Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, S aturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Bryson DeChambeau greets patrons on the 18th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, lines up a putt on the seventh hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, celebrates after making a putt on the fifth hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Shane Lowry, of Ireland, reacts after missing a putt on the 13th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits from the rough on the seventh hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after making a putt on the sixth hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Corey Conners, of Canada, hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Jason Day, of Australia, reacts after missing a putt on the 13th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Bryson DeChambeau chips to the green on the seventh hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Justin Rose waves after making a putt on the sixth hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Bryson DeChambeau hits from the rough on the seventh hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Show Caption1 of 13Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after a birdie on the 18th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Expand AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy raced out to the best start the Masters has seen in its 91-year history, with six straight 3s on his scorecard that shot him into the lead Saturday and left him 18 holes away from that coveted green jacket and the career Grand Slam. McIlroy chipped in for an eagle as part of his amazing start. And then he delivered another eagle late in the round as contenders were lining up behind him, a majestic 6-iron to 6 feet on the par-5 15th hole that carried him to a second straight 6-under 66. “It was an awesome day and puts me in a great position going into tomorrow,” McIlroy said. He led by two shots over a familiar foe — Bryson DeChambeau, who delivered some magic of his own with a 45-foot birdie putt to start his round and a putt from nearly 50 feet for birdie on the 18th hole that gave him a 69. It was DeChambeau who crushed McIlroy’s spirit last year at Pinehurst No. 2 by beating him at the U.S. Open, stretching McIlroy’s drought in the majors to more than a decade. Also familiar to McIlroy was his position going into the final day at Augusta National. It was 14 years ago when McIlroy, a 21-year-old with long, curly locks and unlimited potential, took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Masters. What followed was a meltdown that left him in tears when he shot 80. “I just have to stay firm and just stay in my own little world,” McIlroy said. He hasn’t had a better chance at that green jacket until this week, when he recovered from two double bogeys in the opening round and responded with rounds of 66-66. At stake Sunday is a chance to become only the sixth player to capture all four professional majors, a feat last accomplished nearly 25 years ago by Tiger Woods at the British Open. Corey Conners, who went from a five-shot deficit to one shot behind McIlroy in a span of three holes on this wild Saturday, closed with eight straight pars for a 70. He was in third place, four shots behind. No one else was closer than six shots of McIlroy. Justin Rose, who had a one-shot lead at the start of the day, shot 75 and was seven shots back. Related Articles Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples thrill crowds but miss Masters cut The Masters: Justin Rose holds 2nd-round lead, but top contenders close in The Masters: Justin Rose grabs another first-round lead at Augusta The Masters ends 9-month wait for golf’s most anticipated major Rory McIlroy’s Masters hopes lie with his willingness to suffer heartache ...read more read less