You know, there’s something different about McIlroy this year. You could sense it at Pebble Beach when he pulled off that incredible win. Rory McIlroy kicked off 2025 in style, dominating the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for his 27th PGA Tour win. He fired a 21-under 267 to edge Shane Lowry by two and pocket $3.6 million. And then again at THE PLAYERS — that one felt like vintage McIlroy, smooth, dominant, dangerous. It was a clutch playoff win over J.J. Spaun at TPC Sawgrass. Carding rounds of 67, 68, 73, and 68 for a 12-under total, McIlroy forced a three-hole playoff and sealed the deal with bold shot-making and cool composure.
Two big victories already on the PGA TOUR calendar. And now, here we are at Augusta National, and he’s leading the Masters after Round 3. But this isn’t just about potentially grabbing his third win of the season. It’s about how he’s doing it. It’s about the kind of golf that demands attention — the kind you remember even if he doesn’t end up wearing the Green Jacket on Sunday.
Let’s take a walk through his journey so far.
1. A Lucky Break and a Solid Start
McIlroy opened his Masters campaign with a 1-under 71 — not flashy, but steady. What stood out was his resilience, especially on the 9th hole. His tee shot veered off course, hitting a tree. But in a stroke of luck, the ball ricocheted back into the fairway, allowing him to save par. The hole itself was playing brutally, averaging nearly half a stroke over par, making it the toughest on the course that day, but McIlroy’s tee shot was anything but perfect.
This round marked his first sub-par opening at Augusta since 2018, setting a positive tone for the tournament. Given his history of slow starts at the Masters, this was a refreshing change.
2. Fastest start in Masters history:
Rory McIlroy‘s third round at the 2025 Masters wasn’t just impressive—it was historic. He became the first player in Masters history to start a round with six consecutive scores of three or better. This remarkable stretch included a birdie on the first hole, an eagle on the second, and birdies on the third and fifth holes, followed by a par on the sixth. Let that sink in. This place has seen greatness for decades, and no one—not Tiger, not Jack—had ever done that. Pure momentum magic. Birdie. Birdie. Eagle. Birdie. Par. Birdie. Boom.
That stretch included his first birdie on the 5th hole at Augusta in eight years — more on that in a minute — but for now, just appreciate the heat check he was on. Six holes in, and it already felt like we were watching something historic. And we were.
3. A front nine for the books:
Through the first nine holes of Round 3, McIlroy was cooking. We’re talking birdies on 1, 3, and 5, a massive eagle on 2, and steady pars on 4, 6, 7, and 9. That put him at 7-under by the turn, one of the hottest starts Augusta has ever seen. He wasn’t just in rhythm; he was in complete command. Every iron shot looked dialed in, and the putter? Automatic.
Rory McIlroy is the first player in Masters history to start his round with six consecutive threes. #themasters
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025
But then came Hole 10 — Camellia. A long, downhill par-4 that curves left and doesn’t forgive even a hint of indecision. It’s one of those holes that can flip momentum in a heartbeat. McIlroy’s tee shot wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t find the ideal angle. His approach missed the green, and a slightly off chip left him a tough par save. He missed it. Bogey. Just like that, the streak ended.
But honestly? It didn’t take away from the magic we had just witnessed. That front nine — pure electricity. Seven under through 10 holes at Augusta? That’s not normal. That’s McIlroy channeling something rare.
4. A moment 8 years in the making
Let’s go back to that birdie on the 5th hole. It might not sound like much — until you realize he hadn’t birdied that hole since 2017. That’s eight Masters without taking a stroke off that brutal par-4. So when that putt dropped on Saturday? That was more than a birdie. That was closure. That was a full-circle moment. Augusta has a memory, and so do we — and that tiny victory felt personal.
Now, here’s where things get spooky in the best way: McIlroy made two eagles in this round. The first came on Hole 2 and the second came on the par-5 15th. That’s something he’s only ever done once before in a major — back in the third round of the 2014 Open. Of course, he won that one.
If you believe in signs, omens, or just good old golf gods smiling down, this feels like one. Two eagles in a round at Augusta? That’s not something you stumble into. That’s what champions do.
5. Masters Legends — Rory McIlroy is now in that conversation
With this 66, McIlroy now has seven rounds of 66 or lower at the Masters. That puts him in second place all-time. The only player with more? Tiger Woods, with eight. He’s now ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Jordan Spieth, who both sit at six. On Friday, he catapulted himself from tied 27th to tied 3rd, making a spectacular eagle on the par-5 13th hole, where he reached the green in two and sank the putt, electrifying the Augusta crowd. That’s not just trivia. That’s legacy.
He reached the green in two and calmly drained the putt. Indeed, the moment was buzzworthy. So, his rounds so far weren’t just about numbers. It was about energy, emotion, and watching a player in complete control of his game. Whether or not McIlroy gets his hands on that Green Jacket, he’s already given us something to remember.
In that quiet brush with chaos at Augusta, McIlroy didn’t just save pars, he turned a twist of fate into a moment of quiet mastery. Resilience met grace, and the rounds found their heartbeat. If this is the version of Rory McIlroy we’re getting for the rest of the season, buckle up. This could be the year that everything changes.
The post The Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy’s Record-Breaking Moments at Augusta National Explored appeared first on EssentiallySports.
