the first
To move to seven under. Once it left the flat-stick the ball never looked like going anywhere other than the bottom of the cup.
Decent (dollops of understatement there) start...
We’ve just been told that drive was 371 yards - as I said, it was a monster drive...
07:42 PM BST
The ominous sight of Scheffler
There could be no more ominous sight for the leaders than that of Scottie Scheffler, just three shots behind Justin Rose. The two-champion has that rare ability to shoot in the 60s at Augusta in third gear, such is his immaculate iron play. He was clearly frustrated with himself after an unusually error-strewn second round, darting straight to the driving range to investigate why he had been pulling most of his tee shots left. “I hope I’ll clean up the card a little bit,” he said. The rest have been warned. The poise with which Scheffler handled the weekend rounds en route to his second Green Jacket 12 months ago was startling to watch.
07:38 PM BST
Zach Johnson
Ends on four-under after a six-under 66. Proof once again that you do not have to overpower this course to have a chance of winning.
07:37 PM BST
Now Justin Rose is on the first
Rosey, as Butch Harmon calls him (and I am tempted to for the rest of the weekend...) has been the best golfer out there for the first two rounds (funny that, he’s leading...) Can he take the pressure a possible wire-to-wire win brings?
Meanwhile, Rory’s approach (a full 90 yard in front of playing partner Conners...) lands over the pins and comes back down the slope to leave him with a 10-footer for birdie.
07:34 PM BST
Scheffler lays up on the par-five second
He found the right bunker with his drive, but ultimately it doesn’t matter as his third shot ends a foot away from the hole. That will be a tap-in birdie to move him to six under.
07:32 PM BST
Rory hits a monster drive...
...right over the bunkers on the left. Rich Beem (the very likeable American and 2002 US PGA champion) speaks for many when, on commentary, he simply says: ‘Oh my...’.
Yep, it was huge. A bold and promising start on a tricky hole.
07:29 PM BST
Time for Rory
McIlroy is walking to the first tee. He’s playing with Corey Conners, a quiet Canadian, that will suit him.
So, anyone slightly nervous for the next four or so hours?
07:25 PM BST
Scheffler pars the first
His approach is a rarity in that it was pin high. Great chance for birdie but he cannot drain the putt. He stays at five under.
Playing partner Hatton bogeys, having found the left bunker with his second, and looks about as miffed as you’d expect the angry one to look. He’s back to four under.
07:22 PM BST
Zach Johnson’s tee shot at 16
Tasty...
Alas, he followed that up with a bogey at the 17th. His approach found the front bunker, his chip out left him with a 10-footer that never really flirted with the hole.
He’s back to four under.
07:20 PM BST
Look at Im go!
Sungjae Im has just eagled the par-five second to move to five under. Moves are being made.
07:12 PM BST
Scheffler’s third round is under way
On the first tee he’s on five under. His drive finds the fairway.
His playing partner is Tyrrell Hatton, also on five under, and his drive, alas, finds the finds and pine straw.
07:09 PM BST
If there’s one annoying thing about the Masters
It’s that it encourages a lot of mythology.
The way people talk about Augusta National it’s as though no one has ever thought to mow a lawn before, that flowers never existed before they were planted around the 18 greens. It plays to mawkishness in the worst possible way.
Nick Dougherty, who is a brilliant broadcaster, does sometimes go a bit OTT with the sentimentality surrounding this tournament and in introducing the main action he does just that...
OK, got that off my chest.
Now for the real action....
07:05 PM BST
Zachery!
Yep, Zach Johnson is on fire. The 2007 winner has birdied 15 and 16 to move to five under.
As you’d expect he laid-up at the par-five 15th, stiffing his approach to three feet. At the 16th, where the pin is similar to what we’ll have tomorrow, he hit his tee shot to within a foot.
He is seven under for the round and is proving that Augusta National is gettable today.
06:56 PM BST
Butch Harmon is on Sky
He’s always so enthusiastic and, for now at least, has stopped doing that annoying thing where he looks straight into the camera when speaking (a la some mind-reader).
He’s says Rory just has to ‘do more of the same today’. He says the Northern Irishman is more mature (as a golfer) than before and if he finds fairways and greens he’ll be the one to beat.
06:50 PM BST
We’re not far off the ‘Big Guns’ starting their third rounds
7.10pm
Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton
7.20pm
Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry
7.30pm
Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners
7.40pm
Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau
06:49 PM BST
Bogey for Aberg at the first
The talented Swede finished second on his debut last year and he’s had a fine start to his second appearance, coming into moving day on three under. But he stands on the second tee on two under after his approach went over the back of the green. He was unable to get up and down and he now has work to do if he’s to make a dent on the top of the leaderboard.
06:43 PM BST
Here’s how Zach Johnson birdied 13
He won in 2007 laying up at every par-five. More of the same here...
06:38 PM BST
Birdie time
For both Zach Johnson and Collin Morikawa. The former has birdied the 13th to move to three under and the latter is now at four under thanks to birdie at the first. He had 147 yards to the pin after his drive and his approach left him with a 10-footer which he made no mistake over.
He’s been impressive since the first round, it looks as though he’s found some sort of game and he’s definitly one to watch today...
06:34 PM BST
Rory McIlroy speaks to Sky Sports - ‘Let the score come to me’
On how he’s approaching the third round...
“More of the same [as Friday]. Obviously I was a lot happier last night that on Thursday but I’ll have the same midset as I did [in the opening two rounds]. I’ll take care of what I am doing, don’t look around too much, don’t look at the leaderboard, let the score come to me. I am not trying to force the issue too much.”
06:29 PM BST
Fleetwood is being Fleetwood this week (in the US, at least)
Playing well but without really threatening the top of the leaderboard. He’s just bogeyed the first to move back to one under. Having bisected the fairway with his drive the Englishman’s approach finds the back of the green. It’s far from awful but leaves him a tricky downhill putt. That leaves him with a six-footer for par and that stays above ground. Not an ideal opening.
06:24 PM BST
Morikawa shot a 69 yesterday
He’s just got his third round under way with a booming drive at the first that’s found the middle of the fairway.
He’s at three under, five back of Rose. Far from out of it, but the two-time major winner needs to go low today to still be part of the conversation heading into the last round.
Many fancied him coming into the tournament, can he justify their faith today? To state the obvious, we’re about to find out.
06:18 PM BST
Zach Johnson knows his way around Augusta
And the 2007 winner is now the on-course leader, thanks to birdies at the 10th and 12th. He’s just drained a 12-foot putt at the famous par-three Golden Bell (who doesn’t want to play that hole?!) to move to two under.
06:17 PM BST
Spieth’s tiny tantrum on 14
Was for nothing. He made the up and down to stay at one under.
Phew, would have hated to see what he might have done had he dropped a shot.
Anyway, he’s one of the few golfers who, at least in my view, can get away with those sort of antics. He talks to the ball in the air, and, I suspect, we can all relate to that.
06:01 PM BST
Rahm is back to level par
That’s due to a bogey at the 10th. His approach was short and left and the Spaniard was unable to get up and down.
Of those currently out on the fairways Jordan Spieth is the closest to making a dent into the gap to the leaders, and even then he’s only flirting with the outskirts of ‘being within an unlikely shout’ of challenging Rose and Co.
The 2015 winner is on one under, having birdied the 13th.
As I typed that he sent his approach to the 14th long and his reaction was similar, in both sound and sight, to how a toddler might behave when told it’s time to leave the playground...
05:49 PM BST
We’re just looking at Niemann play his second at the 13th
And the view gives us a good idea about how steep that fairway slope is. They say it’s hard to appreciate the topography of the fabled course but that shot reveals a lot...let’s just say it’s slopey...
Niemann, by the way, found the green with his approach, he’ll have an eagle putt to move to one under.
05:40 PM BST
Speaking of those pin positions...
Here they are.
05:39 PM BST
Justin Rose speaks to Sky Sports - ‘You need to pick when to be aggressive’
On his approach to the first two days and on how he plans to attack the weekend...
“You need patience and to know where to pick and choose when to be aggressive. It’s about making those committed swings...it’s both simple and not simple.”
On today’s pins...
“Some pins there’s a premium on making fairways, there will be a mix [on how I play] today.”
05:37 PM BST
Thanks Kieran!
I am now here to take you through to the close.
So, anyone else think this is the sort of leaderboard we all wanted heading into the last two rounds? It promises to be an exciting last two days.
I am not going to mention Rory (ooops, just did...) for fear of jinxing him. Only to say that bar 15 and 17 on Thursday he’s played flawless golf, whistling the ball and his way to within striking distance of Justin Rose.
If that carries on...
Anyway, as I said, not going to mention it or him for a bit...He’s off in just under two hours (will obvs mention him a fair bit then...).
05:25 PM BST
Final few groups and their tee times
7.10pm
Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton
7.20pm
Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry
7.30pm
Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners
7.40pm
Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau
There is so much to look forward to in the coming hours with so many big hitters near the top of the leaderboard not yet out on the course. That is all from me and I will hand you over to the very capable hands of Greg Wilcox. Sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the third round from Augusta.
05:17 PM BST
Birdie for Rahm
The Spaniard’s early momentum was halted with a bogey on five but a birdie on eight takes him to one under, seven shots off the lead.
05:14 PM BST
Birdie for Thomas
The 2017 and 2022 PGA Championship winner has bounced back from a bogey on the second with a birdie on the third to move back to even par, where he started the day.
Up on 10 Niemann’s par put slides past the right edge and that bogey drops him back to one over.
05:11 PM BST
Willett drops a shot
The 2016 champion had got to even par after back-to-back birdies but a bogey on eight drops him back to one over.
Just behind him Rahm’s early momentum has slowed after the bogey on five and he remains at even par.
05:02 PM BST
Par to start for Fitzpatrick
A stable start for the Yorkshireman, who pars the first as does his playing partner Clark.
04:58 PM BST
Spieth on the move
It had been a slow but stable start for the 2015 champion but Spieth is starting to get on a roll. He has made back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth to hit the turn at even par.
04:51 PM BST
Back-to-back birdies for Schwartzel
The South African, who won the 2011 Masters, has made consecutive birdies on the second and third and he is now at even par having started the day at two over.
Back on the first Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark are getting going in their third rounds.
04:49 PM BST
Leaders tee times later
6.30pm
Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama
6.50pm
Jason Day, Sungjae Im
7pm
Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland
7.10pm
Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton
7.20pm
Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry
7.30pm
Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners
7.40pm
Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau
04:43 PM BST
Birdie for Niemann
The Chilean joins the collection of players on even par after a birdie after the par-five eighth.
Back at the seventh the 2016 champion Willett has made it back-to-back birdies with the latest birdie coming at the seventh. He also moves to even par.
04:41 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Butch Harmon on Rory McIlroy
“This year we are looking at a more mature McIlroy. He has grown up, he is a dad, and he does not listen to the outside chatter. I think he is ready - with all aspects of his game.
“Think about what happened on the first day... he had a putt at 14 to go five under, before making two double-bogeys at 15 and 17. That would destroy most guys. He came out yesterday, shot 66 and now he is right there, just a couple back.”
04:35 PM BST
Bogey for Rahm
It had been a great start for the Spaniard but his momentum is halted by a bogey on the par-four fifth. Frustration for the 2023 champion.
04:33 PM BST
Willett makes birdie
Up at the par-three sixth, 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett has made birdie courtesy of a great putt. He is now at one over.
04:30 PM BST
Birdie for Spaun
The man who lost in a playoff to Rory McIlroy at The Players Championship has made up two shots in his first two holes to move to even par.
Back on the first Aaron Rai and Justin Thomas are just about getting their third rounds started.
04:25 PM BST
Birdie for Bhatia
He was playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg for the first two days and today he has Patrick Cantlay for company. Bhatia, who made the finals of the Drive, Chip & Putt competition at Augusta back in 2014, has birdied the par-four third to move to one over. Cantlay is also at one over.
Up at the par-four seventh Niemann has dropped a shot with a bogey to fall to one over.
04:09 PM BST
Rahm on fire
The Spaniard is on a mission today. A birdie on the first, a birdie on the second and now a birdie on the third takes him to one under, seven off the lead. He is looking like a different golfer to the first two days.
04:02 PM BST
Back-to-back birdies for Rahm
At the par-five second, Rahm’s tee shot goes into the first cut on the right of the fairway and his second comes up just short of the front bunker. His chip is ok but it is still a tricky putt for birdie. The Spaniard sinks it and makes it back-to-back birdies to begin his third round. He is now at even par as is his playing partner Zach Johnson, who has sunk a lengthy eagle putt.
03:58 PM BST
Tee times over the next hour
4.10pm
Maverick McNealy, Charl Schwartzel
4.20pm
Brian Campbell, Byeong Hun An
4.30pm
Aaron Rai, Justin Thomas
4.40pm
Sahith Theegala, Davis Thompson
4.50pm
Matt Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark
03:52 PM BST
Back-to-back birdies for Niemann
The Chilean started the day at two over but is up to even par after four holes. His tee shot on the par-three fourth finds the green and he has 12ft for birdie, which he gobbles up. That is back-to-back birdies for Niemann, playing alongside Spieth, who remains at two over.
03:43 PM BST
Positive start for Rahm
The 2023 champion has looked far from his best across the first two days but he begins his third round in style with a birdie to move to one over. The drive was straight down the middle of the fairway, his second finishes up 18ft from the hole and he drains the putt.
03:39 PM BST
First birdies of the day!
Goes to Niemann on the par-four third as he chips in and the Chilean moves to one under. Spieth cannot join him with a birdie on that hole but up ahead on the par-three fourth Kim secures his first birdie of the day to get back to where he started the day at two over.
03:34 PM BST
Former champions out on the course
With Rahm and Z Johnson just getting going, I make that four former champions on the course currently with Spieth and Danny Willett also under way. How amazing it would be to be able to return every year for the rest of your career no matter where you are in the world rankings, going down Magnolia Lane as a former champion.
03:29 PM BST
Stable start for Spieth
Spieth’s tee shot on the second goes just over 330 yards but it bounces into the bunker. With a big lip on the bunker in front of him, he has no chance of making the green so chips out and will have a wedge in from just over 100 yards. His third finds the green but, like Kim, it is a long birdie putt which he cannot drain. Back-to-back pars to start for Spieth as it is for his playing partner Niemann.
The 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm is about to get going alongside 2007 champion Zach Johnson.
03:19 PM BST
At the second
Kim’s drive on the par-five second warrants a shout of “Fore Left!” and he slams the ground in frustration. He is forced to just chip out and then his third finds the green but it will be a long, long putt for birdie. He cannot make birdie but gets a par to remain at three over.
03:11 PM BST
Pars for Spieth and Niemann
A solid start from the second pair out on the course today as two pars keep both players at two over.
03:10 PM BST
Spieth gets going
The 2015 Masters champion tees off on the first but his drive drifts to the left and into the patrons. He only has just over 150 yards into the green but this will be a tricky shot with plenty of trees in the way. After winning The Masters and the US Open in 2015, Spieth won The Open in 2017 but has been unable to complete the career Grand Slam. Spieth, who nearly won back-to-back Masters in 2016, is playing with Chilean Joaquin Niemann today.
03:07 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Paul McGinley on Rory McIlroy
“He [McIlroy] showed a lot of resilience. I think he needs a lot of credit for that.People are very quick to dismiss him based on that fact that he has not won a major for 11 years. This guy has got a bit about him, no doubt about that. The influence of Bob Rotella [a leading golf psychologist], we are seeing it more and more in McIlroy’s game. I am delighted that he is on his shoulder.
“I am delighted that he has got someone he really respects to talk things through with after a day like Thursday. A few years ago that was missing and he would have been on the ropes.
“When you get to this rarified atmosphere at the top of the game, it is a mental game - particularly for McIlroy, with the challenges he has coming to Augusta National.
“Rotella deserves a lot of credit for that. To have somebody in his ear that makes things simple for him and gets him refocussed and re-energised, it is absolutely crucial.”
03:05 PM BST
Not the start Kim wanted
The South Korean, starting the day at two over, finds the fairway with his opening drive, leaving him 171 yards to the green. But the rest of the hole does not go to plan. His second misses the green just to the left and then his chip on leaves him a tricky par putt, which he cannot drain. An opening bogey drops him to three over.
02:57 PM BST
A reminder of the early tee times in the next hour
2.50pm
Tom Kim
3pm
Joaquin Niemann, Jordan Spieth
3.10pm
Stephan Jaeger, Max Greyserman
3.20pm
Danny Willett, JT Poston
3.30pm
Jon Rahm, Zach Johnson
3.40pm
Patrick Cantlay, Akshay Bhatia
02:49 PM BST
Kim makes his way out
The third round is just about to get started and we have a one-man group (of sorts). South Korea’s Tom Kim will play on his own today as there are an odd number of players who have made the cut (53). He is though playing alongside Michael McDermott, a member at Augusta, who will play as a scorer but obviously is not participating in the tournament.
The 22-year-old has won three times on the PGA Tour but is yet to get off the mark in the majors. The talented youngster’s best finish at The Masters came in 2023 when he finished in a tie for 16th and his best finish at a major came at the 2023 Open Championship, securing a tie for second.
02:45 PM BST
A good day for golf!
02:40 PM BST
Who is Trump backing?
Not sure he plumps for one name here, more like hedging his bets!
.@POTUS on the Masters: "They have so many great guys. They're all friends of mine... Scottie Scheffler's great, Bryson's great... Justin Rose... you have some fantastic golfers at the top." pic.twitter.com/O9mXvet9os
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 12, 2025
02:35 PM BST
“Ignore the rollback, Bryson DeChambeau is a compelling one-man show”
An incorrigible obsessive, Bryson DeChambeau has acquired enough eccentric tics to fill an entire journal of psychology. Take this year’s Masters, where his habit between rounds is to pound so many balls on the driving range that he loses count, desperately seeking an edge imperceptible to everybody but him.
At one point, he could be seen practising a violent uppercut motion, trying to replicate the heavy topspin move in table tennis. “I can go through 100 different swing thoughts in a week – there’s a lot going on,” he said, tapping at his head. “You wouldn’t want to be in there.”
It is a degree of masochism bordering on certifiable. And yet golf’s mad scientist is reaping the reward of such dedication, even if his rounds of 69 and 68 might not fully satisfy the man still known for his infamous description of Augusta as a “par-67”. DeChambeau is a compelling circus act, combining his love of geometry and coefficients of flag stick restitution with an otherworldly power. His average first-round driving distance of 340 yards was more than 15 yards superior to every other player, a statistic that appeared to overwhelm even him.
Oliver Brown has his say on the man in second going into the weekend.
02:27 PM BST
Langer says goodbye to Augusta
Bernhard Langer won The Masters in 1985 and 1993, his only two major wins, and announced ahead of the week that this would be his final Masters. He came so close to making the weekend but narrowly missed the cut. He spoke after his round to Sky Sports about his last experience playing at this great tournament:
“It was a wonderful setting and I have had a fantastic 41 years here at Augusta as a player. I now look forward to many more as a non-competing past champion.
“It has been really fun playing the last two days. I have got various standing ovations around the golf course; the patrons seem to really appreciate what I have done.”
02:19 PM BST
European Watch
With the Ryder Cup on the horizon later this year in Bethpage, New York, there is plenty of attention on players from both sides of the pond. From a European perspective, there is a good look to the top of the leaderboard. In the top 21, there are eight Europeans and nine Americans. Take a look at how well the Europeans are faring going into the weekend:
-8: Justin Rose
-6: Rory McIlroy
-5: Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton
-4: Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland
-3: Ludvig Aberg
-2: Tommy Fleetwood
02:12 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Paul McGinley on McIlroy
“He [McIlroy] would have been devastated walking off that golf course yesterday. He played brilliantly and left four or five shots behind him, particularly when you see somebody like Scottie Scheffler getting off to such a fast start.
“He recalibrated last night and reset himself, but I think he has been fortunate today. I think a number of things have gone his way and he could easily be four or five shots worse today. Lady Luck has shone, but I guess that balances out over time.
“He was nearly out of it yesterday - he certainly was mentally at the end of that round. He has done well to come back today with a good score and put himself where he needs to be going into the weekend, because notoriously that’s what he does badly.
“His scoring average over the first two rounds has been two shots higher than the weekend. Now he is here for the weekend. Can he go and push on? That is the question.”
02:05 PM BST
Rory McIlroy’s finishes at The Masters since he has had chance to secure the career grand slam
2015- 4th
2016- T10
2017- T7
2018- T5
2019- T21
2020- T5
2021- Missed cut
2022- 2nd
2023- Missed cut
2024- T22
01:58 PM BST
Sky Sports’ Nick Faldo on Rory McIlroy
“It is fabulous stuff. To go on after yesterday [Thursday] and the two doubles, I felt he had basically gone back to zero and started again. This is going to be won at 10 or 12 under, he’s got plenty of time; he’s got three rounds to get to that score.
“He has looked great, it is all how you react when something goes wrong. Once you start seeing the trouble, you have to deal with it the next hole. He has been around here enough times, he knows sections of the green that are dangerous. Do not try and be a hero and land right on the number, give yourself half a chance. He really looks like he can do it this time.”
01:52 PM BST
Later tee times
6.30pm
Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama
6.50pm
Jason Day, Sungjae Im
7pm
Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland
7.10pm
Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton
7.20pm
Matt McCarty, Shane Lowry
7.30pm
Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners
7.40pm
Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau
01:46 PM BST
Early third-round tee times
All times BST
2.50pm
Tom Kim
3pm
Joaquin Niemann, Jordan Spieth
3.10pm
Stephan Jaeger, Max Greyserman
3.20pm
Danny Willett, JT Poston
3.30pm
Jon Rahm, Zach Johnson
3.40pm
Patrick Cantlay, Akshay Bhatia
3.50pm
Denny McCarthy, JJ Spaun
01:40 PM BST
Those all-important pin positions
01:35 PM BST
Round three at Augusta National
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of round three from The 2025 Masters. 44-year-old Justin Rose heads into the weekend with a one-shot lead after backing up his opening round of 65 with a one-under 71 yesterday to be nine under through the first two rounds. Rose, who won his only major at the US Open in 2013, has come close to winning The Masters before, most notably in 2017 when he lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia, and has said if anything he may enjoy winning it now more than he would have done when he was younger.
“I think I will take it any time. Beggars cannot be choosers, you know. But I would take it right now for sure. Sometimes if it happens too early in your career, you have got a lot to live up to. I think if it happens now, I would enjoy it, I think, probably a lot more, coming a bit more as a gift towards the end of your career. So I think there would be a lot more satisfaction in it for sure.
“I feel like there have been other sorts of great accomplishments in that time. I think winning the Olympic gold medal [in 2016] gave me a lot of satisfaction in that interim period, getting to world number one, winning the FedExCup. I think really big milestone moments in my career have happened in that 12 years, which distracts you from the fact that you have not won a major in that period. Yeah, 12 years slips by pretty quick. But I have not been dwelling on that fact at all.”
Rose will go off in the final pairing later at 7.40pm BST alongside 2024 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who shot a four-under 68 yesterday to be just one shot behind Rose. One shot further back from DeChambeau is Rory McIlroy, who carded a six-under round of 66 to move within two of the lead. McIlroy had looked on course for a strong first round, only to be undone by two double bogeys on the closing stretch on day one. He responded with the best round of anyone yesterday and, speaking after his second round, was clearly delighted with how he bounced back from a rough end to his first round.
“I am proud of myself with how I responded today [Friday] after the finish last night [Thursday],” McIlroy said. “I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and you know, I was not going to let two... you know, two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week.
“I was so frustrated last night because I played so well, and you can make these big numbers from absolutely nowhere on this golf course, just like the most benign position. So it was a good reminder that you just have to have your wits about you on every single shot.”
McIlroy goes off in the penultimate group with Canadian Corey Conners at 7.30pm. McIlroy’s good friend Shane Lowry is on five under alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton. Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, Bob MacIntyre and Brooks Koepka were amongst those to miss the cut as well as defending champions Bernhard Langer and Fred Couples. Having announced ahead of the tournament that this would be his last Masters, the two-time former champion Langer looked like he would just make the weekend but it slipped away from him at the death.
Sit back and enjoy round three from Augusta National.
