Canadian Corey Conners in the hunt heading into final round of Masters

Canadian golf fans might have a bit more of a vested interest in the final round of the 2025 Masters.

The prestigious tournament – the first of golf’s four annual majors – will wrap up with 18 more holes on Sunday.

And right in the hunt is Ontario’s Corey Conners, who will begin final round play in third place at -8, four shots behind leader Rory McIlroy who enters Sunday at -12.

Now a tie for second. #themasters https://t.co/wvBeXRLXml pic.twitter.com/G3pTChy31I

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Conners has had success at Augusta in the past with a trio of top 10 finishes, all coming in a row from 2020-22 and culminating with a career-best T6 finish three years ago.

And he’s been hovering around the top of the leaderboard all tournament long, starting with a first round 68 to put him in a tie for second following play on Thursday.

After shooting 70 on Friday, Conners entered moving day at the Masters in a tie for third and found himself playing alongside McIlroy in the penultimate pairing on Saturday.

McIlroy got off to a blistering start. He started with six consecutive threes, a Masters’ first, which included an eagle on the second and birdies at one, three and five, to surge into a multi-shot lead.

Rory McIlroy has a hop in his step. He's four under par through three holes today. #themasters pic.twitter.com/DMBeUMb7Mu

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

Conners had a much slower start, but found another gear in the middle part of the round and went shot for shot with his playing partner. The Canadian improved from -5 to -8 with three straight birdies on the eight, ninth and 10th holes.

His round stalled after that and Conners finished with eight pars in a row to shoot 70 for the second consecutive day.

While the overnight leader, Justin Rose, slowly fell off the pace, the other member of Saturday’s final round was part of the picture all day.

Bryson DeChambeau provided the crowd with several electric moments, most notably a long birdie putt on 18 to emphatically finish off a three-under 69. That was good enough to keep DeChambeau in solo second, the same position he started the day in.

An emphatic finish. Bryson DeChambeau birdies No. 18 ahead of the final round. #themasters pic.twitter.com/8McweulZGO

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 12, 2025

He’ll remain in the final pairing on Sunday, but will be joined by McIlroy for a showdown reminiscent of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst. While the two were not in the same group that Sunday, they went shot for shot before DeChambeau edged McIlroy by one on the 72nd hole.

Conners will play just ahead of that duo in the penultimate pairing on Sunday and will hope to track down the superstars and claim Canada’s second green jacket. Mike Weir’s 2003 Masters triumph is still the only major victory in the country’s history.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of the Masters website.}