Aberg closes to within one
Hello Ludvig Aberg. He’s barely made a putt all day but when faced with an eight-footer for birdie on the 15th, he delivers!
Into double digits at -10. Only one shot back and both McIlroy and Rose – who went over the back of the green at 17 – are scrambling for par on -11…
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:50
McIlroy and Rose battling tee shots
I guess it was never going to be easy for McIlroy but this has spiralled out of nowhere and suddenly he’s in a real battle with Rose.
Rose’s tee shot at 17 is slightly left, he won’t have a perfect angle into the green. But he’s in better shape than McIlroy at the 14th – he goes right with his tee shot and is in the pine straw.
He has to draw his second shot and does well to get it towards the green, just off the front in a little bowl. Not an easy up and down for par.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:48
Rose and McIlroy tied at the top after huge swing
What a huge putt for McIlroy here. He’s left himself eight feet for bogey. He could really do with this…
BUT NO! Stays right of the hole and somehow he’s made a seven at the par-five. A fourth double bogey of the week! He drops back to -11 and Rose’s birdie putt at 16 is now for a tie for the lead.
And Rose makes it! Out of nowhere, we have a tie at the top!
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:40
McIlroy in the water
Rory McIlroy what have you done?! He’s cruising along and lays up at the par-five 13th with his second shot.
A wedge in and should have a great birdie look but blocks his shot to the white, it barely bounces on the green and rolls back off it, into the creek! How has he done that?
Suddenly he needs an up-and-down to save bogey, while Rose is putting for birdie up ahead. This could be a huge swing…
Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:35
Here comes Justin Rose
How strongly can Rose finish? Can he put pressure on McIlroy?
Oh yes he can! Stunning tee shot at the 16th as he lofts an iron towards the flag and it’s within six feet for a glorious birdie chance. If he holes it, he’ll be within two of McIlroy…
Aberg nearly holes a birdie effort from off the green on 14 as it lips out. Solid par though when bogey was on the table.
Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:33
Another hole ticked off for Rory McIlroy. Two putts on the 12th green, in for par and that’s another obstacle negotiated. Six holes to go…
Behind him, there’s some movement. Rose gets the shot back he dropped at the 14th on the par-five 15th. A hard-fought birdie from the bunker.
And Aberg also responds to a bogey with a birdie at the par-five 13th. For goo measure, Scottie Scheffler moves to -8 with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14.
Things have now completely unravelled for Bryson DeChambeau, who can’t get up and down from the bunker and bogeys the 12th to drop way back to -6.
Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:29
McIlroy on the dreaded 12th
On to the 12th hole. McIlroy’s dreams have died at this par three in the past. He had a horror show here during his Sunday collapse in 2011.
With a four-shot lead, all he needs to do is find the green. Take the water out of play…
He does that. It’s away from the pin, towards the back of the green but it’s dry and he’ll be putting. Two-putt for par, get out of dodge and head to the par five will be the plan.
Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -9: Rose; -8: Aberg, Reed
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:17
McIlroy makes bogey and DeChambeau a double
It won’t all be plain sailing for McIlroy, who can’t get up and down after the ball came short of the water. His par putt drifts by but a bogey five at the 11th isn’t the end of the world.
DeChambeau is in all sorts of trouble though. Completely misreads his bogey putt on the 11th, it’s the wrong line and he double bogeys. He falls all the way back to -7 and out of contention
Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -9: Rose; -8: Aberg, Reed
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:14
McIlroy’s rivals in trouble
Even though McIlroy is in trouble at the 11th, it feels like all his rivals are falling away now…
Justin Rose struggling at 14 and misses a 10-footer for par to drop back to -9.
Ludvig Aberg is down to -8 after going through the back of the 12th green, while Patrick Reed looks likely to fall to -7 after also scrambling out the back of the 12th.
Leaderboard: -14: McIlroy; -9: DeChambeau, Rose; -8: Aberg, Reed
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:11
McIlroy flirts with the water and DeChambeau gets wet
Wow – Amen Corner baring its teeth.
McIlroy flirting with danger. He has to thread the ball between two trees at the 11th, he tries to hook it round towards the green but it’s going too far left. It’s bounding towards the water but pulls up one or two rolls short of going down the hill and in the drink. It won’t be a fun shot from there with a dodgy stance but at least it’s not wet.
The same can’t be said of DeChambeau… He’s in prime position on the fairway but blocks his iron shot to the left and it lands in the water! That’s his Masters chances gone, you’d think.
Leaderboard: -14: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: DeChambeau; -8: Aberg, Reed
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:08