McIlroy entered Sunday's play two shots clear of Bryson DeChambeau, four clear of Corey Conners, and six clear of the rest of the pack, but it felt like a two-horse race between McIlroy and DeChambeau before the round started.

McIlroy took the tournament's reins early, going four-under through the first three holes and becoming the first player in tournament history to start a round with six straight threes.

53 players made the two-over cut, including past champions Charl Schwartzel, Jon Rahm, Zach Johnson, Danny Willett, and Jordan Spieth.

Rose, who hasn't won worldwide since 2023, came into this week amid a decidedly hit-or-miss 2025 campaign.