Rory McIlroy entered the 2025 Masters studying John Grisham, however seemed to Disney forward of Saturday’s monster third spherical at Augusta Nationwide.
Earlier than taking pictures an 8-under 66 to say the highest spot on the Masters leaderboard at 12-under general, the Northern Irishman — now one spherical away from doubtlessly profitable his first inexperienced jacket and finishing a profession grand slam — obtained his day began Saturday by watching cartoons with 4-year-old daughter Poppy, whom he shares with spouse Erica Stoll.
“I watched a little Premier League football this morning, and then I actually watched ‘Zootopia’ with Poppy,” McIlroy stated of the 2016 animated Disney function. “[It’s a] very, very good movie if anyone’s interested.”
On the heels of a bogey-free 66 shot Friday within the second spherical, McIlroy replicated that magic the next day, opening spherical three with six straight 3s, together with three birdies and one eagle.
Though he bogeyed on holes No. 8 and No. 10, McIlroy stormed again with a birdie on No. 13 and an eagle on No. 15 to arrange an epic Sunday showdown in opposition to Bryson DeChambeau, who completed Saturday at 10-under par.
McIlroy and DeChambeau, 31, famously battled final summer season on the U.S. Open, with the four-time main champion imploding at Pinehurst earlier than the LIV Golf star claimed the second main title of his profession.
With a rematch looming, McIlroy is working with a special mindset.
“The big thing is not to make it a match, to stay in my own little world,” McIlroy stated. “There are another gamers on that leaderboard that may make a run. I simply must do what I’ve been doing and encompass myself in my very own cocoon.
“[DeChambeau] will do what he does and I just have to stay firm.”
When McIlroy tees off Sunday afternoon, he’ll have the assist of his two greatest followers.
Earlier than the event started, he took within the Par 3 contest with Poppy and Erica, whom he married in 2017.
The couple overcame a difficult time of their marriage final yr, when McIlroy filed for divorce in Might earlier than reversing course a month later.
“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning,” McIlroy stated in a press release to The Guardian.
McIlroy and Stoll welcomed Poppy three years after they tied the knot.
He and DeChambeau will begin the fourth and last spherical of the Masters at 2:30 p.m.
