Rory McIlroy’s Grand Slam quest will be decided Sunday in the final round of the Masters. (Photo by … More David Cannon/Getty Images)
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There are very few moments when the sport of golf takes over the sporting world. Yes, the Masters takes place every year in April – with the exception of the Covid year in 2020 – but it’s not every year that gives the sport a classic confrontation.
Yet, that’s just what is about to happen Sunday. Two of the sport’s greatest competitors – and also its most popular players – are teeing off in the final round of the Masters.
The first major tournament of the year has eclipsed all of the others. There was a time when the U.S. Open attempted to claim that title, and it was usually supplanted by The Open Championship – a tournament once known as The British Open. But neither of those tournaments, even though they are much older, can match the majesty of what happens on Magnolia Lane in Augusta, Georgia.
The Georgia golf course is clearly a beautiful tract of land, but it is the competition that features the best golfers in the world that is the story. This year, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is attempting to not only win the Masters but become a grand slam champion. He won the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA more than 10 years ago. He has been on the verge of the Grand Slam and another major title, but he has never been able to reach his goal.
McIlroy goes into Sunday’s final round with a score of 12 under par, two strokes better than Bryson DeChambeau. However, it seems like anything but an advantage. DeChambeau already got the better of McIlroy in last year’s U.S. Open, taking the title from Northern Ireland’s favorite son in heart-rending fashion.
In short, DeChambeau made a spectacular up-and-down on the final hole shortly after McIlroy missed two short putts during the final three holes.
McIlroy has to battle that demon prior to tee off and perhaps all the way through the round if he is going to emerge victoriously in the Masters and join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as a grand slam winner.
There’s a lot more to this confrontation for McIlroy than the weight of past failures. He has played spectacular golf throughout the first three days of the tournament. He shot a 66 in the second round and he matched that figure in Saturday’s third round.
Bryson DeChambeau is prepared to engage in a battle for the Masters title with Rory McIlroy. (Photo … More by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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McIlroy came out firing bullets on moving day with a birdie on the first hole, a breath-taking eagle on the second hole and another birdie on the third hole. His scorecard was spectacular in the early going with six consecutive threes marked on his scorecard. He came into the third round trailing by two strokes and he quickly built an advantage of four shots.
The only reason he didn’t maintain that margin is because DeChambeau was fully engaged in the battle. While he was not as razor sharp as McIlroy, he made enough key shots and lengthy putts to cut into the margin.
That included the final hole of the round when DeChambeau rolled in a 50-foot birdie putt. It cut McIlroy’s three-stroke McIlroy lead to two.
Both men are ready for a memorable Sunday duel. “I think I still have to remind myself that there’s a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes,” McIlroy said at the conclusion of the round. “I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.”
DeChambeau also attempted to put the final round into perspective. “It will be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time, and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau said. “We both want to win really, really badly. You know, shoot, there’s a lot of great players behind us, too. Got to be mindful of that and focus.”
As DeChambeau mentioned, there are other players in contention. Canada’s Corey Connors, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg, England’s Justin Rose, Australia’s Jason Day and Americans Patrick Reed and Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion, all have a chance to win the Masters.
But if this is a finish for the ages, it is McIlroy and DeChambeau who will engage in the final battle and the winner will wear the Green Jacket when the sun sets on Magnolia Lane.
