Rory Mcllroy's career slam quest at Masters likely over

Rory McIlroy understood that his career slam quest would have to wait another year.

McIlroy was 8-under through 15 holes Saturday and climbed to fourth on the Mas­ters leaderboards trying to get within viewing distance of Jordan Spieth. But bogeys on two of his last three holes left the world’s top-ranked golfer in no mood to talk – even though he did.

“So yeah, got it to 8-under-par through 15, and then a disappointing finish,” he said with a bowed head. “But overall felt like I played pretty well. And as I say, just a little disappointed the way I finished.”

The bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 left McIlroy 10 shots behind Spieth with one round to play. The way the 21-year-old Texan is playing, with the lowest 54-hole total in tournament history, it would take a miracle for McIlroy to rally.

Perhaps something that’s never been done in any major championship – a sub-63 round.

“I’m going to need something basically around 61, 62 to have a real chance,” McIlroy said. “I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but we’ll see.”

An hour or so earlier, it looked as though he might conjure up some magic. On the 15th, his “skinny” 7-iron from 209 yards came up short but held on to the bank above the water. McIlroy converted the break to a birdie.

“You know, I’ve played them more conservatively, the par-5s,” McIlroy said of his pre-tournament game plan to improve on the scorable holes. “When I put myself in a good position off the tee, I just try to hit it in the middle of the green and take my two putts. A couple of times, once yesterday on 13, I hit it close and made eagle. Today holed a good putt off the green on 2 for eagle. Just played them a little more conservatively or smartly and missed it in the right areas when I have and been able to get it down. That’s why I am whatever I am … 11-under for the par-5s.”

McIlroy missed the par-3 16th green right of the front bunker and failed to get up and down, carding his first bogey since the 14th hole Friday. He’d gone 9-under in that stretch of 19 holes.

Then he bogeyed the 18th after driving it into the first of the two fairway bunkers and missing an 8-foot par putt.

“I definitely feel like I play this golf course better and better every year that I come here,” McIlroy said. “I don’t know, I just need to keep putting numbers up like I did today. I know I’m capable of it. And as you said, just a few stretches of holes have held me back and that’s really been the case this year again.”

If Spieth closes it out today, he’ll jump to No. 2 in the world behind McIlroy. But the reigning No. 1 isn’t abdicating his title.

“He’s obviously been playing great golf since the end of last year, a couple of wins and winning again and being in contention, basically, every time he plays,” McIlroy said. “He’s playing very well, but I know I have the capability to do the same thing.”