A 3-putt bogey was McIlroy's result, yet his momentum never waned. Standing in the 11th fairway as 50 shades of green rustled behind him, only one thought existed in his mind: the shot at hand. There was no running ahead like those outside the ropes; the Ulsterman remained in a bubble on his own creation.

He hasn't won a major since 2014, but four of the five Grand Slam events he has won he was leading after 54 holes. Bryson DeChambeau is two shots back.