Rory McIlroy’s final Masters round gets off to roller-coaster start in duel against Bryson DeChambeau

The first spread spelled punishment and brought backmost memories of nan 2024 U.S. Open.

But Rory McIlroy showed speedy resoluteness correct erstwhile he needed it.

Entering nan time pinch nan lead astatine 12-under while looking for his first greenish jacket, McIlroy registered a double-bogey connected nan opening hole, falling into a necktie astatine 10-under pinch Bryson DeChambeau earlier DeChambeau birdied nan 2nd spread to return a one-stroke lead.

By nan extremity of nan 4th hole, however, McIlroy was up by three.

McIlroy’s opening tee changeable went into a bunker connected nan correct side, and aft his 3rd changeable landed connected nan backmost of nan green, nan Northern Irishman three-putted.

However, McIlroy birdied nan 3rd spread arsenic DeChambeau bogeyed, giving McIlroy a one-shot lead.

DeChambeau past bogeyed nan 4th arsenic McIlroy made birdie, giving Rory a three-shot lead successful what was a frenetic commencement astatine Augusta.

McIlroy hasn’t won a awesome successful 10 years and is simply a Masters title distant from becoming nan sixth golfer ever to complete nan expansive slam.

He had a U.S. Open title wrong his grasp past twelvemonth but collapsed complete nan last respective holes, allowing DeChambeau to triumph his 2nd U.S. Open championship.

Ludvig Aberg was lurking astatine 8-under done 7 holes.