As Moving Day was unpacking, I was taking in a regional performance of Chess, the 1986 musical that has enjoyed a reassessment and revaloration in recent years. My initial thought for this third-round recap was to connect a musical number with each of the five things we learned. Unfortunately, songs like Pity The Child, Florence Quits, A Taste Of Pity, and Nobody’s Side don’t lend themselves to player movement at the Masters.

The third round was a chess match, make no mistake. Only one player among the top fourteen played the course over par, and he happened to be the 36-hole leader. That departure allowed others to leap to the fore, and the 54-hole leader is the fellow that the entire golf world aches for. Chasing him are his perhaps-nemesis, a major non-winner with a great Augusta track record, and a young lion. No better time than the present, to check out the five things we learned on Saturday at the Masters.

Sungjae Im’s eagle on No. 2 moves him into a tie for fifth. #themasters pic.twitter.com/CbEZO3lMMU

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Five: Eagles!

Rory McIlroy made bogey on the par-five eighth, and still found a way to play the par-five holes in four strokes under par. The Northern Irishman hit a bunch of mediocre shots on the way to making six on eight, failing to get his pitch shot close enough to save par. Six holes earlier, however, McIlroy had pitched in for eagle, from just over the second green.

McIlroy went over the 13th green in two as well, but pitched to three feet to make birdie. He saved his best for the last par-five hole. After a fairway-splitting bomb off the tee, Rors threw an iron high into the air, then watched it settle four feet from the hole. He buried the putt for his second eagle of the day, reaching minus-twelve.

Eagle on No. 15 launches Rory McIlroy into a four-shot lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ri6fA5yO7O

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Four: Bryson just won’t go away

DeChambeau made birdie on Saturday’s first two holes, reaching minus-nine on the third tee. He gave three strokes back against one more birdie through the 14th green, returning to even par on the day. Imagine for a moment, that he had parred his way home. He would have been at minus-seven, five back of the leader, in the penultimate pairing on Sunday, and uncertain of his ability to win a second major event.

What did happen, however, was this: DeChambeau posted birdies at 15, 16, and 18, to reach minus-ten and a date with Rory on Sunday. Keep in mind that it was DeChambeau who made a miraculous par at the last in Pinehurst last June, effectively stealing the US Open from McIlroy. Will one of the two don the eponyomous green jacket on Sunday? Magic Eight Ball says Yes. 

Solo second. #themasters https://t.co/56oqkxwpH8 pic.twitter.com/ICVoSZqVUP

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Three: The Rose that lost its petals

As much as fans want Rory to finish the job on Sunday, a great majority (statistics my own) certainly wanted to see Justin Rose score one for the forty-somethings. It wasn’t to be, however, as Rose poste 75 to effectively remove himself from contention for the title.

The Englishman was treading water through 15 holes. Unlike Bryson, he wasn’t able to make birdies coming home. Unlike Rory, he wasn’t able to make pars coming home. Rose signed for bogey at the 16th and the 18th, to drop to minus-five for the week. We’re not saying that he’s completely out of the running, but Rose needs 63 on Sunday to get back in the mix.

Two; Those guys who stayed in contention

Corey Conners is doing his level best to break through at Augusta. After three previous, top-ten finishes, the Ontario native is poised to make a Sunday run. A tenth-hole birdie brought him to eight-under par, and he closed with eight pars to stand four back through three rounds.

Ludvig Aberg is intent on improving on his runner-up finish in 2024. Aberg was three-under through 36 holes, then tripped over a bogey on the first green, to drop back to two-deep. Digging deep, the Belgian played the following 17 holes in four-under par, to earn a spot alongside Conners in the penultimate pairing. Should either of them have a chance on Sunday? Not if either Rory or Bryson gets the job done. Might they have a shot? Of course! It’s Augusta, the back nine, Amen Corner, and Sunday.

Corey Conners leaps into a tie for third. #themasters pic.twitter.com/qLfHXvchil

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

One: Guys who are finished like a chair

Scottie will put the jacket on someone else’s shoulders this year. Sugar Shane won’t add a second major to his Royal Portrush Open title. Jason Day will get another major top-ten, but not another major title. Each of these fellows woke up on Saturday, jonesing for a mid-60s round that would thrust them into contention, and possibly, the lead. Instead, they got par.

Scheffler etched two birdies and two bogeys onto his 72 mix tape. Lowry had four of each, never finding a semblance of balance, as he shimmied his way to a 72 of his own. Day went one better, holding on over the closing holes for a one-under 71. Simply put, we wanted more and better from them, but we didn’t get it. Could each toss a 63 on Sunday? Absolutely. We have to hope for that.

A birdie on No. 2 to get his day started. Scottie Scheffler moves to six under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/AIISPYsnKc

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025