Rory McIlory put himself in the driver’s seat to win his first green jacket.
McIlory came out on fire as he carded a birdie, eagle, birdie, par, and then birdie on the first five holes on Moving Day at The Masters. The pushed him to the top of the leaderboard.
After he birdied No. 6 and 7, McIlroy bogeyed No. 8 and then bogeyed No. 10 to give a few strokes back. He bounced back with a birdie on No. 13 and then got his second eagle of the day on No. 15. It was the first time he had ever carded two eagles on the same day in a major. McIlroy finished the day at 6-under par 66 — tied for the best round of the day — and 12-under for the tournament.
McIlory is attempting to complete the career Grand Slam by winning all four majors and is also trying to win his first major in more than a decade. His last major victory was winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
McIlroy has plenty of golfers nipping at his heels heading into Sunday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau had an up-and-down day as he shot even par with three birdies and three bogeys through the first 14 holes. DeChambeau started to claw back with birdies at No. 15 and No. 16 to get to nine under par. He then capped off the round by making a long birdie shot on No. 18.
He is 10-under for the tournament and just two strokes behind McIlroy.
Corey Conners shot 2-under 70 on Saturday to get himself to 8-under for the tournament and is in third place heading into the final round. The two-time PGA Tour winner has never won a major but did finish tied for 6th at The Masters in 2022.
There is a group of three golfers entering Sunday tied for fourth at 6-under par. 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed and 2024 Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg both shot 3-under, and 36-hole leader Justin Rose shot 3-over par to fall back tied for fifth place.
Shane Lowry shot even par on Saturday and sits at 5-under for the tournament. Lowry, who won the 2019 Open Championship, finished tied for third at the 2022 Masters — his best finish at Augusta.
Defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Jason Day, are also both at 5-under, two-time major winner Xander Schauffele at 4-under, and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, who is also at 4-under after shooting the lowest round on Saturday — a 6-under par 66.