AUGUSTA, Ga. — This is the moment, right?
We’ve been here before. Plenty of times over the last 3,898 days, in fact. So it’s easy to doubt that this is finally the time that Rory McIlroy accomplishes the thing that’s been hanging over his career.
Advertisement
But after McIlroy’s historic showing on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club that put him two shots ahead of the field entering the final day of play at the Masters, this has to be it. He may not ever get a better chance.
McIlroy posted a second-straight 66 in the third round of the Masters on Saturday, which moved him to 12-under on the week and sent him into the final pairing with Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday with the green jacket on the line.
“I still have to remind myself that there’s a long way to go, just like I said yesterday,” he said. “18 holes. I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.”
McIlroy opened Saturday with two birdies and an eagle, which came off a chip-in on the par-5 second, to immediately jump into the lead after starting two shots back.
By the time he reached the seventh hole, he had made six straight 3s — which is a Masters record.
Advertisement
“It was such a great way to start,” McIlroy said. “Just to come out of the blocks like that, I think, as well from finishing yesterday afternoon to teeing off today, it’s quite a long time. There’s a lot of anticipation and sort of anxious energy that builds up. You want to get out there and play.
‘So you know, with all of that to go out and start the way I did, was amazing.”
McIlroy bounced back from a pair of bogeys on the back side, too, and stuck his approach at the par-5 15th — where he made one of his two double bogeys on Thursday — just six feet from the pin to set up another eagle. When that one fell, McIlroy’s lead had ballooned to four.
But DeChambeau cut the lead back down to just two after he made three birdies in his last four holes, which got him into the last group with McIlroy.
Advertisement
“It’s going to be a little rowdy and a little loud,” McIlroy said of tomorrow’s final pairing, which is likely a bit of an understatement.
It’s not just the fact that McIlroy has a chance to avenge his loss to DeChambeau from Pinehurst last summer. But it’s what’s on the line for him when it comes to his career. A win for McIlroy would mark his first major title since the PGA Championship in 2014. That dry spell has felt more like a curse at times. He’s never won at the Masters, either, which is the last victory he needs to become just the sixth golfer, and the first since Tiger Woods, to win the career grand slam.
That’s a lot of pressure.
Unlike his opponent, McIlroy planned to head home from the course on Saturday night, relax and put his phone away. The goal was to stay awake through the second episode of the third season of Netflix’s “Bridgerton.” He fell asleep during the first episode on Friday night.
Advertisement
With everything that’s looming in the final round, and he’s well aware of what’s coming, McIlroy is trying to keep a steady head.
“I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer,” McIlroy said. “I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I’ll be able to handle it.”
By Sunday night, this will be the best moment of McIlroy’s career. Or, if the green jacket lands on somebody else’s shoulders, it will be right up there with the worst.
There’s no inbetween anymore.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
SPFC hoje: time tem desfalques de peso em jogo da Copa do Brasil
Tricolor estreia hoje na Copa do Brasil - Divulgação SPFC x Náutico entram em campo nesta terça-feira (29), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio do Morumbis, pela partida de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Para o confronto de logo mais, o técnico Luis Zubeldía deve promover mudanças na escalação. Alisson, que vem de uma dura sequência de jogos, possivelmente será preservado nesta noite. Marcos Antônio, suspenso para o duelo com o Fortaleza, pelo Brasileirão, deve aparecer entre os titulares ao lado de Bobadilla. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Na zaga, Arboleda seguirá fora. O equatoriano permanece tratando de uma sobrecarga na coxa esquerda e pode ser opção na sexta-feira. Calleri, que já passou por uma cirurgia de LCA do joelho só voltará aos gramados em 2026. Lucas Moura, que era aguardado para o duelo com o Náutico, fica mais uma […]
UConn star forward Alex Karaban returning to Huskies for senior season
UConn forward Alex Karaban — the lone remaining starter from the Huskies’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2023 and 2024 — is returning to school for his senior season, he announced Tuesday.“I pride myself on accepting challenges and holding myself to the highest standard,” Karaban said in a statement. “Last year, we didn’t achieve what we set out to, and I am not running from a chance to make that right!” pic.twitter.com/B3icAijFHN — Alex Karaban (@AlexKaraban) April 29, 2025The 6-foot-8, 210 pounder was UConn’s third-leading scorer last season, posting career-high averages in points (14.3), rebounds (5.3), assists (2.8), and blocks (1.5) per game.Karaban’s return finalizes UConn’s offseason roster makeover, likely giving Dan Hurley a top-5 preseason ranked squad. In addition to the Massachusetts native, Hurley also returns starting guard Solo Ball and center Tarris Reed Jr., who should be the […]
Submit your questions for the college basketball mailbag
It’s the offseason, but as always, there’s much to sort out. From Shaq entering the college basketball GM picture to recruiting to which players transferred, declared for the NBA Draft or decided to return. Please submit your questions about all things college basketball below, and national writers CJ Moore, Brendan Marks and Lindsay Schnell will do their best to answer them in their next mailbag.
Joel Santana critica técnico ‘teimoso’ do futebol brasileiro: “Conheço mais que você”
Joel Santana, ex-técnico de futebol (Reprodução/YouTube) Joel Santana não ficou nada satisfeito com mais um resultado negativo do Vasco. A derrota por 1 a 0 para o Cruzeiro no Parque do Sabiá no último domingo (27), pela 6ª rodada do Brasileirão Série A, proporcionou a queda de Fábio Carille do time cruz-maltino. Perguntado se a contratação de Carille no começo do ano foi pior do que a demissão, o Rei do Rio concordou. “As duas coisas andaram junto”, respondeu no Canal do Joel. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Assim, o Papai Joel mandou um recado para o ex-técnico vascaíno. “Carille, eu lhe avisei. Falei até que eu gostava de você. Você teimou com umas situações que só podia dar nisso, Carille. Como é que pode, cara? Falei pra você, Carille. Nossa defesa é ruim. O zagueiro central é ruim, o cabeça de área […]
Everton head of recruitment Dan Purdy set to leave club
Everton’s head of recruitment Dan Purdy is set to become the latest high-profile figure to leave the club.Purdy had initially been earmarked for the new role of head of player identification as part of a revamped recruitment structure put together by incoming CEO Angus Kinnear. However, the 31-year-old is instead expected to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.AdvertisementIt is now anticipated that Purdy will join outgoing director of football Kevin Thelwell in leaving the Merseyside club in the coming weeks. Thelwell’s contract was not renewed by Everton’s owners The Friedkin Group (TFG), and it was confirmed last week he will take on an equivalent role at Scottish Premiership side Rangers.A former manager of scouting and operations for director of football Marcel Brands, Purdy left Everton in December 2021 during Rafa Benitez’s turbulent spell as manager. He returned to his old role when […]
Why NASCAR teams said no to the ‘run what you brung’ All-Star Race idea
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Recent editions of the NASCAR All-Star Race have, to many around the sport, felt rather uninspiring, prompting questions on how to revive something that is supposed to be a “can’t miss” event on the Cup Series schedule.Responding to this criticism, NASCAR recently proposed allowing teams to make performance modifications to their cars that otherwise would not be permitted in a points race. In racing parlance, next month’s non-points All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway would be turned into a “run what you brung” race. AdvertisementSome limitations, however, were to remain in place. Safety components to the car would have to stay as-is, and teams also could not make any tweaks to certain aspects of the car, including the engine and tires, or alter any parts supplied by NASCAR-approved vendors for the Next Gen car, according to team competition […]
Related
SPFC hoje: time tem desfalques de peso em jogo da Copa do Brasil
Tricolor estreia hoje na Copa do Brasil - Divulgação SPFC x Náutico entram em campo nesta terça-feira (29), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio do Morumbis, pela partida de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Para o confronto de logo mais, o técnico Luis Zubeldía deve promover mudanças na escalação. Alisson, que vem de uma dura sequência de jogos, possivelmente será preservado nesta noite. Marcos Antônio, suspenso para o duelo com o Fortaleza, pelo Brasileirão, deve aparecer entre os titulares ao lado de Bobadilla. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Na zaga, Arboleda seguirá fora. O equatoriano permanece tratando de uma sobrecarga na coxa esquerda e pode ser opção na sexta-feira. Calleri, que já passou por uma cirurgia de LCA do joelho só voltará aos gramados em 2026. Lucas Moura, que era aguardado para o duelo com o Náutico, fica mais uma […]
UConn star forward Alex Karaban returning to Huskies for senior season
UConn forward Alex Karaban — the lone remaining starter from the Huskies’ back-to-back national championship teams in 2023 and 2024 — is returning to school for his senior season, he announced Tuesday.“I pride myself on accepting challenges and holding myself to the highest standard,” Karaban said in a statement. “Last year, we didn’t achieve what we set out to, and I am not running from a chance to make that right!” pic.twitter.com/B3icAijFHN — Alex Karaban (@AlexKaraban) April 29, 2025The 6-foot-8, 210 pounder was UConn’s third-leading scorer last season, posting career-high averages in points (14.3), rebounds (5.3), assists (2.8), and blocks (1.5) per game.Karaban’s return finalizes UConn’s offseason roster makeover, likely giving Dan Hurley a top-5 preseason ranked squad. In addition to the Massachusetts native, Hurley also returns starting guard Solo Ball and center Tarris Reed Jr., who should be the […]
Submit your questions for the college basketball mailbag
It’s the offseason, but as always, there’s much to sort out. From Shaq entering the college basketball GM picture to recruiting to which players transferred, declared for the NBA Draft or decided to return. Please submit your questions about all things college basketball below, and national writers CJ Moore, Brendan Marks and Lindsay Schnell will do their best to answer them in their next mailbag.
Joel Santana critica técnico ‘teimoso’ do futebol brasileiro: “Conheço mais que você”
Joel Santana, ex-técnico de futebol (Reprodução/YouTube) Joel Santana não ficou nada satisfeito com mais um resultado negativo do Vasco. A derrota por 1 a 0 para o Cruzeiro no Parque do Sabiá no último domingo (27), pela 6ª rodada do Brasileirão Série A, proporcionou a queda de Fábio Carille do time cruz-maltino. Perguntado se a contratação de Carille no começo do ano foi pior do que a demissão, o Rei do Rio concordou. “As duas coisas andaram junto”, respondeu no Canal do Joel. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Assim, o Papai Joel mandou um recado para o ex-técnico vascaíno. “Carille, eu lhe avisei. Falei até que eu gostava de você. Você teimou com umas situações que só podia dar nisso, Carille. Como é que pode, cara? Falei pra você, Carille. Nossa defesa é ruim. O zagueiro central é ruim, o cabeça de área […]
Cicinho elege time “copeiro” que merece respeito no futebol brasileiro: “Pipocava”
Cicinho, comentarista do Jogo Aberto (Reprodução) Cicinho avalia que, ao contrário do passado, o São Paulo adquiriu experiência no mata-mata da Copa do Brasil. Antes do Tricolor medir forças diante do Náutico, pela terceira fase do torneio, o ex-jogador destacou a transformação do clube. Isso porque, após um período de frustrações, a equipe se tornou “copeira”, algo refletido através da conquista histórica de 2023. “O São Paulo espantou toda aquela questão que pipocava quando chegava em mata-mata. O São Paulo espantou isso e se tornou um time copeiro.”, disse Cicinho, no Jogo Aberto. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Zubeldía, nós somos uma equipe! Vamos massacrar hoje.”, acrescentou. Cicinho exige comprometimento máximo Apesar do favoritismo atrelado ao São Paulo, Cicinho lembrou que a Copa do Brasil é passível de “zebras”. Por conta disso, o comentarista sugere uma escalação com força máxima para encaminhar a […]
Everton head of recruitment Dan Purdy set to leave club
Everton’s head of recruitment Dan Purdy is set to become the latest high-profile figure to leave the club.Purdy had initially been earmarked for the new role of head of player identification as part of a revamped recruitment structure put together by incoming CEO Angus Kinnear. However, the 31-year-old is instead expected to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.AdvertisementIt is now anticipated that Purdy will join outgoing director of football Kevin Thelwell in leaving the Merseyside club in the coming weeks. Thelwell’s contract was not renewed by Everton’s owners The Friedkin Group (TFG), and it was confirmed last week he will take on an equivalent role at Scottish Premiership side Rangers.A former manager of scouting and operations for director of football Marcel Brands, Purdy left Everton in December 2021 during Rafa Benitez’s turbulent spell as manager. He returned to his old role when […]
Be the first to leave a comment