Rory McIlroy’s rapid start breaks all-time Masters record at Augusta with Grand Slam target in sight
Whatever happens on Masters Sunday, Rory McIlroy has cemented himself in the history books at Augusta - and the omens look good after a breathtaking third round.
After a record-setting Saturday, the Northern Irishman will take a two-shot lead into the final round, leaving him on the brink of golfing immortality.
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Masters Leaderboard
After three rounds
-12 Rory McIlroy
-10 Bryson DeChambeau
-8 Corey Conners
-6 Patrick Reed, Luvig Aberg
-5 Jason Day, Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose
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The world no.2 aims to join Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Gene Sarazon and Tiger Woods in completing a career Grand Slam of golf's four majors.
With one Open, two PGA Championship and one U.S Open, McIlroy has been three-quarters of the way there since 2014.
But it's been 11 years - and 38 majors - since his last success in one of golf's premier events, and he locked himself away to find the answers before the season started.
He will tee up alongside Bryson DeChambeau in the final group on Sunday, just under a year from the same man claiming the U.S. Open at Pinehurst after McIlroy's barely believable finish.
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"A great Saturday and I'm excited for tomorrow,” he told Sky Sports as he prepared to embrace the challenge.
“I am not going to shy away from it, these are the situations that I get up and I work hard for, I practice for and I try to do all the right things.
“If I didn’t want this moment, I wouldn’t be doing these things, but this is what I want to do, these are the pairings I want to be in, and I am excited for that.“
McIlroy had ended the second round sitting beneath Justin Rose and DeChambeau on the Masters leaderboard at six-under-par but began the third round like a man possessed to set a remarkable first for the iconic tournament.
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His start of 3-3-3-3-3-3 was the first time anyone in Masters history had recorded a beginning to their round of six consecutive threes or better.
Three birdies, two pars and one eagle left him five under par for his first five holes, and despite a wobble in the middle of the round, it was the start that set the tone for his day.
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A birdie on the opening hole was a sign of what was to come after a mammoth 371-yard tee shot that set him up perfectly for a delightful approach shot onto the green that left him 10 feet away from the pin.
It got even better for the four-time major winner when he carded a stunning eagle on the par-five second.
He did it with a moment of genius when he chipped in from 18 yards away behind the green and left Sky Sports commentator Butch Harmon in awe.
";He did it, what a start," Harmon said. "Is this Disneyland or is this golf?"
McIlroy kept his foot on the gas with a seven-foot putt on the third to record yet another birdie.
The 35-year-old kept up his streak of threes on the par-three fourth before another birdie followed on the par-four fifth.
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McIlroy's impressive run extended onto the par-three sixth when he recorded a par, another followed on seven as he put a first four on his card.
He then recorded his first bogey of the third round - and first since the 17th hole of the first round - on the par-five eighth before another followed on 10 to give the chasing pack hope.
A back nine implosion is familiar for McIlroy but he has been playing with great composure, not least when the setbacks have arrived.
Having settled his nerves with a couple of par saves on 11 and 12, McIlroy got moving in the right direction again with his first birdie since the fifth hole arriving on the 13th to take him two clear of the field.
McIlroy's Third Round Major Leads
2011 Masters - led by 4 - finished T15
2011 US Open - led by 8 - WON
2012 PGA - led by 3 - WON
2014 Open - led by 6 - WON
2014 PGA - led by 1 - WON
A second eagle followed - with a brilliant drive on the 15th leading to a spectacular iron into the pin, giving her the chance to sink the putt and move three clear of the field.
The last time he recorded two eagles in a round at a major was also at one of golf's great cathedrals - St Andrews in 2014, a title he went on to win.
A par three at the 16th left him with a remarkable nine 3s on his card, and he had two more looks at birdie on 17 and 18, but came up short on both occasions.
It left the door ajar for DeChambeau to steal a little of McIlroy's thunder on the last hole of the day.
The two-time U.S. Open champion is a man for the big occasion, and his 50-foot putt found its way to the bottom of the cup to reduce McIlroy's lead to two and confirm the pair in the final group on Sunday.
McIlroy is chasing an elusive first Masters victory ,having previously finished second at Augusta in 2022 - and famously blowing a lead in 2011.
Aged just 21, McIlroy led by four going into the final round, but dropped seven shots on the back nine to drop out of contention.
He will return to the scene on Sunday, leading by two but older, wiser and on the brink of doing what only the very finest the sport has produced have been able to achieve.
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Round 4 tee times
Sunday's key groups are as follows:
- 6.40pm Nicolas Echavarria, Xander Schauffele
- 6.50pm Justin Rose, Zach Johnson
- 7pm Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry
- 7.10pm Ludvig Aberg, Jason Day
- 7.20pm Corey Conners, Patrick Reed
- 7.30pm Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau
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