By DAVE SKRETTA
AUGUSTA — Bryson DeChambeau finds himself making an attempt to chase down Rory McIlroy in one other main championship.
This time, he has 18 holes to do it.
The 2-time and reigning U.S. Open champion made an almost 50-foot putt from simply off the inexperienced on the 18th gap Saturday, giving him a 3-under 69 within the third spherical of the Masters. That left DeChambeau simply two photographs behind McIlroy — the chief t 12 beneath — and within the closing pairing with him Sunday for the ultimate spherical.
“Those last few holes, I just kept thinking to myself, ‘Get in the final pairing. Execute those shots the best you can,’” DeChambeau mentioned after signing for a 3rd straight spherical within the 60s. “I made a beautiful putt to finish it off and that was cool.”
The LIV Golf participant has expertise staring down McIlroy on among the recreation’s largest levels.
Final summer season, he was trailing McIlroy by a shot with 4 holes to play within the closing spherical at Pinehurst No. 2. DeChambeau was capable of maintain collectively his nerves whereas McIlroy faltered, lacking two quick putts and bogeying three of his final 4 holes, and a memorable up-and-down within the twilight on the 18th gap allowed DeChambeau to win the U.S. Open by a shot.
DeChambeau and McIlroy had an opportunity to briefly stare one another down in the course of the third spherical Saturday, too.
The second got here after that they had handed by Amen Nook. DeChambeau was ending up on the par-5 fifteenth, the place he managed to get up-and-down from behind the inexperienced for birdie. A few hundred yards away, McIlroy hit his strategy to the par-3 sixteenth to about 15 toes, although he missed the birdie putt and needed to accept a par.
“It’s always important in a major championship to be in the final group, or close to the final group, but it was really fun knowing it was Rory and we could have a good match tomorrow,” DeChambeau mentioned. “It’s going to be a fun test.”
McIlroy appears as much as the problem himself.
He’s making an attempt to chase down the ultimate leg of the profession grand slam, and a searing begin during which he performed the primary 5 holes in 5 beneath thrust him into the lead. Regardless of a few wobbles as he made the flip, the 35-year-old Northern Irishman was capable of make an eagle on the fifteenth to regain management, and he earned a standing ovation after his spherical of 66.
DeChambeau had loads of highs and lows, too. He birdied two of his first three holes and was tied with McIlroy at 9 beneath earlier than he discovered a bunker on the fourth and made bogey. DeChambeau caught his strategy at No. 6 to three toes for an additional birdie, solely to search out the bunker left of the ninth inexperienced with that strategy shot, resulting in a second bogey.
But he stored on working — fittingly, for the analytic-driven participant nicknamed “The Scientist.” And by the point he made an 8-footer to save lots of par on the sixteenth, and made that huge birdie on the final, DeChambeau was again in competition at Augusta Nationwide.
One 12 months in the past, he opened with a 65 and nonetheless shared the second-round lead earlier than a 75 on Saturday left him with an excessive amount of floor to make up. DeChambeau tied for sixth, 9 photographs again of eventual winner Scottie Scheffler.
The enduring picture of that Masters, after all, might need been DeChambeau strolling down the green holding a large picket signal that’s supposed to direct patrons across the property. It had been in his approach, so he merely determined to maneuver it.
DeChambeau opened with 69 in his return to Augusta Nationwide this 12 months, although he lamented his ball-striking, which was not fairly to his liking. So lengthy after everybody else had departed the property, he stood beneath the enormous flood lights of the expansive Masters observe vary and hit balls, one after one other, till he was pleased together with his swing.
He proceeded to shoot 68 on Friday. And with one other under-par spherical Saturday, he’s within the closing group for Sunday.
“I think it’s fun feeling like you have to hit every single shot to the best of your ability, and you can’t let off the gas pedal, and you have to focus and play the best golf you can,” DeChambeau mentioned. “When you’re leading, it’s a little different. I’ve had those times as well, and you attack those a little different. But for me to be chasing tomorrow, it’ll be a fun test.”
