Only an hour into the leaders being on the course on Saturday for the third round of the Masters, all the build-up of how historic this weekend at Augusta National might be proved true very quickly. In fact, the opening hour will go down as one of the most memorable in recent Masters weekends.
All the pressure seemingly had to be on Rory McIlroy, he of career Grand Slam aspirations. To that, his start continues to break records.
He’s the first competitor in at least the past 40 years of the Masters to play the first six holes in 3-3-3-3-3-3, according to stats guru Justin Ray. Yes, that meant he birdied the par-4 first, third and fifth, eagled the par-5 second and parred the par-3 fourth and sixth.
First, his three-hole start was something rarely seen at Augusta National—erasing a two-shot deficit to Justin Rose, including a blistering birdie-eagle-birdie open, becoming the first player since Mark O’Meara to go 3-3-3 to start a weekend round at Augusta National. The four-time major champion did it in dramatic fashion, holing his third shot from behind the green at the second hole.
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McIlroy is just the sixth player in Masters history to go four under over the first three holes of Augusta National. And in 24,883 rounds ever played at the Masters before Saturday, according to Ray, only four players have ever went birdie-eagle-birdie to start their days.
McIlroy’s previous best start over the first three holes had never been better than two under. His eagle at the second hole was only the second of his Masters career (following his third round in 2015).
Then McIlroy poured in a birdie at the fifth hole … leading to an insane opening scorecard. Five-under through five holes. Is this a video game or the weekend at the Masters with historic expectations on your shoulders?
Of course, Bryson DeChambeau matched with a birdie-birdie start—leading all of us to start dreaming about a Pinehurst rematch on Sunday at Augusta National. How good with that be, with the career Grand Slam on the line for McIlroy and DeChambeau to earn his third major?
DeChambeau dropped a shot at the third hole, which meant McIlroy’s lead was now two—making up four shots on Rose in just four holes. Incredible, incredible stuff. If this is how Saturday is starting, who knows what else we’re in store for today.
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