April 12, 2025 • 10 mins
A familiar foe looms as golfer Rory McIlroy's biggest obstacle between the Northern Irishman and a maiden green jacket heading into the final round of the Masters at Augusta.
McIlroy carded a third-round six-under par 66, taking him to 12-under overall, as he holds a two-shot lead over LIV golf rival Bryson DeChambeau.
It'll be a rematch of last year's US Open showdown, where McIlroy missed two short putts in the final three holes of the event, allowing DeChambeau to snatch a late victory.
Graeme Agars joined Piney to recap the action.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Eighteen to one. Rory McElroy is roared into contention from
maiden green jacket a stunning third round at the Masters
in Augusta, a second straight six hundred par round of
sixty six. He's twelve under through three rounds, leading Bryson
Di Chambeau by two shots. Corey Connors another two shots back,
Overnight leader Justin Rose cutting a three over seventy five
to drop to five under for the tournament, seven shots
(00:34):
off the pace in a type for sixth and Rory
McElroy also became the first goal forever to shoot threes
on the first six holes at Augusta, three birdies, an eagle,
and two pars. Grahame Agars was watching on as per usual.
Pretty remarkable stuff from Rory McElroy. Graham, what did you
make of those first six holes in his third round?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Well, Jason, I've been doing this for a long time
and I thought I'd seen everything, but never have I
seen six threes. You go birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie and
goes five under, and he serves five holes and then
adds one more three on the six just to make
the card look clean. So I sat next to the
(01:18):
Irish broadcaster for RTE Radio and Television and he's just gone.
I met that poor guy and he looks at me
and says, this can't keep going. And I said, I
had to break it to you, but I have a
hot air balloon theory that everything that goes up eventually
comes down. And it did. Rory, you know, had a
(01:40):
slumpy dropped two shots, one at eight and one at ten,
and it looked like he was going to be struggling
again on the back nine, but then Birdie's thirteen played
it very sensibly and then eagles fifteen with one of
the best iron approaches I've ever seen to that green.
This is the same guy, of course, who double bogeit
(02:01):
in the first round, and he's back on track shoot
sixty six as you said twelve. So the decade long
search for the only Grand Slam title that has eluded
him is back on after so many disappointing happenings at
Augusta National over the years. So I think I know
(02:21):
my buddy next to me and the other broadcast booth,
the Irish guy's got his fingers crossed. But I've got
a feeling about ninety percent of people at Augusta National
want to get Rory across the line and just what
he see what he can do after getting all that
pressure off him.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Apart from the obvious of shooting low on the final day,
what must he do well tomorrow to close this out.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Well, you know, this guy faced so many challenges over
the years, and you know, he's had highs and he's
had lows, and he's finally learning not to go too
high on the hive and too low on the lows.
And he proved that, you know, after that first round
where he looked like he was going to go gang
(03:07):
buses and then makes two double bogies in the last
four holes coming in and we all thought, oh my gosh,
it's happened again. And we waited with great interest to
see what would happen when he came back for the
next round, and he was okay. He works with Bob Roteller,
who's one of the better known sports psychologist, who was
giving him the same advice and the specific advice he
(03:30):
came gave him after that disappointing finish to that opening
round was don't try and get all the birdies back
at once, just you've got three rounds to do it.
Just take your time, and it worked. I mean in
the second round, I think he only made one birdie
on the front nine and then cut loose on the
back nine, finished up with a sixty six. And then
(03:52):
again today he did it the other way around. But
he wasn't pushing it, you know, he was just taking
it as it comes. And as he said afterwards, he
said that he played three perfect shots on the first hole,
three perfect shots the second, and three perfect shots on
the third, and he knew he was going to have
a good day, but he didn't let himself get ahead
(04:13):
of himself and kept his feet on the ground. So tomorrow,
two shots against against d Chambeau, that's going to bring
back all memories of Pinehurst and the US Open last
year where Rory missed the three foot and d Chambou
came from behind to win that thing. So we're going
(04:34):
to have that mental anguish, We're going to have the
ten year search for the elusive final fourth Grand Slam title,
and we're going to have the shambo who can match
Rory off the tee, can match him for crowd appeal
and spectacular shots and is quietly ready for this battle,
(04:56):
knowing that the last time they went head to head,
he won it. So if Rory gets this thing tomorrow,
it's fair to say that he's really going to earn it.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
So McElroy twelve under, d Chambo ten under Connor's eight under.
Then it's a group of players on six and five under.
That's too far back, isn't it, Graham. If you're below
Connor's at eight under, no one's making a charge to
make up six or seven shots, are they?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
No? I don't see. I think it's two men raised tomorrow,
to be honest with it. You know, these two guys,
these two guys are thoroughbit. I mean, Rory when he's
on is the most magnificent golfer. And well, without a question,
I mean he's a bit like Roger Federer when he
was on, you know, it was just pretty to watch.
And Bryighton is well, I don't know who describe him,
(05:47):
but he's everything all the other golfers are not. You know,
he uses wacky clubs that he builds himself. He's got
an old square the square swing that goes back, you know,
originated seventy years ago. The lofts on his clubs are
all kind of strange. They're not like a normal set
of clubs, and he just plays a different way. They
(06:11):
used to call him the Professor when he was on
the PGA tour before he bailed and went to live
for a big check. And he analyzes everything like a mathematician.
He's got all these numbers and calculations in his head
and somehow he makes it work. And this is the
first year that he's figured out how to play Augusta National.
(06:35):
In previous years, the course has just eaten these lunch
because he just tried to overpower it. Now he's actually
playing it and using the weapons he has effectively. If
there's one thing that gives McElroy a little bit of
hope tomorrow, I think is that Bryson has been getting
up and down a lot, and his short game so
(06:56):
far as held up. And you remember at Pinehurst it
was an unbelievable bunker shot from short of the final
green that he put to about three feet that earned
him that win. And he's been playing some most magnificent
bunker shots and chip shots around the greens, so you know, ODDSI,
you can't maintain that over four rounds, and as I say,
(07:19):
if there isn't advantage theoids, it might be that for maclroy.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Just a word on Justin Rose overnight leader, as I say,
three over seventy five to drop down to five under.
He's been around for a while because there's twentieth Masters
start top twenty five and eleven of the last fourteen
runner up to Speeth in twenty fifteen, Garcia in twenty seventeen.
What happened to Justin Rose overnight or in the third round.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Well, he's forty four, that's what happened to him. It's
just not easy, No, it's not. I mean he's lost
a little bit of length of tea, which means he
has to work harder going into the greens. He knows it.
He's actually lead or be tired of being tied for
the lead of a round at the Masters six times,
(08:05):
which is the equal wreck. So he's been in contention
a lot. That might be the first round, round, third
round or whatever. But you know, so he knows what
he's doing. But he's got the young guns, and it's
hard to hold the young guns down over four four rounds,
particularly on a course like a gust which is just
so demanding with the placement of your shots off the
(08:26):
tee on the green and then you're putting. So I
think it just got to him. I wasn't knocking him,
but I didn't think that he would be able to
maintain that rage over four rounds. He may still play
well tomorrow, and you know, have a sniff. He's a
quality player. He's want to major before the US something,
so he knows what he's doing. But you know, he's
(08:49):
the passing generation, shall we say, and the Shambo and
Rory are the coming one, even though Rory is now
in his mid thirties.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Well, just back to Rory to finish. Then what what
do you have to shoot tomorrow? Par won't be enough?
Willot one two under the that be enough.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I picked fourteen under at the start of the week,
and I think maybe fifteen under will win it. Fourteen
under maybe a playoffs. You never know. It just depends
on the conditions tomorrow. The forecast is good. The greens
are going to be a little firmer and harder because
(09:29):
there's no rain in the forecast, so they're going to
be a little more difficult. I guess the National usually
sets up some pins that will allow low scoring. That
gives the guys a chance, you know, to make an
eagles or birdies. So it's going to be a shootout
for sure, but you know, I think fifteen under might win.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
It always great to get your an elysis crime. Hope
you and your Irish friend from ite have a great
day tomorrows does Rory McElroy. Thanks for your time as
always this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, that guy's going to be a nervous wreck by
the hind a wait that time.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Eighteen to one. Rory McElroy is roared into contention from
maiden green jacket a stunning third round at the Masters
in Augusta, a second straight six hundred par round of
sixty six. He's twelve under through three rounds, leading Bryson
Di Chambeau by two shots. Corey Connors another two shots back,
Overnight leader Justin Rose cutting a three over seventy five
to drop to five under for the tournament, seven shots
(00:34):
off the pace in a type for sixth and Rory
McElroy also became the first goal forever to shoot threes
on the first six holes at Augusta, three birdies, an eagle,
and two pars. Grahame Agars was watching on as per usual.
Pretty remarkable stuff from Rory McElroy. Graham, what did you
make of those first six holes in his third round?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Well, Jason, I've been doing this for a long time
and I thought I'd seen everything, but never have I
seen six threes. You go birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie and
goes five under, and he serves five holes and then
adds one more three on the six just to make
the card look clean. So I sat next to the
(01:18):
Irish broadcaster for RTE Radio and Television and he's just gone.
I met that poor guy and he looks at me
and says, this can't keep going. And I said, I
had to break it to you, but I have a
hot air balloon theory that everything that goes up eventually
comes down. And it did. Rory, you know, had a
(01:40):
slumpy dropped two shots, one at eight and one at ten,
and it looked like he was going to be struggling
again on the back nine, but then Birdie's thirteen played
it very sensibly and then eagles fifteen with one of
the best iron approaches I've ever seen to that green.
This is the same guy, of course, who double bogeit
(02:01):
in the first round, and he's back on track shoot
sixty six as you said twelve. So the decade long
search for the only Grand Slam title that has eluded
him is back on after so many disappointing happenings at
Augusta National over the years. So I think I know
(02:21):
my buddy next to me and the other broadcast booth,
the Irish guy's got his fingers crossed. But I've got
a feeling about ninety percent of people at Augusta National
want to get Rory across the line and just what
he see what he can do after getting all that
pressure off him.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Apart from the obvious of shooting low on the final day,
what must he do well tomorrow to close this out.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Well, you know, this guy faced so many challenges over
the years, and you know, he's had highs and he's
had lows, and he's finally learning not to go too
high on the hive and too low on the lows.
And he proved that, you know, after that first round
where he looked like he was going to go gang
(03:07):
buses and then makes two double bogies in the last
four holes coming in and we all thought, oh my gosh,
it's happened again. And we waited with great interest to
see what would happen when he came back for the
next round, and he was okay. He works with Bob Roteller,
who's one of the better known sports psychologist, who was
giving him the same advice and the specific advice he
(03:30):
came gave him after that disappointing finish to that opening
round was don't try and get all the birdies back
at once, just you've got three rounds to do it.
Just take your time, and it worked. I mean in
the second round, I think he only made one birdie
on the front nine and then cut loose on the
back nine, finished up with a sixty six. And then
(03:52):
again today he did it the other way around. But
he wasn't pushing it, you know, he was just taking
it as it comes. And as he said afterwards, he
said that he played three perfect shots on the first hole,
three perfect shots the second, and three perfect shots on
the third, and he knew he was going to have
a good day, but he didn't let himself get ahead
(04:13):
of himself and kept his feet on the ground. So tomorrow,
two shots against against d Chambeau, that's going to bring
back all memories of Pinehurst and the US Open last
year where Rory missed the three foot and d Chambou
came from behind to win that thing. So we're going
(04:34):
to have that mental anguish, We're going to have the
ten year search for the elusive final fourth Grand Slam title,
and we're going to have the shambo who can match
Rory off the tee, can match him for crowd appeal
and spectacular shots and is quietly ready for this battle,
(04:56):
knowing that the last time they went head to head,
he won it. So if Rory gets this thing tomorrow,
it's fair to say that he's really going to earn it.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
So McElroy twelve under, d Chambo ten under Connor's eight under.
Then it's a group of players on six and five under.
That's too far back, isn't it, Graham. If you're below
Connor's at eight under, no one's making a charge to
make up six or seven shots, are they?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
No? I don't see. I think it's two men raised tomorrow,
to be honest with it. You know, these two guys,
these two guys are thoroughbit. I mean, Rory when he's
on is the most magnificent golfer. And well, without a question,
I mean he's a bit like Roger Federer when he
was on, you know, it was just pretty to watch.
And Bryighton is well, I don't know who describe him,
(05:47):
but he's everything all the other golfers are not. You know,
he uses wacky clubs that he builds himself. He's got
an old square the square swing that goes back, you know,
originated seventy years ago. The lofts on his clubs are
all kind of strange. They're not like a normal set
of clubs, and he just plays a different way. They
(06:11):
used to call him the Professor when he was on
the PGA tour before he bailed and went to live
for a big check. And he analyzes everything like a mathematician.
He's got all these numbers and calculations in his head
and somehow he makes it work. And this is the
first year that he's figured out how to play Augusta National.
(06:35):
In previous years, the course has just eaten these lunch
because he just tried to overpower it. Now he's actually
playing it and using the weapons he has effectively. If
there's one thing that gives McElroy a little bit of
hope tomorrow, I think is that Bryson has been getting
up and down a lot, and his short game so
(06:56):
far as held up. And you remember at Pinehurst it
was an unbelievable bunker shot from short of the final
green that he put to about three feet that earned
him that win. And he's been playing some most magnificent
bunker shots and chip shots around the greens, so you know, ODDSI,
you can't maintain that over four rounds, and as I say,
(07:19):
if there isn't advantage theoids, it might be that for maclroy.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Just a word on Justin Rose overnight leader, as I say,
three over seventy five to drop down to five under.
He's been around for a while because there's twentieth Masters
start top twenty five and eleven of the last fourteen
runner up to Speeth in twenty fifteen, Garcia in twenty seventeen.
What happened to Justin Rose overnight or in the third round.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Well, he's forty four, that's what happened to him. It's
just not easy, No, it's not. I mean he's lost
a little bit of length of tea, which means he
has to work harder going into the greens. He knows it.
He's actually lead or be tired of being tied for
the lead of a round at the Masters six times,
(08:05):
which is the equal wreck. So he's been in contention
a lot. That might be the first round, round, third
round or whatever. But you know, so he knows what
he's doing. But he's got the young guns, and it's
hard to hold the young guns down over four four rounds,
particularly on a course like a gust which is just
so demanding with the placement of your shots off the
(08:26):
tee on the green and then you're putting. So I
think it just got to him. I wasn't knocking him,
but I didn't think that he would be able to
maintain that rage over four rounds. He may still play
well tomorrow, and you know, have a sniff. He's a
quality player. He's want to major before the US something,
so he knows what he's doing. But you know, he's
(08:49):
the passing generation, shall we say, and the Shambo and
Rory are the coming one, even though Rory is now
in his mid thirties.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Well, just back to Rory to finish. Then what what
do you have to shoot tomorrow? Par won't be enough?
Willot one two under the that be enough.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
I picked fourteen under at the start of the week,
and I think maybe fifteen under will win it. Fourteen
under maybe a playoffs. You never know. It just depends
on the conditions tomorrow. The forecast is good. The greens
are going to be a little firmer and harder because
(09:29):
there's no rain in the forecast, so they're going to
be a little more difficult. I guess the National usually
sets up some pins that will allow low scoring. That
gives the guys a chance, you know, to make an
eagles or birdies. So it's going to be a shootout
for sure, but you know, I think fifteen under might win.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
It always great to get your an elysis crime. Hope
you and your Irish friend from ite have a great
day tomorrows does Rory McElroy. Thanks for your time as
always this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Yeah, that guy's going to be a nervous wreck by
the hind a wait that time.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, Listen live
to news Talks at B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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