Rory McIlroy is trying to become the sixth man to win the career Grand Slam

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Rory McIlroy needs to win the Masters Tournament on Sunday at the August National Golf Club to become the sixth man in history to complete the career grand slam in golf.

He's in the best position since 2011 when he was only 21 years old. McIlroy was tied with Angel Cabrera for the 54-hole lead but shot 80 in the final round, including a triple bogey at No. 10 and a four-putt double bogey at No. 12.

Now, he's got a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau at 12-under-par 204 , after posting his second 66 in a row. DeChambeau closed the gap with a 48-foot birdie putt at No. 18 and will be in the final twosome with McIlroy in a major championship for the first time, with two of the most visible players on the world's two biggest professional Tours, the PGA Tour (McIlroy) vs. LIV Golf (DeChambeau).

McIlroy made six 3s in a row to begin his round (the first time that has happened in Masters history), with three birdies and a chip-in eagle at the par-5 second hole. He cooled off with pars at Nos. 7 and 9 wrapped around a bogey at the par-5 eighth, followed by another bogey at the 10th.

But McIlroy then birdied No. 13 and eagled No. 15, and closed with three two-putt pars in a row.

Rory McIlroy talked about another marathon on Sunday

McIlroy has had chances to win the Masters before, and he's always been turned away, either by a player catching fire to pass or stay ahead of him, or by self-destructing.

Which will it be? Even he's not sure.

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"I think I still have to remind myself that there's a long way to go, just like I said yesterday, 18 holes," McIlroy said on Saturday in his post-round news conference. "I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here."

"I've got a lot of experience," he continued. " I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer, and you know, I just have to keep reminding myself of that and remind myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I'll be able to handle it."

The world is waiting for some of that resilience from McIlroy on a late Sunday Augusta afternoon.

What is golf's career Grand Slam?

Golf's four major championships, on the current order of the schedule, are the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and British Open.

McIlroy won the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA in 2012 and 2014 and the British Open in 2014. He's needed to win the Masters to become the sixth man to win all four since 2015 and has finished among the top 10 at Augusta National six times since then.

Who has won the career Grand Slam?

Gene Sarazen: U.S. Open in 1922 and 1923; PGA in 1922, 1923 and 1933; British Open in 1932; Masters in 1935.

Ben Hogan: U.S. Open in 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953; PGA I 1946 and 1948; British Open in 1953; Masters in 1951 and 1953.

Gary Player: U.S. Open in 1965; PGA in 1962 and 1972; British Open in 1959, 1968 and 1974; Masters in 1061, 1974 and 1978.

Jack Nicklaus: U.S. Open in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1980; PGA in 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1980; British Open in 1966, 1970 and 1978; Masters in 1963, 1965, 1973, 1975 and 1986.

Tiger Woods: U.S. Open in 2000, 2002 and 2008; PGA in 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007; British Open in 2000, 2005 and 2006; Masters in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019.

Rory McIlroy’s close calls at the Masters

2011: In his third career start at Augusta, McIlroy led or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds, and entering the final round, he was tied with Angel Cabrera at 12-under, four shots clear of three players. McIlroy led by three shots at the turn but pulled his tee shot at No. 10 into the cabins on the left and made a triple-bogey, then four-putted No. 12 for double bogey and shot 80, dropping into a tie for 15th.

2015: McIlroy posted two good weekend scores but he was too far behind to make a run. He shot 68-66 and finished solo fourth, six shots behind Spieth. McIlroy trailed by 10 going into the final round.

2016: McIlroy shot 77-71 on the weekend after trailing Spieth by only one shot. Danny Willett wound up winning when Spieth collapsed on No. 12 on Sunday.

2018: McIlroy fired a bogey-free 65 in the third round and trailed Patrick Reed by three shots. McIlroy missed a 40-foot eagle putt attempt at No. 2, bogeyed No. 3, then bogeyed Nos. 5, 8, 11 and 14 to fall behind Reed.

2022: McIlroy began the final round 10 shots behind Scottie Scheffler, then went out and set a torrid pace with a 64. He chipped in for birdie at No. 10, eagled No. 13 and holed out from the bunker at No. 18 but Scheffler’s 71 insured McIlroy would get no closer than three shots.

Where has it gone wrong for McIlroy?

Bad starts: Thursday’s 72, after McIlroy was 4-under through 14 holes, was his seventh consecutive opening round in the 70s. He’s average 73.14 in the first round during that span. He at least broke his trend in the second round with Friday’s 66. McIlroy has averaged 75.25 in the second round for the previous four years. The last time he posted two under-par rounds to begin the Masters was 2018 when he started 69-71.

Hitting fairways: The Augusta fairways are generously wide and inviting for bombers like McIlroy. But he’s finished among the top 10 in driving accuracy only once, in 2015 when he tied for eight by hitting 43 of 56 fairways (76.8 percent). Hitting fairways isn’t the most critical aspect of contending at the Masters but it sure helps. Through the first 36 holes this year, he’s hitting 61 percent.

The start of the second nine: Entering this year, McIlroy has averaged 4.26 at No. 10 and 4.36 at No. 11, a cumulative 36-over par. His rounds have a way of getting derailed before getting to the 12th tee.

What other notable players have fallen short of the career Grand Slam?

Phil Mickelson: All he's needed is the U.S. Open. He's finished second six times.

Arnold Palmer: A cruel irony is that the son of a club pro never won the PGA Championship. Palmer finished second three times.

Sam Snead: Slammin' Sammy's white whale was the U.S. Open. He finished second four times.

Tom Watson: He needed the PGA to complete the career slam and finished among the top 10 nine times, with one second.

Lee Trevino: He never won the Masters but also never came close, with two ties for 10th as his best performances.

Rory McIlroy’s record at the Masters

Starts: 16.

Cuts: 13.

Top-five finishes: Four.

Top-10 finishes: Seven.

Career earnings: $4,343,021.

Career scoring average: 71.6. First nine: 35.9. Second nine: 35.71. Amen corner: 11.97 (par 12). Par-3 holes: 3.05. Par-4 holes: 4.11. Par-5 holes: 4.58.

Career stats: Fairways, 9.4 of 14 (67.1 percent); greens in regulation, 11.4 of 18 (63.5 percent); putts per round, 29.34.

Best hole: No. 15 (29-under, 4.5).

Worst hole: No. 11 (21 over, 4.36).