Against all odds, it’s now Rory McIlroy’s Masters Tournament to win.
The world’s No. 2-ranked golfer, who appeared to be out of the tournament after fading Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, now carries a two-shot lead into Sunday’s final round as he tries to complete the career Grand Slam. Only five golfers in history have won all four majors.
The Northern Irishman shot his second consecutive 6-under-par 66 on Saturday and is on the verge of joining that group.
Only two players in tournament history have rallied from seven shots back after the first round to win: Nick Faldo in 1990 and Tiger Woods in 2005.
McIlroy was tied for 27th place after the first round with 72, then tied for third after a second-round 66, two back at the time, and is now all alone at the top.
Adding to the drama is the fact McIlroy will be paired Sunday with Bryson DeChambeau, the man who chased him down to win the U.S. Open last June at Pinehurst, leaving McIlroy heartbroken. There is a difference this time: McIlroy and the LIV Golf Tour star will be in the same pairing. They will go off at 2:30 p.m.
Canadian Corey Connors is in third place, four shots back, after his second consecutive 70.
Justin Rose, the first- and second-round leader, is among three players tied for fourth place, six shots back. Rose struggled to 74 while 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg, the runner-up here last year, both shot 69.
“The big thing is not to make it a rematch,” said McIlroy, who has four major championship victories, but none since 2014. “I need to stay in my little world. He’ll do what he does and I just have to stay firm.”
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion. “It will be the grandest stage we’ve had in a long time and I’m really excited about it. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere.”
DeChambeau knew he needed to two-putt from 48 feet on No. 18 to earn a spot in the final group. Instead, he drained it, sending the gallery into a frenzy.
“It was a beautiful putt,” said DeChambeau, who said he was keeping track of the leaderboards, trying to do what he needed to do to get into the final group.
It will be an interesting dynamic because the patrons seem to be equally supportive of the ...
