The embers of heady expectation will burn all night at the Augusta National Golf Club. Playing in different groups on Saturday, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau punched the air with some thunderous golf. After a fidgety 72 on Thursday, McIlroy has been marching around Augusta bleeding resilience. Like Tiger Woods in 1997 and 2005, McIlroy shot 66 in the middle rounds for a two-stroke advantage over Bryson DeChambeau. The US Open Champion brought the galleries home with a 48-foot birdie putt from off the green on 18. The atmosphere was electric. It is safe to say that the sparks will linger to produce an inferno of excitement when the two men tee off on Sunday.
The final round will feature an epic battle for immortality. Rory McIlroy’s quest for the career Grand Slam meets Bryson DeChambeau’s relentless pursuit of validation. The stakes are monumental, the stage is iconic. Every step they take on Sunday will either inch the two gladiators closer to history or farther from hope. Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish virtuoso, stands on the precipice of rare greatness, seeking the career Grand Slam. DeChambeau, golf’s self-styled scientist and provocateur, is on cusp of his first Masters triumph. Together, they will march down Augusta’s storied fairways in the final pairing, their duel promising to be one for the ages.
For McIlroy, this Sunday is not just about a green jacket; it is about redemption and fulfilment. Fourteen years ago, as a 21-year-old phenom, McIlroy stood in this same position—leading after 54 holes—only to unravel with an infamous final-round 80. That collapse has haunted him ever since, casting a shadow over his otherwise glittering career. Now 35 and armed with the wisdom of experience, McIlroy has returned to Augusta as a more complete golfer and person. His third-round performance on Saturday was nothing short of sublime. It was also stoic. After opening with six consecutive 3s—a Masters first—McIlroy courted danger around the bend. At the eighth, his drive landed in the fairway bunker. McIlroy rolled off the green with the third before missing an eight-footer for par. Another bogey followed at the 10th threatening to dissipate a formidable start. Two strokes underlined McIlroy’s resolve. At the eleventh, he made a tricky par from seven feet to stem the bleeding. At the 15th, McIlroy played what we might consider a decisive moment in his tryst with destiny. He landed his approach just six feet from pin, securing a momentous eagle to buttress his card. “I’ve learned to embrace the pressure,” explained McIlroy. “This course demands everything from you—physically, mentally, emotionally—and I feel ready for that challenge.”
If McIlroy’s journey is one of redemption, DeChambeau’s is one of validation. The 31-year-old American has long divided opinion with his unconventional approach to the game—single-length irons, meticulous calculations for every shot—but there is no denying his effectiveness. On Saturday, he methodically chipped away at McIlroy’s lead before delivering a statement on the 18th green: a 48-foot birdie putt that snaked across multiple breaks before dropping into the cup. “Yeah, I think it's fun, feeling like you have to hit every single shot to the best of your ability, and you can't let off the gas pedal,” said DeChambeau about the thrill of the chase. “You just have to focus and play the best, absolute best golf you possibly can.” With three rounds in the 60s already under his belt this week, he could become only the second player in Masters history to shoot below 70 in all four rounds.
As the leaders chase destiny, the shadows behind them are animated with equal ambition. Corey Conners, the unflappable Canadian, sits alone in third at 8-under, his game a study in quiet precision. Patrick Reed and Ludvig Åberg, tied for fourth at 6-under, bring contrasting tales to Augusta’s complicated tapestry: Reed, the 2018 champion, relies on guile and experience to navigate these hallowed grounds, while Åberg, in only his second Masters, plays with a poise that belies his youth. At 5-under are Jason Day and Scottie Scheffler—both major champions whose pedigree lends them an air of credibility should chaos erupt among the leaders. They are hunters poised to pounce if opportunity beckons.
Saturday also provided valuable lessons for rising stars Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Rai, and Sahith Theegala as they navigated Augusta’s many challenges. Bhatia displayed flashes of brilliance but struggled with inconsistency that dropped him to the bottom at 5-over. Rai’s trademark accuracy off the tee was undermined by his struggles with the irons and putter. He shot 73 despite four straight birdies from the 13th hole. Meanwhile, Theegala lamented missed chances on Augusta’s par-5s but remained optimistic about building momentum heading into Sunday. I'm enjoying it a lot more on the golf course again and not getting as frustrated. “It's hard when the results aren't coming,” confided Theegala. “But the grind is still fun and putting in the work is fun and seeing little improvements here and there and just building off of those little improvements.” Rousing birdies at 16 & 17 were tempered by a bogey at the final hole for Theegala, who signed for a 73.
A McIlroy victory would mean joining Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966), and Tiger Woods (2000) as only the sixth player in modern history to complete the career Grand Slam—a crowning achievement that has eluded him for over a decade. For DeChambeau, a win would cement his place among golf’s elite while silencing critics who question whether his scientific approach can conquer Augusta’s timeless demands.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com)
( Originally published on Apr 12, 2025 )
The final round will feature an epic battle for immortality. Rory McIlroy’s quest for the career Grand Slam meets Bryson DeChambeau’s relentless pursuit of validation. The stakes are monumental, the stage is iconic. Every step they take on Sunday will either inch the two gladiators closer to history or farther from hope. Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irish virtuoso, stands on the precipice of rare greatness, seeking the career Grand Slam. DeChambeau, golf’s self-styled scientist and provocateur, is on cusp of his first Masters triumph. Together, they will march down Augusta’s storied fairways in the final pairing, their duel promising to be one for the ages.
For McIlroy, this Sunday is not just about a green jacket; it is about redemption and fulfilment. Fourteen years ago, as a 21-year-old phenom, McIlroy stood in this same position—leading after 54 holes—only to unravel with an infamous final-round 80. That collapse has haunted him ever since, casting a shadow over his otherwise glittering career. Now 35 and armed with the wisdom of experience, McIlroy has returned to Augusta as a more complete golfer and person. His third-round performance on Saturday was nothing short of sublime. It was also stoic. After opening with six consecutive 3s—a Masters first—McIlroy courted danger around the bend. At the eighth, his drive landed in the fairway bunker. McIlroy rolled off the green with the third before missing an eight-footer for par. Another bogey followed at the 10th threatening to dissipate a formidable start. Two strokes underlined McIlroy’s resolve. At the eleventh, he made a tricky par from seven feet to stem the bleeding. At the 15th, McIlroy played what we might consider a decisive moment in his tryst with destiny. He landed his approach just six feet from pin, securing a momentous eagle to buttress his card. “I’ve learned to embrace the pressure,” explained McIlroy. “This course demands everything from you—physically, mentally, emotionally—and I feel ready for that challenge.”
If McIlroy’s journey is one of redemption, DeChambeau’s is one of validation. The 31-year-old American has long divided opinion with his unconventional approach to the game—single-length irons, meticulous calculations for every shot—but there is no denying his effectiveness. On Saturday, he methodically chipped away at McIlroy’s lead before delivering a statement on the 18th green: a 48-foot birdie putt that snaked across multiple breaks before dropping into the cup. “Yeah, I think it's fun, feeling like you have to hit every single shot to the best of your ability, and you can't let off the gas pedal,” said DeChambeau about the thrill of the chase. “You just have to focus and play the best, absolute best golf you possibly can.” With three rounds in the 60s already under his belt this week, he could become only the second player in Masters history to shoot below 70 in all four rounds.
As the leaders chase destiny, the shadows behind them are animated with equal ambition. Corey Conners, the unflappable Canadian, sits alone in third at 8-under, his game a study in quiet precision. Patrick Reed and Ludvig Åberg, tied for fourth at 6-under, bring contrasting tales to Augusta’s complicated tapestry: Reed, the 2018 champion, relies on guile and experience to navigate these hallowed grounds, while Åberg, in only his second Masters, plays with a poise that belies his youth. At 5-under are Jason Day and Scottie Scheffler—both major champions whose pedigree lends them an air of credibility should chaos erupt among the leaders. They are hunters poised to pounce if opportunity beckons.
Saturday also provided valuable lessons for rising stars Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Rai, and Sahith Theegala as they navigated Augusta’s many challenges. Bhatia displayed flashes of brilliance but struggled with inconsistency that dropped him to the bottom at 5-over. Rai’s trademark accuracy off the tee was undermined by his struggles with the irons and putter. He shot 73 despite four straight birdies from the 13th hole. Meanwhile, Theegala lamented missed chances on Augusta’s par-5s but remained optimistic about building momentum heading into Sunday. I'm enjoying it a lot more on the golf course again and not getting as frustrated. “It's hard when the results aren't coming,” confided Theegala. “But the grind is still fun and putting in the work is fun and seeing little improvements here and there and just building off of those little improvements.” Rousing birdies at 16 & 17 were tempered by a bogey at the final hole for Theegala, who signed for a 73.
A McIlroy victory would mean joining Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966), and Tiger Woods (2000) as only the sixth player in modern history to complete the career Grand Slam—a crowning achievement that has eluded him for over a decade. For DeChambeau, a win would cement his place among golf’s elite while silencing critics who question whether his scientific approach can conquer Augusta’s timeless demands.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com)
( Originally published on Apr 12, 2025 )
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