Rory McIlroy and Harry Diamond Have Been Here Before

After bogeying the 72nd hole at the 2025 Masters, Rory McIlroy’s longtime caddie and dear friend Harry Diamond contextualized the situation for his boss.

Yeah, Rory may have seen a four shot lead with seven to play disappear, jeopardizing his chances at finally securing the career Grand Slam, but all that was a wash as he headed back to the 18th tee to face off against Justin Rose.

Rory explained: “After scoring, Harry and I were walking to the golf cart to bring us back to the 18th tee, and he said to me, Well pal, we would have taken this on Monday morning. I was like, Yep, absolutely we would have. That was an easy reset. He basically said to me, Look, you would have given your right arm to be in a playoff at the start of the week.”

Somehow, some way, Rory McIlroy finds himself in a remarkably similar position heading into the final round of the 2026 Masters. Relieved of all pressure concerning the career Grand Slam, speculation before the tourney ran rampant regarding whether Rory would turn in another all-time showing, able to play pressure-free golf at Augusta for the first time since he was a rookie on tour.

Those speculations were proven right through 36 holes. McIlroy established the largest lead ever at the halfway point of The Masters. Up 6 with 36 to play, though, didn’t last long.

By the conclusion of Saturday’s play, Rory found himself in a tie for the lead, having shot a 73 and other competitors deciding to light Augusta National on fire. He’ll be in the final pairing on Sunday with PLAYERS winner and American Ryder Cup standout Cameron Young.

Though he’s already blown the biggest lead in the history of the Masters, Rory should approach today’s play exactly the way he went into last year’s playoff. Wouldn’t he be thrilled to be in the final pairing heading into Sunday at The Masters?

Yes, he’s going against a wildly talented player in Young, but Cam has rarely been in this position before (ironically, he also chased down Rory at the 2023 British Open at St. Andrews, finishing in second behind Cam Smith).

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Sam Burns has never won a major either, and most other chasers have to reckon with some serious scar tissue if they want to take home the Green Jacket. The only player in Rory’s wheelhouse from a resume standpoint is Scottie Scheffler, and he sits four shots back. He’s lurking, but he’s not nipping at Rory’s heels…yet.

So, Rory McIlroy again finds himself within shouting distance of winning the Masters. As he withered away on Amen Corner yesterday, I couldn't help but think he was incredibly relieved to have won last year. Another collapse might have been too much to bear.

Instead, he's in a perfect position to win again. Sure, the six shot lead might have disappeared completely, but it's not like Rory McIlroy hasn't been here before.