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Fleetwood charge?
Birdie-Birdie start for the Englishman and Tommy Fleetwood is into the red for the tournament.
Making use of the par-5 second has been big this week, as McIlroy will attest to with his eagle three there yesterday. Fleetwood makes no mistake and is two-under through two.
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Super front 9!
Hideki Matsuyama capitalising on the early conditions to birdie 8 and 9 to move -4 for the day and back to level par for the Championship.
Having started +4, he's now just a couple more birdies from moving inside the top 20 on the famous leaderboard.
Granted, those in the top-30 so far are yet to tee off...
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One out the pack?
Still just under a few hours until the main men are out on course.
A reminder that McIlroy and DeChambeau tee off at 7.30pm UK time this evening in the final pairing.
It's very much being billed as a match-up but Masters Sunday always delivers one man to come out the chasing pack for a late charge.
And when it's the likes of Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler at -5 and inside the top six, you just fancy someone will make their presence felt to the top two.
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Fleetwood opens with birdie!
Brilliant from Tommy Fleetwood as his round gets up and running with a birdie.
A beautiful drive down the right side of the fairway and an iron into the first green, pitching it 20 feet before the pin and it rolls on eight feet by. He makes the putt and moves back to level par for the tournament.
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Bookies running in fear
A Rory McIlroy win would obviously be hugely, hugely significant.
None more so than it meaning the bookies taking an almighty hit!
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “With Rory McIlroy holding a two-shot advantage heading into Sunday’s action at The Masters, we’re facing a significant outlay if the Northern Irishman gets over the line to claim his first Green Jacket, after giving our customers a Money Back as a Free Bet if he completes the career Grand Slam.
“Rory was always the biggest liability in our book so, combined with a refund for those customers that backed against him, if he manages to claim a maiden Masters triumph tonight, we’re looking at an almighty payout! -
How are conditions?
Always interesting to see how the early players are getting on, especially on Masters Sunday.
Fifteen players are out on course at the minute and six of them find themselves under par in the early stages.
Including Brian Campbell, with three birdies in his first eight holes.
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'No excuses'
Rory McIlroy is on -12 and leads Bryson Dechambeau by two shots ahead of the final day after hitting six under in the third round.
The golfing icon has never won a Green Jacket but is making great strides to do so.
His former Ryder Cup teammate Jamie Donaldson said Rory has "no excuses" not to win today's tournament.
He told Genting Casino: “Rory McIlroy is playing unbelievable golf. There's absolutely no excuses. He's in the perfect position to go and win on Sunday.
“In his last five tournaments he’s finished first, 17th, 15th, first and fifth and has now taken his career earnings past £100million. Only Tiger has done better. It's unbelievable really. He couldn't be playing any better.”
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Rory's road to grand slam
Credit: AP:Associated Press Only a few months after losing the lead in the last round of the Masters, Rory McIlroy won his first major at the US Open in 2011.
In 2012, he won the PGA Championship for the first time.
In 2014, he won the Open and the PGA again.
In 2022, he tied for second place in the Masters, where he has been vying for the career grand slam for 11 years.
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Masters round four tee times
Masters will conclude today with one of golf's top players wearing a green jacket and receiving an eye-watering cash prize.
Here are all the tee times in BST:
2.40pm Brian Campbell (US)
2.50pm Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Akshay Bhatia (US)
3pm Justin Thomas (US) and Min Woo Lee (Australia)
3.10pm Brian Harman (US) and JJ Spaun (US)
3.20pm Patrick Cantlay (US) and Wyndham Clark (US)
3.30pm Danny Willett (England) and JT Poston (US)
3.40pm Sam Burns (US) and Stephan Jaeger (Germany)
4pm Matt Fitzpatrick (England) and Nick Taylor (Canada)
4.10pm Tom Kim (South Korea) and Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)
4.20pm Davis Riley (US) and Tommy Fleetwood (England)
4.30pm Daniel Berger (US) and Bubba Watson (US)
4.40pm Aaron Rai (England) and Sahith Theegala (US)
4.50pm Michael Kim (US) and Denny McCarthy (US)
5pm Maverick McNealy (US) and Harris English (US)
5.20pm Joaquin Niemann (Chile) and Jon Rahm (Spain)
5.30pm Byeong Hun An (South Korea) and Rasmus Hojgaard (Denmark)
5.40pm Jordan Spieth (US) and Max Greyserman (US)
5.50pm Tyrrell Hatton (England) and Matt McCarty (US)
6pm Davis Thompson (US) and Tom Hoge (US)
6.10pm Collin Morikawa (US) and Viktor Hovland (Norway)
6.20pm Sungjae Im (South Korea) and Max Homa (US)
6.40pm Nicolas Echavarria (Colombia) and Xander Schauffele (US)
6.50pm Justin Rose (England) and Zach Johnson (US)
7pm Scottie Scheffler (US) and Shane Lowry (Ireland)
7.10pm Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) and Jason Day (Australia)
7.20pm Corey Conners (Canada) and Patrick Reed (US)
7.30pm Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Bryson DeChambeau (US)
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Shane Lowry snaps at reporters
Shane Lowry hit out at reporters after being asked about Rory McIlroy's chances of winning The Masters straight after finishing his own round.
McIlroy is on -12 and leads Bryson Dechambeau by two shots ahead of the final day after hitting six under in the third round.
But his close pal Lowry is within touching distance of the lead, sitting on five under after day three - seven shots behind McIlroy in sixth place.
Lowry said: "I'm not gonna stand here and talk about Rory for ten minutes. I'm trying to win the tournament as well.
"I know that is what you all want me to talk about but I've just had a s*** finish. I've got a chance to win The Masters tomorrow so I'm gonna hit some balls."
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Masters prize pot
The winner of this year's Masters will take home an impressive cash prize.
This year's split is as follows, with the $21 million total purse representing an increase of 1 million from 2024.
Full breakdown of this year’s top 10, as per PGA:
- 1st - $4,200,000
- 2nd - $2,268,000
- 3rd - $1,428,000
- 4th - $1,008,000
- 5th - $840,000
- 6th - $756,000
- 7th - $703,500
- 8th - $651,000
- 9th - $609,000
- 10th - $567,000
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Rory's confidence
Rory McIlroy is certain that he can handle the pressure of a shootout with Bryson DeChambeau on the last day.
After the third round, he said: "I've got a lot of experience.
“I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer, and you know, I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I'll be able to handle it.”
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Who would Rory Mcllroy join?
Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen are the only five men who have ever won all four of golf's majors.
Rory McIlroy will join this impressive line-up if he completes the career Grand Slam.
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Current leaderboard
Rory McIlroy leads the field at 12-under par after a remarkable third round, putting him in position to complete the career Grand Slam.
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Morning reading
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Bryson tipped to edge mind games
Ex-PGA Championship winner Rich Beem reckons Bryson DeChambeau has a psychological advantage in his bid to overhaul Rory McIlroy's two-shot lead.
DeChambeau pipped McIlory to US Open glory last year.
And Beem told Sky Sports Golf: "I think it's a big plus for Bryson, for sure.
"He will know it and Rory will know it in the back of his mind. I think Rory will have a healthy conversation with his psychologist about it.
"If the crowd root for BrysonI I think Rory will take it personally and that will spur him on.
"But I just don't see the crowd rooting for one more than the other. I think they will get behind them both.
"Hopefully we see a fight to the bitter end and the toughest gladiator wins but I know Bryson will have the edge on the first tee with the little mind games.
"He is one of the great entertainers we have in the game."
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Hidden vault is a winner sanctum
The Masters has a secret vault behind an unmarked door where only members and champions are allowed in, writes ANTHONY CHAPMAN.
Hailed as a “portal to an inner sanctum”, the mysterious entrance is located at the very back of the Augusta National pro shop.
The LA Times reports that it used to lead to a storage room underneath the surface. But the area now contains an exclusive vault deemed the “Green Jacket Experience.”
Built in 2021, it serves as a museum and storage space for the iconic Augusta green jackets. Only members of the golf club and winners of the Masters are ever allowed to have one.
And each jacket must first be collected from behind an unmarked door at the back of the pro shop, with the vault located at the bottom of 24 steps.
Motion-sensitive lights gradually illuminate the room, which first reveals Byron Nelson’s green jacket behind a class cabinet.
Nelson, who died aged 94 in 2006, is regarded as one of golf’s best-ever players and won the Masters both in 1937 and 1942. Either side of the display are two touch screens which shed light on the history of the green jacket and Augusta.
The vault then continues to another glass storefront containing the oldest green jacket around, which dates back to the 1930s. It requires fingerprint entry to access and is made of heavy felt while also boasting a different logo.
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No more wees near the tees
The Spanish golfer who took a leak in Rae’s Creek has issued a grovelling apology – and promised not to do the same thing if he is caught short at the Open, writes DAVID FACEY.
Jose Luis Ballester, the current US Amateur Champion, originally tried to brush the incident off, after he was spotted urinating into the stream that runs alongside the 13th hole at Augusta.
Ballester, 21, played the first two rounds with defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and double USPGA winner Justin Thomas. So that group was always going to be under the spotlight.
He said he needed to take “an emergency pee” at the 13th, and was cheered and applauded by Masters spectators, who saw him dive into the bushes.
He initially said he'd do it again if he had to but then stated: “I already apologized to the club, and I think we just move on from this moment. It will not happen again.
“I know there has been a lot said about what happened on social media, but I try to stay away from all that.
“A couple of friends reached out just to say hey, you’ll be fine. I’m still your friend. So it’s good to have those friends that have your back when the news is not that good about you.”
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McIlroy hyped up for finale
Rory McIlroy claims he lives for the final-day Major tension he'll face on Sunday evening.
The overnight leader told Sky Sports Golf: "I won't shy away from it.
"Situations like tomorrow are the reason I get up, work hard and try to do the right things.
"If I didn't want this moment I wouldn't be doing those things.
"These are the pairings I want to be in and I'm excited for that."
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More glee from Rory
McIlroy told of how his round went from sizzling to solid.
He said: “Then I had a little bit of a wobble around the turn with the bogey on eight, the missed chance on nine and then the three-putt on ten.
“But I managed to get some momentum back. All I was trying to do then was take advantage of the par fives coming in, and thankfully I was able to do that.
“I think I am a momentum player. There is a balance, though.
"You have to try to ride that momentum as much as you can but then also temper it with a little bit of rationale and logic.
“It's a fine dance. I certainly don't want to be a robot out there, but at the same time I don't want to be too animated, either.”
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Rory hails 'dream start'
Rory McIlroy admits even he was stunned by his awesome opening to round three - a record six successive threes
He said: “It was like a dream to get off to the start that I did. I hit two perfect shots on one and converted.
"Felt like I hit three perfect shots on two and three perfect shots on three.
“It was such a great way to come out of the blocks like that, 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."
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Beem and Davies back Rory
Legend Laura Davies and American star Rich Beem both reckon third-round leader Rory McIlroy will lift the Green Jacket.
Davies said: "I will stick with Rory but it's going to be a titanic battle.
"You just have to think he has served his time and this could be the Grand Slam."
And Beem claimed: "It's Rory's time.
"He has learnt so much about himself and it is going to be his stage tomorrow evening."
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Bryson taking it slowly
Bryson DeChambeau won't look too far ahead as he bids to overhaul Rory McIlroy's two-shot advantage after three rounds.
Bryson DeChambeau enjoyed what could be a crucial last-hole birdieCredit: AP He told Sky Sports Golf: "Every hole matters.
"The most important thing is looking forward to the next job and seeing how I can give myself the best chance.
"It's one shot at a time. Execute to the best of your ability."
DeChambeau carded a 69 to sit second on 10-underCredit: Reuters -
McIlroy reveals course got 'trickier'
Rory McIlroy blew his rivals away and stormed into the history books with hid opening surge of six straight threes.
But he revealed he had to dig in after as his second successive 66 gave him a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round.
McIlroy said: "I got off to the best start.
"But then it was a bit difficult. The course got tricky.
"But I played a great solid back nine.
"I'm not going to complain - it was an awesome day and obviously puts me in a good position."
Rory McIlroy threw his putter up as he completed his 66Credit: AP -
Rory won't look back to 2011
Rory McIlroy says he'll play the course - not his painful 2011 memories - when he bids to clinch his first ever Masters crown on Sunday.
Northern Ireland's four-time major winner, 35, is two shots clear after his second 66 in a row.
He picked up five shots in an astonishing first six holes and later added a second eagle.
And McIlroy believes the "best way" for him to handle the fourth-day pressure is to banish thoughts of how he blew a four-shot lead at Augusta 14 years ago.