For the first time in 11 years, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy leads after the third round of a major championship. On Saturday, McIlroy completely sizzled on the course.
The native of Holywood had a fantastic start at Augusta. In his first three holes, he went four-under-par as he birdied the first, eagled the second, and birdied the third. That was followed up by a birdie on the fifth, bogeys on the eighth and 10th, a birdie on the 13th and another eagle on the 15th.
The fact that McIlroy eagled the 15th hole was stunning, That is because many players, including McIlroy, landed in the water over the first two days. One of those players was in fact McIlroy, who posted a score of seven on the par five on Thursday. It was actually one of two double bogeys that McIlroy had in the first round. The other was on the 17th hole.
McIlroy has won four majors in his career, but has not won a major in 11 years. He previously won the 2011 United States Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship and 2014 British Open. If McIlroy hangs on to win on Sunday, he will have won all four majors in his career.
There is one other golfer in contention at the moment. That is American Bryson DeChambeau of Modesto, California. DeChambeau, who won the 2020 and 2024 United States Open, is at -10 and two strokes back of McIlroy. You could make the argument that McIlroy is the face of the PGA Tour and DeChambeau is the face of the LIV Tour.
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