Masters Sunday: The Final Round Live Blog

THE 89TH MASTERS PLAYOFF

What on earth is coming next? If Rory does not win this it could be catastrophic for his career.

A stunning pair of drives from Rose and McIlroy, its down to the second shots, my word

2354 BST - AN UNBELIEVABLE BOGEY FROM MCILROY AFTER HE FINDS THE SAND AND MISSES HIS PAR PUTT AND WE ARE SET FOR A PLAYOFF BETWEEN RORY MCILROY AND JUSTIN ROSE, GUTWRENCHING

2341 BST - AN OUTSTANDING DRIVE, THE BEST OF THE WEEK AT 18 FROM RORY, ONE MORE GOOD SHOT AND THE MASTERS IS HIS

2334 BST - BIRDIE FROM RORY, HE LEADS BY 1 WITH 1 HOLE TO PLAY

2326 BST - AMAZING FROM RORY MCILROY, an 8 iron to five feet on 17 and my goodness me, he has a putt to take the lead with 1 hole to play

2317 BST - McIlroy pars the 16th, he needs to birdie one of the last 2 to win outright. Aberg three-putts 17 to fall to -9, it is surely now down to Rose and McIlroy. Another European shootout for Augusta glory. 17 is brutally difficult, and Rory has not played it well this week.

2315 BST - OH MY GOODNESS ME, JUSTIN ROSE HOLES A 30 FOOTER FOR BIRDIE AT THE LAST AND HE SETS THE TARGET AT -11. REMARKABLE.

2309 BST - A TRULY MAGNIFICENT BIRDIE FROM MCILROY AT 15, A SWOOPING SECOND SHOT FROM BEHIND THE TREES AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EAGLE, BUT HE REGAINS THE LEAD ONCE MORE, 1 shot clear, 3 to play, goodness me can you breathe?!

2255 BST - 3-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD, ROSE BOGEYS 17

2252 BST - MCILROY MAKES ANOTHER BOGEY AT 14 AND ROSE LEADS ALONE, THIS COULD BE THE BIGGEST CHOKE SINCE JEAN VAN DE VELDE - TRULY AWFUL FROM RORY

2250 BST - LUDVIG ABERG BIRDIES THE 15TH AND HE IS NOW 10-UNDER, 1 BACK

2239 BST - JUSTIN ROSE TIES THE LEAD WITH BIRDIE AT 16, Rose -11, McIlroy -11 and wow, whatever next?

2238 BST - YET ANOTHER DOUBLE BOGEY FOR MCILROY - IF ROSE HOLES HIS PUTT AT 16 HE TIES THE LEAD AND MCILROY'S HEAD HAS TO BE MUSH NOW - THIS WOULD END HIM IF HE LOST THIS

2233 BST - DISASTER FOR RORY - AN ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING PITCH FINDS RAE'S CREEK AND WITH ROSE HAVING A BIRDIE PUTT AT 16 THIS TOURNAMENT COULD BE BLOWN WIDE OPEN - CATASTROPHIC

2230 BST - Justin Rose is now 10-under after a fine birdie at 15, he could set a target in the clubhouse, could he get to 12-under and really test McIlroy's nerves?

2226 BST - McIlroy finds the 13th fairway with a fine 3-wood. How's everyone's nerves?

2223 BST - Another bogey for DeChambeau at 12, and remarkably he is now SEVEN shots behind Rory, McIlroy is now 4 clear with 6 holes to play

2216 BST - McIlroy finds grass from the tee at 12, a big hurdle overcome.

2211 BST - Bogey for McIlroy drops him to -13, but he still leads by 4 shots from Rose

2206 BST - DeChambeau finds the pond to the left of the 11th green and surely his race is run now. McIlroy gets away with an overambitious recovery, stopping short of the water, just.

2200 BST - Amen Corner awaits, get through it unscathed must be the aim for McIlroy

2155 BST - ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT FROM MCILROY. A STUNNING BIRDIE AT 10, ROLLS IN A 20 FOOTER AND HE IS NOW FOUR CLEAR OF ROSE, FIVE CLEAR OF DECHAMBEAU AND WELL, 8 HOLES FROM GLORY.

2152 BST - Incredible run from Rose, birdies at 11, 12 and 13 to move into second place at 10-under, meanwhile Aberg makes a remarkable par save at 11 to remain 4 back.

2147 BST - McIlroy finds the fairway at the 10th, banishing the demons of 2011. He now leads by 4 from DeChambeau, Rose and Aberg, but there is danger at every turn on the second nine.

2141 BST - BRILLIANT BIRDIE FROM MCILROY AT THE 9TH, HE LEADS BY 4 SHOTS WITH 9 HOLES TO PLAY. HISTORY BECKONS.

2130 BST - Absolutely stunning birdie from Rose on the 11th and he is 8-under, 4 back. Patrick Reed makes 4 birdies in a row, including the 9th to reach 8-under. Rory and Bryson par the 8th, Rory unleashes a great drive on the 9th, this could be a chance to take a four-shot lead into the final nine holes.

2116 BST - Remarkably Rory finds the right sand at the 8th, the third such miss today. He needs to straighten out his driving, so far this week until today it has been imperious, but today much less so.

2110 BST - Incredible pars from both players in the final group. McIlroy leads by 3 with 11 holes to play. The World Number One and Defending Champion Scheffler is 5 behind with 9 to play. The Final Nine Holes on Sunday are getting closer.

2105 BST - A Miracle shot from McIlroy to 6 feet above the hole, absolutely stunning. Rory and Harry in fits of laughter, it could be the shot of the week. Bryson in the bunker short, another defining moment coming up.

2100 BST - Rory will surely come unstuck if he keeps missing fairways and finding the pine needles, he has done it again at the seventh. So far he has always made a recovery, but it only takes one time where he doesn't and his tournament could unravel. 12 holes to go and he holds a three-shot lead, but no lead is safe on the second nine on Sunday.

2044 BST - McIlroy makes a quite fantastic par after his poor drive, Bryson, after hitting the green walks off with a par and remains 3 back. Ludvig Aberg has moved to 8-under, and the chasing pack is gathering to take advantage of a serious slip by Rory. 13 holes to go.

2034 BST - McIlroy's drive in big trouble at the fifth hole, DeChambeau in the middle of the fairway, this is an unreal beginning to the final round. What next?

2028 BST - DeChambeau three-putts again for bogey, Rory's lead back to two shots, he now putts for birdie, and.......YES!!! Birdie for McIlroy, HE LEADS BY 3 SHOTS!

2022 BST - Rory stripes a four-iron to within 20 feet and Bryson misses the green, a huge moment, could Rory regain his 2 shot lead?

2018 BST - DECHAMBEAU THREE-PUTTS THE THIRD GREEN AND RORY MCILROY RETAKES THE LEAD, What. A. Start.

2016 BST - BIRDIE. A BRILLIANT BIRDIE FOR RORY AT THE 3RD. WE ARE TIED AGAIN AT 11-UNDER.

2012 BST - Bryson and Rory find the 3rd green in two shots, Bryson laid back and hit a full pitch, Rory drove to within 25 yards and chipped on. Both face tough birdie putts. This is enormous for McIlroy.

2003 BST - BRYSON DECHAMBEAU LEADS THE MASTERS. 2 putts for birdie and the US Open Champion reaches 11-under-par, 1 clear.

2002 BST - 2 putts from Rory and its a settling par. Now over to Bryson.

1958 BST - A really poor approach to the 2nd from McIlroy, he faces a treacherous putt down the hill, it's for birdie but it could ultimately lead to a bogey. Bryson on in 2 shots, and he could take the lead here outright.

1946 BST - I watched the final round of the 2011 Masters in the Dunvegan in St Andrews, my first weekend living in Fife, and my word that was a painful night seeing McIlroy fold like a cheap tent, please do not happen again. Bryson launches a drive down the 2nd fairway and he has the momentum. Rory finds the sand, and this is already becoming a nightmare.

1945 BST - DOUBLE-BOGEY FOR RORY MCILROY AT THE FIRST, he falls to -10. A third double-bogey for the week. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU MAKES A PAR AND WE HAVE A TIE FOR THE LEAD AT 10-UNDER. WOW.

1938 BST - Lay ups from both Rory and Bryson and the first, both must scramble for their par. Meanwhile, Rose birdies 1 and 3 to move to within 5 of the lead

1932 BST - Rory finds the right fairway bunker off the tee at the first, Bryson hits a pull hook into the trees, it seems they are nervous too! We are underway at Augusta

1930 BST - Bryson arrives at the first tee to a rapturous applause, after signing numerous autographs, what a scene, what an event, and what a night we are in for

1926 BST - Ludvig Aberg off to a great start rolling in a 10+ footer at the first to reach 7-under and 5 off the lead

1922 BST - Anyone else nervous? Wow this is going to be sensational.

Sunday, the final day of a golf tournament, sure some tournaments finish on a Saturday, or even a Monday or Tuesday if the weather is bad. Sunday is the day of roast dinners, Yorkshire puddings and apple pie with custard. Sunday is the day when trophies are lifted and a champion is crowned. Sunday is the day when Tiger wears red and Seve wore navy blue and white.

Masters Sunday is the day history is made.

Masters Sunday is the day when the roars are louder, the shots are greater and everything is just that little bit more important.

Masters Sunday is the day when memories are made, dreams come true and golfers are created.

My first memories of Masters Sunday are of Nick Faldo holing the birdie putt on 18 in 1996 when he came from 6 back of Greg Norman to win by 5, completing an 11-shot turnaround the likes of which not seen in many years. I remember Mark O'Meara holing a similar putt to win in 1998, Tiger Woods completing the Tiger Slam in 2001, Phil Mickelson winning his first major in 2004 and Tiger holing the impossible chip at 16 in 2005.

The old saying is that The Masters doesn't start until the second nine on Sunday, this is partly because that is all that used to be shown of the tournament on television and because it is arguably the greatest second nine in world golf. Prodigious, brutal par fours like the 10th and 11th, risk-reward par fives like 13 and 15, stunningly beautiful and challenging par three's like 12 and 16 and one of the iconic finishing holes in world golf like 18.

Nicklaus shooting 30 on the second nine to win in 1986 happened when I was 2 1/2 years old, but it has been replayed so many times it feels like I actually watched it happen live.

Masters Sunday is a day which inspires children, usually watching with their family, to take up the game. Children like Nick Faldo who was in awe of Jack Nicklaus.

Masters Sunday is a day which can make a career, like Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and Mike Weir. Masters Sunday is a day which can bring heartache to a player, time and time again, like Greg Norman. Masters Sunday is a day which can launch a dynasty, like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Simply put, Masters Sunday is and will forever remain, the single greatest day in the golfing calendar. The roars of an Open Championship, the difficulty of a US Open, the beauty of Augusta National and the colours of spring. Masters Sunday is a day to cherish. So sit back, watch it, take it in and hold on to it. It will give you memories for a lifetime.

I first heard of Rory McIlroy nearly 21 years ago, when I was in my first season caddying at Royal County Down Golf Club in 2004. Back then he was an outrageously talented 15-year-old. He is friends with one of my close friends, who is a coach on the tour and I lived with in Newcastle, County Down and travelled over Ireland with. I have followed his career ever since, beginning with the 2007 Open at Carnoustie.

Throughout the ups and downs of a massive career, Rory has been on the end of the critics pens, keyboards and tongues, most of whom have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. This evening Rory has the chance to join the legends of this sport by completing the career Grand Slam, becoming only the sixth man to ever do it.

He has won 28 PGA Tour events, among 38 career professional titles worldwide winning on 4 continents, including 4 Major Championships. He has spent 122 weeks at World Number One, and reached Number One on 9 occasions, bettered only by Tiger Woods.

All of that would give him one of the greatest careers ever seen. But becoming just the sixth player ever to win all four Majors in their career would put him alongside Tiger, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. He would become an icon. Will he do it? He is in a great position to do so. Make no mistake it will rank alongside the greatest sporting achievements these islands have ever seen.

Playing alongside Rory will be Bryson DeChambeau, the 2024 US Open Champion, and arguably the most charismatic golfer in the game. Bryson is the poster boy of LIV Golf, as well as being one of the most transcendent American golfers we have ever seen, with nearly 2 million subscribers on YouTube. We are set for one of the great duels in the history of the sport. Of course there are many in the chasing pack who have other ideas, but we are surely looking for the champion to come from the final group, like it has so many times in the past.

Sit back and enjoy the final round, it is going to be a thriller.