Rory McIlroy charged to the top of the Masters Leaderboard in the electric third round, finishing two shots to win an elusive career grand slam in golf, including two Eagles finishing two shots before Bryson Deccanbaugh.
To reach the promised land of the Career Grand Slam, McIlroy will have to pass the heavily hit Americans who delivered some late fireworks on Saturday and set up a famous final round showdown that will be the rematch of their fight at last year’s US Open.
Decanbaugh, who took advantage of a slow collapse by McIlroy to win last year’s title, won the spot in Sunday’s final pairing at Augusta when he drained a 48-foot birdie putt from the green on the closing par 4.
This is the fourth time in the last 30 years that two multiple major champions have appeared in the final pairing of majors.
“It will be the most epic stage we’ve had in a long time. I’m excited about it,” Deccanbeau said that a 3-under par 69 brought him 10 shots a week, McIlroy, before lowering him 10.
The pairing shows McIlroy the opportunity to revenge against the Americans who handed him a heavy loss at the US Open last year, but McIlroy said he prefers not to think like that.
“The big thing isn’t going to make it a rematch and stay in your own little world,” said McIlroy, who shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday.
McIlroy appeared to be focused as he walked towards the clubhouse after tapping Par in 18 hours. I knew I could slip my green jacket in 24 hours and finally finish my 11 year hunt and win all four major golf championships.
“That final group tomorrow will be a little rough and a little noisy,” he said.
“I’m just trying to calm down, really stay in my little bubbles and approach tomorrow with the same attitude I tried to approach tomorrow, in the last three days.”
Rory McIlroy separated from the field in his third round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/leftzbxorw
– Master (@themasters) April 12, 2025
“What kind of dreams are being created?”
Decanbeau, who birded three of the last four holes in the 69 of the third round, made a big smile sparkle and high-five his paranoid fans after the heroes of his final hall as the sun began to set at Augusta National.
“That’s what dreams are made there,” he said.
“They were late and couldn’t be asked any more. I’m very excited about the challenges they face.”
Deccanbeau, who returned to range to practice iron shots after the round, said he was hoping for an electric atmosphere on Sunday.
“I feed the crowds, especially the patrons here, and they regain that energy,” he said.
“It was a cool feeling and I used it a few times today.”
McIlroy headed for a scorching start, heading for Birdie Eagle Bydi, becoming the first player to start the rounds for the Masters for six consecutive times, bounced overnight leader Justin Rose in pristine scoring conditions.
After starting Rose’s three-shot, McIlroy led four on the front nine, but was cooled during the turn with bogeys on 8 and 10.
He birded 13 to grab momentum, and his surged approach shot on a par 5 set a 6-foot Eagle putt, he converted calmly to get back a four-shot lead.
But Dechambeau did not leave. Before excavating birdies at 15 and 16, he maintained his dream of being a two-time Open Champion, leaving the first Masters title alive, before 18 dramatic putts.
The focus of Sunday is on McIlroy-Dechambeau pairings, but many other marquees’ names are also on the hunt.
Canada’s Corey Connors returns four times, third in solo, with former Masters champion Patrick Reed and last year’s runner-up Rudig Aberg drifting further.
World No. 1 and defending champion Scotty Scheffler is one of four players covering seven shots and should be a thrilling finale on Sunday.
“We both want to win really, really badly, and there are a lot of great players behind us,” Deccanbeau said.
“I’ve started focusing on that and being careful about who can control themselves and who can run the golf shots at their best.”
