Rory McIlroy’s 11-year wait since capturing a third major at the 2014 PGA Championship in a quest to secure success in the only major championship he requires to join the most exclusive club in golf is now just 18 holes from fruition.
McIlroy superbly stamped his enormous class and also reinforced his credentials as the New Year’s best in-form golfer brilliantly posting two eagles and four birdies in a third round second straight score of a six-under 66 to move two shots clear of the 89th Masters field at 12-under par.
The World No. 2 created Masters history kick-starting his round with six straight ‘3s’ – birdie ‘3’ at the first, eagle ‘3’ at the second, birdie 3′ at the third, a ‘3’ at the par-4 fourth, birdie 3 at the par-4 fifth and then a par-3 at the sixth.
McIlroy stumbled with bogeys at eight and 10 before birdieing the 13th and then for s second day running he eagled the par-5 15th.
Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau birdied the last in a score of 69 and to move to 10-under, to ensure he is in the final group alongside McIlroy who he denied a second US Open title last year.
RORY’S 11-YEAR @TheMasters WINNING WAIT …
Now just 18 holes away as @McIlroyRory takes a two-shot lead into the final round at Augusta National
With @brysondech just two back
Read: https://t.co/jq6OmEakyo
✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/ZOA5StwIvn
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) April 12, 2025
Canadian Corey Connors added a second straight 70 to be in third place at eight-under.
Defending Augusta champion Scottie Scheffler is seven back of McIlroy sharing sixth place after signing for a 72
However, it’s McIlroy who leads the way and with tomorrow’s final round to be only a second occasion in now 17 Masters that McIlroy will lead heading into a final day of the year’s maiden major championship.
In 2011, McIlroy took a four-stroke lead into the fourth round of just a third Masters only to self-destruct taking a triple bogey on 10 and a four-putt double bogey on 12 to quickly fade with a final round 80. He finished ten strokes back in a tie for 15th place.
“I think the big thing is not to make it a rematch,” McIlroy said of his duel with DeChambeau.
“Stay in my own, my own little world. There’sa few other people on that leaderboard that could make a run.
“So I just have to do what I’ve been doing, surround myself in my own little cocoon and just get into my own little bubble.
