The large crowds at Augusta National could hardly have wished for more ahead of the final round of the US Masters.
A leading group with Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau – the two undisputed crowd favorites – when the battle for the green jacket is to be decided.
The star duo ensured that it was sizzling at Augusta already during the third round and gave a taste of what's to come. On Sunday, it's set for a real golf classic and a thriller that will somehow become historic.
In the leading group tomorrow, it's going to get a bit messy and loud. I'll just try to keep calm and stay in my own bubble, try to handle the day with the same attitude I've had over the last three days, says McIlroy, who has a two-stroke lead over DeChambeau.
It could have been more, but DeChambeau finished extremely strongly with birdies on three of the last four holes.
It's going to be the biggest scene we've had in a long time – and I'm psyched for it. Both of us want to win really, really badly and there are many good players behind us too. When it comes to the crowd, it's going to be an electric atmosphere, says the charismatic 31-year-old.
Chasing "career grand slam"
For Rory McIlroy, this is the chance he has been waiting for so long. As early as 2011, at the age of 21, he was also in sole lead ahead of Sunday.
Years later, he ticked off victories in the other three majors – the US Open, the PGA Championship, and The Open. Since then, the hunt for a win in the US Masters, which would complete a "career grand slam", has been a constant topic of discussion in the golf world.
McIlroy seemed to be throwing it away already during the end of the first round in Masters, with two double bogeys. But over the last two days, he has racked up two 66-rounds – he was five under par already after five holes of Saturday's phenomenal round.
The resolution becomes even more thrilling because Rory McIlroy is accompanied by none other than Bryson DeChambeau in the leading group. It was the long-hitting American who snatched the win from McIlroy in the US Open almost a year ago, after the Northern Irishman missed a few short putts at the end and experienced one of the toughest setbacks of his career.
Can Rory McIlroy tie it up now and take the title that would make his golf career complete?
Or will Bryson DeChambeau snatch another major title from the 35-year-old?
If the answer is no to both questions, it means that one of those chasing the star duo will win the Masters instead.
Ludvig Åberg is one who really has a chance if the top duo falters. The Swede is tied for fourth and is six strokes behind Rory McIlroy ahead of the final round.
Carl Göransson/TT
Facts: The standings ahead of the final round
TT
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Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, –12.
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Bryson DeChambeau, USA, –10.
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Corey Conners, Canada, –8.
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Patrick Reed, USA, and Ludvig Åberg, Sweden –6.
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Jason Day, Australia, Shane Lowry, Ireland, Scottie Scheffler, USA, and Justin Rose, England, –5.
