Augusta, GA – The third round of the 2025 Masters at Augusta National was a thrilling spectacle, setting the stage for a blockbuster final round.
Rory McIlroy, chasing the elusive green jacket to complete his career Grand Slam, seized control with a sensational 6-under 66, vaulting him to 12-under for the tournament and a two-shot lead. The Northern Irishman’s round was electrifying from the start, making history as the first player to open with six consecutive 3s — birdie, eagle, birdie, par, birdie, par.
“Yeah, obviously it was a dream start to get off to the start that I did. Hit two perfect shots on 1 and converted,” said McIlroy. “Felt like I hit sort of three perfect shots on 2. Three perfect shots on 3.
“It was such a great way to start, and you know, 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. You know, there’s a lot of anticipation and sort of anxious energy that builds up. You just 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. And then I had that a little bit of a wobble around the turn there with the bogey on 8, the missed chance on 9 and then the three-putt on 10.
“I thought that the par putt on 11 was huge, just to sort of get some momentum back.
“You know, to get through 11 and 12 at even par was great. And then, you know, all I was trying to do then was take advantage of the par 5s coming in, and thankfully I was able to do that.”
McIlroy’s iron play was razor-sharp, though a bogey on the 8th and a three-putt on the 10th briefly slowed his charge. His composure, honed by sports psychologist Bob Rotella, kept him steady, and he capped his highlight-reel day with a 6-iron to 6 feet for eagle on the par-5 15th.
Bryson DeChambeau, the LIV Golf star and 2024 U.S. Open champion, kept the pressure on, finishing at 10-under with a gritty 3-under 69. After a rocky middle stretch with a pair of bogeys, DeChambeau roared back, making birdies on three of his final four holes.
“There’s a lot of golf left,” said DeChambeau. “That’s what I kept telling myself. I said, just stay in it. I went and birdied the first, birdied the second, bogeyed the third, bogeyed the third and the seventh, which, man, that’s just, I tried — I was going to lay up on 7 again, and I just couldn’t get myself to do it, but I should have.
“It’s okay, though. It’s one of those things that happens. And for me, Rory was moving. I said, there’s still a lot of golf to play.”
The crescendo came at the 18th, where he drained a dramatic 48-foot birdie putt from the fringe, igniting the Augusta crowd and securing his spot in Sunday’s final pairing with McIlroy. His relentless work ethic was evident — he headed to the range post-round with five bags of balls to fine – tune his irons.
DeChambeau added, “Yeah, I’m excited and ready to go to the practice range. Need to go work on my iron play out there. Putted really well today.
“Proud of myself for keeping my head about me and just thinking about patience all day. So it was a fun test of golf today.”
The leaderboard wasn’t just a two-man show. Corey Conners held third at 8-under with a steady 70, while Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg lurked at 6-under, tied for fourth.
Justin Rose, the 36-hole leader, stumbled with a 3-over 75, dropping to 5-under and a tie for sixth alongside Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, and Jason Day. Rose’s five bogeys, including two late three-putts at 16 and 18, dimmed his chances but didn’t erase him entirely.
The day wasn’t without surprises. Zach Johnson, at 49, matched McIlroy’s 66 for the low round, climbing to 5-under with a vintage display. Meanwhile, Reed’s late surge with a 69 kept him in contention, four back.
The stage, though, is set for a Sunday showdown, with McIlroy and DeChambeau — a rematch of their 2024 U.S. Open duel — poised to battle for their first Masters title.
Augusta’s patrons are buzzing, and the atmosphere promises to be electric as McIlroy aims to end an 11-year major drought and complete the career slam, while DeChambeau seeks to add a third major to his resume, becoming the reigning U.S. Open and Masters champion.
2025 Masters Tournament Leaderboard
Top 10 Leaders: Round 3
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 2)
Pos-Player-To Par (Score)
1. Rory McIlroy -12 (-6)
2. Bryson DeChambeau -10 (-3)
3. Corey Conners -8 (-2)
4. Patrick Reed -6 (-3)
4. Ludvig Aberg -6 (-3)
6. Jason Day -5 (-1)
6. Scottie Scheffler -5 (E)
6. Shane Lowry -5 (E)
6. Justin Rose -5 (+3)
10. Zach Johnson -4 (-6)
10. Nico Echavarria -4 (-3)
10. Xander Schauffele -4 (-2)
10. Sungjae Im -4 (-1)
Credits: Getty Images, Masters, X, PGA Tour
