Golf fans look set to be in for a treat on Sunday at The Masters, with Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau putting daylight between themselves and the rest of the field ahead of the final round at Augusta National.
Rory McIlroy looked to be a man on a mission as he opened his third round at The Masters with six consecutive threes. He was five under par for the day at that stage. And he had flown to the top of the leaderboard.
Bryson DeChambeau meanwhile, enjoyed a brilliant finish, making three birdies in his final four holes – including a long putt on the 18th hole. That leaves the US Open champion just two shots back.
Of course, the US Open looked to be the first chapter in what had the potential to be an amazing rivalry. DeChambeau capitalised on McIlroy’s late mistakes to earn his second major title.
The ‘interesting’ comment Bryson DeChambeau has made as he looks to catch Rory McIlroy at The Masters
And there is hardly a better stage for the second act, with McIlroy and DeChambeau in the final group at Augusta National on Sunday.
DeChambeau mentioned to Sky Sports (broadcast on 13/4) how excited he is about the prospect of trying to hunt McIlroy down over the last 18 holes.
“Every hole matters. I think the most important thing is just looking forward to the next shot and saying how can I give myself the best chance. I wasn’t striking my irons well today, so I have to go work on that, and if I get that locked in for tomorrow it is going to be a fun match,” he said.
“It is just one shot at a time. Get into every shot and hit it to the best of your ability. That is all I am going to focus on.”
DeChambeau’s comments caught the attention of Dame Laura Davies, with the four-time major winner struck by one word in particular the 31-year-old used.
“It is very interesting what Bryson just said. ‘I am looking forward to the match tomorrow’. Not the pairings. He thinks it is a match. That sometimes, he might be trying too hard. That I think helps Rory. He will just be going out there doing his thing. Bryson thinks he only has one man to beat so that is going to be very exciting,” she said.
“Rory is probably not going to rise to that, especially not early on. Maybe on the back nine he might have to rise to that and start doing some stuff but I love Bryson’s attitude, that was a really good comment.”
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The likes of Corey Conners, Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg may have something to say about DeChambeau’s comments. It did seem that the Crushers captain sees one of only two men winning The Masters.
That, of course, is the most likely scenario. McIlroy is six shots ahead of Reed and Aberg right now. But they will have the opportunity to put some pressure on as they head out slightly earlier.
If anyone can get close to matching McIlroy’s start on Saturday, then the complexion of the tournament just changes ever so slightly.
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