Sunday Showdown Ahead: McIlroy Eyes History as Dechambeau Pursues
Under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable high of 68 degrees, Saturday’s third round of the 2025 Masters delivered drama, history, and a leaderboard packed with star power. Rory McIlroy seized control, carding a brilliant 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round. With a total score of 12-under 204, McIlroy is poised to complete one of golf’s rarest achievements: the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy made history early in his round, becoming just the second player in Masters history to record six consecutive 3s on his scorecard—matching Jack Renner’s feat from 1983. He added another milestone by making two eagles in one round (Nos. 2 and 15), joining an elite group that includes Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Raymond Floyd, and Johnny Miller as players with back-to-back rounds of 66 or better at Augusta National. If McIlroy secures victory on Sunday, he will become only the sixth player to achieve the career Grand Slam, alongside legends like Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Woods.
Adding intrigue to McIlroy’s quest is the fact that he would be the third player to win both THE PLAYERS Championship and the Masters in the same year, following Woods (2001) and Scottie Scheffler (2024). A win would also mark his fifth major championship title, placing him among the top echelon of golfers in history. It has been 11 years since McIlroy last claimed a major—a gap tied for the longest all-time—but his dominant form this season, which already includes victories at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and THE PLAYERS, suggests he is ready to end the drought.
Hot on McIlroy’s heels is Bryson DeChambeau, sitting at 10-under after a solid 69. Should DeChambeau shoot in the 60s again on Sunday, he would join Cameron Smith as the only players to post four sub-70 rounds in a single Masters tournament. Meanwhile, Corey Conners holds solo third at 8-under, aiming to become the first Canadian Masters champion since Mike Weir in 2003.
Other notable contenders include Patrick Reed and Ludvig Åberg, tied for fourth at 6-under. Åberg, who finished runner-up last year, has shown marked improvement on the challenging par-5 15th hole, while Reed looks to add another green jacket to his collection. Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, making his Masters debut, sits T10 and adds international flair to the mix.
As the stage is set for Sunday’s finale, all eyes are on McIlroy. Can he conquer Augusta and cement his legacy? Or will someone else rise to steal the spotlight? One thing is certain: history awaits.
