How Rory McIlroy prepared for epic Masters moment with family

Rory McIlroy entered the 2025 Masters reading John Grisham, but looked to Disney ahead of Saturday’s monster third round at Augusta National.

Before shooting an 8-under 66 to claim the top spot on the Masters leaderboard at 12-under overall, the Northern Irishman — now one round away from potentially winning his first green jacket and completing a career grand slam — got his day started Saturday by watching cartoons with 4-year-old daughter Poppy, whom he shares with wife Erica Stoll.

“I watched a little Premier League football this morning, and then I actually watched ‘Zootopia’ with Poppy,” McIlroy said of the 2016 animated Disney feature. “[It’s a] very, very good movie if anyone’s interested.”

On the heels of a bogey-free 66 shot Friday in the second round, McIlroy replicated that magic the following day, opening round three with six straight 3s, including three birdies and one eagle.

Although he bogeyed on holes No. 8 and No. 10, McIlroy stormed back with a birdie on No. 13 and an eagle on No. 15 to set up an epic Sunday showdown against Bryson DeChambeau, who finished Saturday at 10-under par.

McIlroy and DeChambeau, 31, famously battled last summer at the U.S. Open, with the four-time major champion imploding at Pinehurst before the LIV Golf star claimed the second major title of his career.

With a rematch looming, McIlroy is operating with a different mindset.

“The big thing is not to make it a match, to stay in my own little world,” McIlroy said. “There are some other players on that leaderboard that can make a run. I just have to do what I’ve been doing and surround myself in my own cocoon.

“[DeChambeau] will do what he does and I just have to stay firm.”

When McIlroy tees off Sunday afternoon, he’ll have the support of his two biggest fans.

Before the tournament began, he took in the Par 3 contest with Poppy and Erica, whom he married in 2017.

The couple overcame a challenging time in their marriage last year, when McIlroy filed for divorce in May before reversing course a month later.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning,” McIlroy said in a statement to The Guardian.

McIlroy and Stoll welcomed Poppy three years after they tied the knot.

He and DeChambeau will start the fourth and final round of the Masters at 2:30 p.m.