The 89th Masters Tournament is poised for a dramatic conclusion Sunday, fueled by a compelling pairing of Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. Their rivalry was recently intensified at the 2024 U.S. Open where DeChambeau secured victory while McIlroy experienced a late-round setback due to putting woes.
McIlroy’s performance this weekend has been remarkable, rebounding from an opening round of even par—marked by two double bogeys—with a subsequent 66. He continued his momentum Saturday with an explosive start – three consecutive birdies– swiftly seizing the lead.
Despite momentary setbacks on holes eight and ten, McIlroy recovered with crucial birdies on holes thirteen and fifteen, erasing the impact of earlier errors including a chip shot into the water. An additional eagle propelled him to 12-under for the tournament.
“McIlroy is chasing history this weekend; a victory would complete his career Grand Slam after previously conquering all other major championships within the PGA Tour.”
DeChambeau, also seeking his first Masters title, provided a fitting spectacle to end his third round with a lengthy birdie putt on the 18th, finishing at 10-under. He concluded his day with three birdies in his final four holes, eliciting a celebratory roar from the gallery surrounding the 18th green.
The stage is set for a captivating showdown as McIlroy and DeChambeau lead the field. However, they are not alone in contention:
- Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, dramatically climbed the leaderboard with a score of 66, currently sitting tied for tenth at 4-under.
- Early leader Justin Rose struggled to maintain his position after being paired with DeChambeau. He posted five bogeys and two birdies, resulting in a 3-over round and a tie for sixth place at 5-under. A return to the form displayed on Thursday (65) will be crucial if he hopes to contend for the green jacket.
Here’s a snapshot of the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round:
- Rory McIlroy: -12
- Bryson DeChambeau: -10
- Corey Conners: -8
- Patrick Reed: -6
- Ludvig Åberg: -6
- Jason Day: -5
- Scottie Scheffler: -5
- Shane Lowry: -5
- Justin Rose: -5
- Zach Johnson: -4
- Nico Echavarria: -4
- Xander Schauffele: -4
- Sungjae Im: -4
Sunday at Augusta promises to be an unforgettable day of competition.
