McIlroy heads into epic Masters Sunday with lead

Rory McIlroy will start the final round of The Masters with a two-shot lead over American Bryson DeChambeau as the Northern Irishman stayed in the hunt of completing his career Grand Slam by winning all four majors.

The 35-year-old fired a six-under-par 66 that includes two eagles at Augusta National to head a superstar-stacked leaderboard with his three-day total of 12-under-par 204.

Masters Sunday is widely expected to be an epic showdown between McIlroy and DeChambeau again, along with a host of stars still in the mix as they battle to emerge as the last man standing at Augusta National.

“Tomorrow in that final group is going to be a little rowdy and a little loud. I'm just going to have to settle in and really try to keep myself in my own little bubble and keep my head down – approach tomorrow with the same attitude that I have tried to approach the last three days with,” said McIlroy.

The final-round pairing of McIlroy and DeChambeau comes 10 months after their unforgettable battle at the U.S. Open, where a late collapse by McIlroy allowed DeChambeau to win his second U.S. Open then.

“It will be the grandest stage we’ve had in a long time and I’m excited. We both want to win. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere,” said DeChambeau.

Justin Rose, who led at the halfway stage, dropped off the pace after a 75. The former world number one is in tied-sixth, alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Ireland's 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry and Australia's Jason Day.