00:27
Third Round Review
Rory McIlroy
The Masters: Rory McIlroy leads Bryson DeChambeau to close in on career grand slam
The Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy takes a two-shot lead over LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau heading into the final round at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy is closing in on the career grand slam after surging into a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau on day three at The Masters.
McIlroy, 35, started Saturday's third round two shots off the pace but he soon raced to the front when playing the first three holes in 4-under par.
The World No.2 drained a 12-footer for birdie at the par- 4 1st, chipped in for eagle on the par-5 2nd and then knocked down an eight-footer for birdie on the par-4 3rd.
McIlroy then sent home another birdie from 20 feet at the tough par-4 5th before tucking away a seven-footer for par on the par-3 6th, which saw him become the first player in Masters history to start a round with six consecutive threes on the card.
But he would carelessly hand back a shot at the par-5 8th when finding trouble off the tee, and then another went when three-putting from 50 feet at the 10th.
McIlroy steadied the ship with pars at 11 and 12, but he would restore his two-shot lead when getting up and down for birdie at the par-5 13th.
The Ulsterman made par at 14 and he then slammed home a second eagle of the day from eight feet at the par-5 15th to move into a four-shot lead.
Eagle on No. 15 launches Rory McIlroy into a four-shot lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ri6fA5yO7O
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
But LIV Golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau trimmed the deficit to two shots late in the day with three birdies on the last four holes to card a 69.
DeChambeau made a stunning birdie putt from some 40 feet on 18 that brought the patrons to their knees.
McIlroy made pars to the house to fire a second consecutive round of 66 and he finds himself at 12-under par for 54 holes and two shots clear of DeChambeau heading into Sunday's final round.
It marks McIlroy's first 54-hole lead at a major since 2014.
Rory McIlroy vs Bryson DeChambeau for The Masters 🍿 who takes home the Green Jacket? 🤔
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 12, 2025
McIlroy needs to win The Masters on Sunday to become just the sixth player in the modern era to complete the career grand slam.
The Northern Irishman is looking to join golf legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the record books.
McIlroy has not won a major since the 2014 US PGA.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau is going in search of a third career major and first Masters.
Related:
The final-round showdown between McIlroy and DeChambeau is a replica of the 2024 U.S. Open where the LIV Golf superstar pipped the PGA Tour superstar to a second U.S. Open title last summer, albeit they weren't paired together that time around.
Elsewhere on day three at The Masters, Canada's Corey Conners played alongside McIlroy and went round in 70 to nudge himself up to 8-under par in solo third.
Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg also pushed themselves up into the top five but they lie six shots behind McIlroy entering Sunday.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler had a third round to forget though and went round in 72 to remain 5-under par, which is just inside the top 10.
Here's a look at the leading contenders heading into Sunday at The Masters:
1 | Rory McIlroy | -12 | F |
2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -10 | F |
3 | Corey Conners | -8 | F |
T4 | Patrick Reed | -6 | F |
T4 | Ludvig Aberg | -6 | F |
T6 | Jason Day | -5 | F |
T6 | Scottie Scheffler | -5 | F |
T6 | Shane Lowry | -5 | F |
T6 | Justin Rose | -5 | F |
Scroll down this page for live updates from the third round of The Masters.
12 Apr 2025
00:26
Who you got on Sunday?
Rory McIlroy vs Bryson DeChambeau for The Masters 🍿 who takes home the Green Jacket? 🤔
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 12, 2025
00:05
BIRDIE BOMB FROM BRYSON!
DeChambeau -10 (F)
WHAT A PUTT FROM BRYSON!
Bryson drains a huge birdie putt to close the gap on McIlroy to two shots heading into Sunday.
Bryson DeChambeau that is OUTRAGEOUS! 😲 pic.twitter.com/qDTmZdyOD6
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) April 12, 2025
It's looking like a showdown between Rory and Bryson for The Masters.
You couldn't write it.
See you tomorrow, folks.
23:49
McIlroy makes par on 18
McIlroy -12, Conners -7 (F)
A brilliant round from McIlroy comes to an end with a two-putt par from 20 feet.
It's a second conscutive round of 6-under 66 for the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy finds himself at 12-under par and three shots clear of DeChambeau, who of course beat him to the 2024 US Open last summer.
Playing partner Conners (70) makes par on 18 and he finds himself at 8-under par heading into the final round.
Rory McIlroy
23:44
Bogeys to close for Lowry
Lowry -5 (F)
Sloppy finish from Ireland's Lowry with back to back bogeys to finish out his round.
Lowry falls back to 5-under par, which is where he started the day.
That's seven back of his good mate McIlroy.
23:33
Big miss from McIlroy
McIlroy -12 (17)
McIlroy passes up a golden chance of birdie on the tough par-4 17th.
After a stunning approach shot from 180 yards to seven feet under the hole, McIlroy misses the birdie attempt on the high side.
He taps in for par though and remains three shots clear of DeChambeau, who is heading down the 17th in the group behind.
We could be in for a McIlroy-DeChambeau final round grouping on Sunday.
DeChambeau, of course, defeated McIlroy to the 2024 U.S.Open, a tournament where McIlroy threw things away on the closing holes last July.
23:28
Scheffler pars 18
Scheffler -5 (F)
Scheffler has had a third round to forget out there but to his credit he holed a 10-footer for par on 18 for a round of 72.
It leaves the defending champ at 5-under par and just inside the top 10.
23:21
Birdies at 16 for final group
DeChambeau -9, Rose -6 (16)
DeChambeau hits a beautiful tee shot into two feet and sends the ball down to move to 9-under par.
Rose made a complete mess of things, however. The Englishman had four feet for birdie but ended up walking off with bogey. It sends Rose back into the chasing pack on 6-under par.
23:17
DeChambeau birdie at 15
DeChambeau -8 (15)
Bryson gets up and down for birdie to move it to 8-under par.
He's now in a tie for second alongside Conners.
But he's four shots behind McIlroy now.
Rose made par on 15 to remain five back.
23:14
Pars at 16 for McIlroy and Conners
McIlroy -12, Conners -8 (16)
McIlroy and Conners both come up just shy with their birdie attempts from around 15 feet on the par-3 16th.
23:04
MCILROY EAGLE!
McIlroy -12 (15)
McIlroy converts the eagle putt from eight feet to stretch into a four-shot lead on 12-under par.
FOUR-SHOT LEAD, haven't we been here before?
Let's calm down for a moment.
McIlroy salutes the patrons and marches to the par-3 16th.
Eagle on No. 15 launches Rory McIlroy into a four-shot lead. #themasterspic.twitter.com/ri6fA5yO7O
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
22:59
Birdie for Rose at 14
Rose -7 (14)
Rose drills a long birdie putt at 14.
It pulls the Englishman up to 7-under par and within three shots of McIlroy.
22:57
HUGE SHOT FROM RORY!
RORY, STOP IT!
McIlroy hits a stunning iron from just outside of 200 yards on the par-5 15th to eight feet.
Can he convert a second eagle?
We'll find out in a moment...
Rory McIlroy
22:50
Scheffler birdie at 15
Scheffler -5 (15)
It's not been pretty from the defending champ today but he's just got up and down from the back of the 15th for birdie and it moves Scheffler to 5-under par.
That's unthinkably just his second birdie of the round.
Five back of McIlroy, but still there.
scheffler
22:47
Big miss from Aberg at 18
Aberg -6 (F)
Aberg misses a golden chance for birdie from seven feet above the hole at 18.
The Swede is bang in the mix though at 6-under par.
He finished runner-up on his Masters debut in 2024.
Four back of McIlroy's lead as it stands.
aberg
22:45
Huge miss from Conners
McIlroy -10, Conners -8 (14)
Golden chance missed for Conners.
The Canadian missed a six-footer for birdie on the 14th.
McIlroy went long with his approach but got up and down for par.
22:40
Reed birdies 18
Reed -6 (F)
We've not seen much of LIV Golf's Patrick Reed today but he's finished strong and just popped in a birdie on 18 to shoot a round of 69.
It moves the former Masters champ to 6-under par and in with a shout of a second green jacket.
22:38
Lowry birdie at 14
Lowry -7 (14)
Shane Lowry moves into a tie for third with a birdie at the 14th.
The 2019 Open champion bangs home a six footer for birdie to move it to 7-under par.
He's just three back of his good pal McIlroy.
22:32
McIlroy birdies 13, two ahead
McIlroy -10 (13)
McIlroy goes just over the back of the green with his second shot at the par-5 13th with his ball coming to rest up just shy of the bunker.
From there, he chipped up beautifully to four feet and then converted the putt for his first birdie since the 5th.
The World No.2 is now back to 10-under par and two shots clear of playing partner Conners, who could only make par on the 13th.
DeChambeau has just blasted a drive down the 13th fairway in the group behind. You would think a birdie at the worst coming from there.
Rory McIlroy
22:26
DeChambeau bogey
DeChambeau -7 (12)
Bryson finds the front trap on the iconic par-3 12th but fails to get up and down.
It's a bogey and the LIV Golf superstar is back to 7-under par and two behind McIlroy.
Bryson DeChambeau
22:19
Scheffler struggling
Scheffler -4 (13)
Scheffler finds the back bunker in two at the par-5 13th but fails to get up and down.
It leads to a disappointing par and it keeps the defending champion five shots off the pace.
Frustrating day for the World No.1.
Scottie Scheffler
22:16
Leaderboard update
1 | Rory McIlroy | -9 | 12 |
T2 | Corey Conners | -8 | 12 |
T2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -8 | 11 |
T4 | Ludvig Aberg | -6 | 16 |
T4 | Jason Day | -6 | 14 |
T4 | Shane Lowry | -6 | 12 |
T4 | Justin Rose | -6 | 11 |
22:05
Big par save for McIlroy
McIlroy -9, Conners -8 (11)
McIlroy came up shy with his approach shot but managed to save a par courtesy of sending down a seven-footer.
Playing partner Conners then followed him in for par from six feet.
21:46
McIlroy bogey, Conners birdie
McIlroy -9, Conners -8 (10)
Huge swing on the 10th as McIlroy three-putts for bogey and Conners drills in another birdie from five feet.
McIlroy now leads by just one shot.
conners
21:37
Leaderboard update
1 | Rory McIlroy | -10 | 9 |
2 | Bryson DeChambeau | -8 | 8 |
T3 | Corey Conners | -7 | 9 |
T3 | Justin Rose | -7 | 8 |
5 | Shane Lowry | -6 | 9 |
