1 week Ago By Joshua Lees
Rory McIlroy made his mark at Augusta National on Saturday and did so by channeling his inner Tiger Woods on the way to taking the 54-hole lead at the Masters . Moving day belonged to the Northern Irishman, as he carded a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to move him to 12-under for the tournament, two clear of Bryson DeChambeau in second, who made an incredible birdie at 18 to set up a final day for the ages. Arguably, the moment of McIlroy's round came at the par-five 15th, a hole which threatened to ruin his tournament two days earlier.
With his chip into the water and double bogey seven on Thursday now a distant memory, McIlroy hit one of the shots of the day and tournament, with an incredible approach into the green. A pearling iron shot down the hill from 205 yards, landed it to perfection, leaving him six feet for eagle, a putt he went on to make. It was a shot instantly recognizable to golf fans, having seen the great Woods pull off a similar approach at the very same hole 14 years earlier.
It was not just the shot but the walk after the ball, too, as McIlroy strutted Woods-style before offering a fist pump in a rare showing of emotion. Woods is not in action at this year's event, having sustained an Achilles injury last month. There was a nice message to the five-time winner, though, during the third round, as CBS announcer Jim Nantz commented: "We wish you well, Tiger.
” McIlroy, meanwhile, went on to top off his walk down the fairway by converting from six feet, as the four-time major winner made his second eagle of the day. It moved McIlroy to 12-under for the week, before three pars followed to get him safely back into the clubhouse with the lead. It was the beginning of the day that got McIlroy into pole position, as he flew out of the traps and made Masters history in the process.
The Northern Irishman became the first player in the tournament's history to make six threes in the opening six holes, a run that included three pars, two birdies, and an eagle. As McIlroy is more than aware of, though, nothing is easy when playing Augusta National, and the course bit back midway through his round. His electric start was slowed down slightly, after making two bogeys in three holes at the eighth and ninth.
He steaded the ship with two-straight pars before adding his first birdie in eight holes to his card at the par-five 13th. A par split his birdie and heroics at 15, before he parred home for his second-straight round of 66. It leaves McIlroy on the cusp of history, with the Northern Irishman hunting down his maiden Masters title, which would see him become only the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
He will reignite his U.S. Open rivalry with DeChambeau, with the pair going head-to-head in the final group on Sunday.
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