McIlroy on the Brink of Golfing Greatness

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy stands just one round away from achieving golf’s ultimate milestone.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland heads into the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club with a two-stroke advantage, following a brilliant 6-under 66 on Saturday, bringing his total to 12 under after 54 holes.

Ranked second in the world, McIlroy aims to capture the elusive green jacket, which would place him alongside legends like Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to complete the career Grand Slam in the Masters era.

This marks McIlroy’s 11th attempt at the career Grand Slam, and he believes this could be his best chance yet. “There’s still a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes,” he noted, aware of the challenges that the final day may bring.

However, McIlroy faces stiff competition from LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau, who trails by just two strokes after a strong finish that included a 48-foot putt from the fringe to complete his round at 3-under 69.

The final round will see McIlroy and DeChambeau paired together again at 2:30 p.m. ET, reminiscent of their thrilling showdown during the 2024 U.S. Open, which DeChambeau won due to McIlroy’s late missteps.

As McIlroy pursues his first major victory in over ten years, he reflects on his strong performance so far this weekend. After overcoming a slow start, he achieved back-to-back rounds of 66 and is poised to capitalize on his current momentum in a highly competitive field.