McIlroy moves closer to joining golf legends with dominant display at Augusta.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks at a press conference following the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025. Photo by Lillie Yazdi/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Augusta, Georgia — Rory McIlroy leads the Masters going into the final round at Augusta National, positioning himself for a historic breakthrough as he aims to complete a career Grand Slam. With a second consecutive six-under-par 66 on Saturday, McIlroy surged into a two-shot lead, reigniting hopes of capturing his first major title since 2014.

If he wins Sunday, the Northern Irishman would become only the sixth player in history to secure all four major championships, joining golf’s elite — Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen. The possibility is not lost on his fellow professionals.

Jason Day, the Australian golfer and 2015 PGA Champion, didn’t hesitate when asked if McIlroy’s name would belong alongside the likes of Woods and Nicklaus.

“Yes, if he goes ahead and wins it,” Day said after his own round of 71 left him seven strokes behind. “He’s the best player of our generation for sure. He just makes things look so easy.”

A decade in waiting

McIlroy, 34, has come close to completing the Slam several times since winning the Open Championship in 2014, but Augusta has always proved elusive. He’s had strong starts, painful collapses, and everything in between at the Masters — but this year feels different.

Not only is Rory McIlroy leading the Masters, but he’s also doing so with a sense of composure and form that is rare even for him. His recent wins at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship seem to have propelled him to a new mental level.

“He’s making a boat load of birdies,” said Day. “He seems very focused and level-headed right now. He’s going to be a very difficult person to beat tomorrow, just the way he’s looking off the golf course before the round — very confident, very balanced in himself.”

Fast start and strong finish

Saturday’s third round saw McIlroy come out firing. He went four-under in the first three holes and barely looked back. Canadian golfer Corey Conners, who played alongside McIlroy and shot a 70 to sit in third place at 208, was taken aback by McIlroy’s explosive start.

“It was a pretty amazing start Rory had,” Conners said. “His firepower and ability to hit the right shot at the right time and get himself on a run was impressive.”

Even when McIlroy stumbled — carding bogeys at the eighth and tenth — he bounced back with a birdie at the 13th and an eagle at the par-five 15th. It was a testament to the raw scoring power that has made him one of the most exciting players in the game for over a decade.

“There’s not many guys on this planet that are able to do something like that,” said Day. “That’s what’s impressive about him.”

Legends weigh in on McIlroy's legacy

What’s at stake on Sunday goes beyond a green jacket. It’s a chance for McIlroy to finally shed the tag of “nearly man” at Augusta and firmly plant his legacy alongside the all-time greats.

Jason Day said he believes McIlroy deserves to be considered on golf’s modern “Mount Rushmore” alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus — but only if he wins the Masters.

“He’s obviously one of the most talented players we’ve seen in the last 20 years,” Day said. “But this one — this would seal it. This would put him in that very rare air.”

McIlroy’s statistics back up the praise. With 28 PGA Tour victories and four major titles, he’s long been among golf’s elite. But the Masters has remained the one that got away — until now.

Confidence fuels his quest

For McIlroy, this tournament isn’t about chasing ghosts. It’s about believing that his best is good enough. Those close to him sense a new mindset.

“He seemed very focused, determined to accomplish that,” Day noted. “I think he’s running off so much confidence and belief in his game that it’s almost like he knows it’s going to happen.”

That quiet confidence may be McIlroy’s greatest weapon on Sunday. He hasn’t shied away from the historical significance of the moment, but he also hasn’t let it become a burden.

The freedom with which he’s played this week — aggressive yet controlled — has put him in the driver’s seat for one of the biggest moments of his career.

Rivals keep the pressure on

While McIlroy may be the favorite, he’s not without challengers. Corey Conners remains within striking distance. And though Jason Day and Shane Lowry sit seven shots back, both are proven competitors with major titles under their belts.

Lowry, who shot 72 and struggled to finish strong with back-to-back bogeys, was less interested in talking about McIlroy’s chances when asked.

“I’m not going to stand here and talk about Rory for 10 minutes,” Lowry said. “I’ve just had a bad finish, I’ve got a chance to win the Masters tomorrow, and I’m going to go hit some balls.”

Still, even those trying to catch him know that when Rory McIlroy leads the Masters, it’s a different kind of pressure. His dominance with the driver, his putting touch, and his tournament IQ all combine to make him one of the most complete players on the planet when he’s on form.

History in the making

If McIlroy wins, the achievement will not just be about the Slam. It will be about redemption, patience, and the power of perseverance. For a player who burst onto the scene as a prodigy and has weathered a decade of scrutiny, Sunday at Augusta offers a rare second chance at immortality.

A victory would silence critics who questioned his ability to win under pressure and confirm what many of his peers already believe — that Rory McIlroy belongs among the true greats of the game.

“He’s already a Hall of Famer,” said Day. “But winning the Masters? That puts him in the next tier.”

The final round awaits. And with Rory McIlroy leading the Masters, all eyes will be on Augusta as history teeters on the edge of unfolding.