AUGUSTA, Ga. – Moving Day at the Masters didn’t disappoint.
First it was Rory McIlroy, chipping in at the second for the first of two eagles and a tournament record start of six threes to surge into the lead. But Bryson DeChambeau refuses to let McIlroy run away with the title, burying a 47-foot birdie bomb at the last for his third birdie in the last four holes to cut McIlroy’s lead to two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round at Augusta National at the 2025 Masters.
It set up a heavyweight clash and rematch from June’s U.S. Open when DeChambeau lifted the trophy and McIlroy missed two short putts and drove off heartbroken again. This time, a Green Jacket and a chance for McIlroy to make history and complete the career Grand Slam will be on the line.
“It will be the grandest stage that we've had in a long time, and I'm excited for it,” DeChambeau said.
On a gorgeous, sun-soaked afternoon, McIlroy and DeChambeau put on an electric show. McIlroy sent the patrons into a frenzy with his chip-in eagle at No. 2. “I haven’t heard that big a roar since Shaq made a free throw,” a marshal said.
Eagle for the solo lead. #themasterspic.twitter.com/gzdEIgccma
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
After his red-hot start built a lead as large as four shots, McIlroy cooled off with a bogey at 8, missed a short birdie putt at 9 and made a 3-putt bogey at 10.
He said his par putt on 11 settled him down. He tacked on a birdie at 13 and then hit the shot of the day, a 6-iron from 205 yards to 6 feet at 15 to set up another eagle and a second straight 6-under 66.
“I think he got hurt so badly at [the 2024] U.S. Open that he’s got a point to prove," Golf Channel's Paul McGinley said, "and when he’s got a point to prove, that’s normally when he’s at his best. I saw that today in his body language. This is vintage Rory.”
DeChambeau had his own heroics, starting with a 45-foot birdie at the first and bookended by a 62-foot birdie putt from the fringe at 18. He posted six birdies en route to shooting 3-under 69 to go with rounds of 68 and 69. Nobody had broken 70 in each of the first three rounds of the Masters since 2020.
“The biggest roar at Augusta National today was Rory’s second shot into 15 and then the putt for eagle," McGinley said. "The whole place rocked on the back of that. [DeChambeau] was standing down that fairway, and what did he do? He birdied three of the next four holes. He didn’t shrivel even though he didn’t have his best stuff with him.”
Stage is set for an amazing Sunday at Augusta National
And so it’s a dream scenario for the final round: PGA Tour vs LIV, McIlroy with a chance at history, DeChambeau trying to complete his own childhood dream of a Green Jacket and win his third major title. McIlroy downplayed the rematch and said he wants to keep his head down and “stay in my cocoon” and DeChambeau who ...
