Rory McIlroy makes most of moving day to open up two-shot Masters lead

World No 2 shoots fine 66 in third round. Bryson DeChambeau is second, Corey Conners third

Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 11th hole during the third round at the Masters golf tournament, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

It is now or never. Surely it is now or never.

Rory McIlroy will take a lead into the closing round of the Masters for the first time since 2011. That sentence barely does justice to a Saturday of high drama at Augusta National where McIlroy created history then threatened to feature in his own Shakespearean tragedy once more before re-establishing daylight between himself and the field. That sentence barely does justice, either, to what McIlroy is on the verge of. We are now in the position of fearing what on earth the impact will be on him should he not prevail.