The Albany Gazette - McIlroy tees off in quest of Masters title and career Grand Slam

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, who has failed in 10 prior tries to complete the Slam at Augusta National, was on 12-under with a two-stroke lead over last-group playing partner Bryson DeChambeau.

It's a rematch of a late duel with DeChambeau at last year's US Open that saw McIlroy bogey three of the last four holes, two of them misses from three feet or less, while DeChambeau saved par from a bunker at the 72nd hole to win the title.

"Just excited for the opportunity," DeChambeau said Sunday. "It's going to be a great battle."

They will chase a record $4.2 million winner's prize from a record $21 million purse, but so much more is on the line for McIlroy.

World number two McIlroy, a four-time major winner, has not won a major title since 2014 but hopes to end the drought and join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only players to win all four majors.

"The only thing I can do is control the moment in front of me and that shot on the first tee," McIlroy said Sunday.

"If I do that, it should be a good day for me."

McIlroy said he distracted himself by watching sports, including Monte Carlo tennis and Formula One, before coming to the course to prepare.

"You get settled in and do the routine, go over my strategy and have the same attitude I've had the past three days," McIlroy said.

The last eight Masters winners have all played in the final pair on Sunday.

It's the first time two multiple major winners were in the final Masters pairing since Greg Norman and Nick Faldo in the 1996 Masters.

McIlroy has found heartbreak at Augusta National, notably in 2011 when he led entering the last round before a nightmare back nine cost him what would have been his first major.

His best Masters finish was second to Scottie Scheffler in 2022.

McIlroy fired back-to-back six-under par 66s in the second and third rounds, including a record six threes in a row to start a third round that featured two eagles.

After double bogeys at 15 and 17 in an opening-round 72, McIlroy could join Craig Stadler from 1982 as the only Masters winner with two double bogeys in the same round.

However, McIlroy knows DeChambeau is a formidable foe. The American sank a 48-foot putt from off the green at the 18th hole Saturday to shoot 69 and he could join Australian runner-up Cameron Smith in 2020 as the only players to break 70 for all four rounds in the same Masters.

- Others in the hunt -

DeChambeau has found six more fairways than McIlroy this week, but the European star has reached five more greens in regulation.

DeChambeau could claim the third major title for an active LIV Golf player in as many years, the Saudi-backed breakaway tour also boasting Brooks Koepka's 2023 PGA Championship and DeChambeau's 2024 US Open.

However, others could challenge the lead duo.

Canada's Corey Conners, seeking his first major, was four adrift as the round began with 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, last year's Masters runner-up in his major debut, starting the day six off the pace.

Defending champion Scheffler and England's Justin Rose, the 18- and 36-hole leader, were seven back.

Jack Burke Jr. has the greatest last-round comeback to win in Masters history, rallying from eight shots down to win in 1956.

(P.Clark--TAG)