Rory McIlroy has been waiting more than 10 years to fulfill his career aspirations of completing golf's grand slam by winning all four major tournaments. He needs to win the Masters to finish that journey, and McIlroy started the third round of the first major of the 2025 season as though he would not be denied.

McIlroy started the round two strokes behind 36-hole leader Justin Rose. He made quick work of that deficit by starting his moving day round with a birdie on the first hole, an eagle on the second hole and a birdie on the third hole. The superstar from Norther Ireland would build a four-stroke lead during the first part of the round by firing six consecutive 3's to start his day. McIlroy became the first player in Masters history to open his round in that matter.

After starting his round in such a scintillating fashion, McIlroy's play came back to earth when he bogeyed the par-5 eighth hole. That hole was a strong birdie possibility for the long-hitting McIlroy, but he was unable to continue his brilliant run.

After closing out the front nine nine with a par, he also bogeyed the 10th hole. While McIlroy was coming back to the pack, Bryson DeChambeau demonstrated that he was not going away and he was able to close the deficit to one stroke.

DeChambeau and McIlroy lead the pack in third round at Augusta

Article Continues Below
More Golf News
Tommy Fleetwood plays a shot on the second hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament.
Stunning Tommy Fleetwood stat makes Travelers loss even worseChristopher Hennessy ·
Keegan Bradley prepares to play his shot plays his shot from the 13th tee during the third round of the Truist Championship golf tournament
Keegan Bradley stuns Tommy Fleetwood to capture second Travelers winChristopher Hennessy ·
Featured image Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood gets 100% real about being on verge of first PGA Tour winDylan Fine ·
Justin Thomas plays a shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament.
Justin Thomas’ artistry leads to Travelers Championship leadKendall Capps ·
Jordan Spieth crouches while grabbing his upper body on the 12th hole during the first round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament
Why Jordan Spieth withdrew from first PGA Tour eventKendall Capps ·
Mar 26, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; NFL executive vice president and chief of media and business officer Brian Rolapp speaks to media during the annual league meetings at the JW Marriott. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
New PGA Tour CEO writes open letter to fans after coming over from NFLJake Faigus ·
Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy fist bump on the 18th green during the final round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club.
Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The championship of the Masters won't be determined until Sunday's final round, but it looks like McIlroy and DeChambeau will clearly have something to say about which golfer is handed the green jacket at Butler Cabin.

In addition to those two, Rose, defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Ludvig Aberg are likely to be in contention during the final round. The long history of the Masters is that the championship is rarely determined until the back nine of Sunday's final round.

McIlroy and DeChambeau are two of the most popular players in the world and a final round duel between the two would be a brilliant way to finish the tournament.

The Masters has become the most compelling of the major championships, surpassing both the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. If McIlroy is able to complete the career grand slam and join the game's legends who have achieved that level — Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player — it will vault him into the greatest level of recognition that the sport of golf has to offer.