McIlroy mentally ready for Masters moment

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the No. 18 green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 12, 2025.

Rory McIlroy knows he must balance the "fine dance" between elation and imperturbability as he chases his Masters dream and golfing immortality today.

The Co Down man leads by two shots from Bryson DeChambeau in his quest to become only the sixth man in the history of the game to complete the career Grand Slam.

He's gone 11 years without adding to his major haul, and after suffering his share of major pain in recent years, including last June's US Open loss to DeChambeau at Pinehurst, he's got a point to prove and the game to do it.

Staying on an even keel will be key for the four-time major champion (35), who has worked hard on his mental game with Dr Bob Rotella to chase a feeling on the course that will give him the freedom to play his best golf.

"I've talked about trying to chase a feeling out there," McIlroy said after a round that began with the greatest start in Masters history — six successive threes.

"If I can have that feeling and if I can go home tonight and look in the mirror before I go to bed and be like, that's the way I want to feel when I play golf, that, to me, is a victory."

McIlroy deflected questions about past failures, stressed the importance of not making today's final pairing "a re-match" of Pinehurst and vowed to stay in his own little bubble.

He appears to be playing far better than DeChambeau, who replied to his eagle three at the 15th with three birdies in his last four holes to get within two strokes with a gutsy 69.

It promises to be a thrilling battle, but McIlroy knows he must maintain a sense of serenity to allow himself to perform.

"You have to sort of try to ride that momentum as much as you can but then also temper it with a little bit of rationale and logic," he said of his start yesterday and his challenge today in a battle with the hyper-animated American.

"And so it is; it's a fine dance. But I certainly don't want to be a robot out there, but at the same time I don't want to be too animated, either."

Yesterday, he showed resilience in spades as he followed the 66 that hauled him back into the tournament with an even more impressive round in terms of overall quality.

"You know, there's a lot of anticipation and sort of anxious energy that builds up," he said of the long wait between his second and third rounds. "You just want to get out there and play.

"So you know, with all of that, to go out and start the way I did was amazing.”

Explaining that he was so ready for battle he was hitting the ball three or four mph faster on the range, he was proud to overcome a mid-round wobble that came after his start and thrill the crowd, especially with that eagle at the 15th.

But he believes he must keep a cool head today to play the golf he needs to make life difficult for DeChambeau and the chasing pack.

"It's going to be a little rowdy and a little loud," he said. "I'm just going to have to settle in and really try to keep myself in my own little bubble and keep my head down and approach tomorrow with the same attitude that I have tried to approach the last three days with."

He planned to watch the second episode of the third season of 'Bridgerton', avoid looking at his phone and try not to get ahead of himself in an event where he had a four-shot lead in 2011 and shot 80 in the final round to crash to 15th

"I think I still have to remind myself that there's a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes," he said. "I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.

"You know, I've got a lot of experience. I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer.

“And you know, I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I'll be able to handle it."