Rory McIlroy to Patrick Reed: ‘All the pressure’s on’ you in Masters finale

Rory fires the opening salvo as he prepares for a rematch of his insane Ryder Cup tilt with Masters leader Patrick Reed.

Rory McIlroy’s emotional fist pump after drilling his birdie putt on the 18th hole to pull within three shots of Patrick Reed in Saturday’s third round at Augusta was just the beginning.

McIlroy, who gets Reed in the final pairing on Masters Sunday, let his opponent know that he’ll take no prisoners in what should be a thrilling final round between the once and future Ryder Cup rivals.

Reed is going for his first major title, while his four-time major champion opponents needs the win to complete the career grand slam. And to hear McIlroy talk, it’s clear he knows in his heart that what happened seven years ago, when he collapsed on the back nine, will not occur again.

“It’s massive [playing in the final group]. This is my first final group here since 2011 and I feel like I learned an awful lot from that day,” McIlroy told CBS after posting a 7-under 65 to Reed’s 67. “Hopefully, all that I did learn seven years ago I can put into practice tomorrow … I am [ready].”

Reed, who will start the finale at 14-under to McIlroy’s 11-under, was far more laid back in his post-round remarks, though the interviewer did not ask him to comment on Rory’s challenge.

“Really excited [to go head to head with McIlroy],” a decidedly unanimated Reed told CBS. “To be able to play against Rory and have him side by side with me, it’s going to be a lot of fun. Every time we seem to play with each other we seem to have a lot of fun and we seem to both play some solid golf.

“Hopefully, we can get some fireworks out there,” said Reed, apparently unaware that McIlroy had already lobbed a cherry bomb into the proceedings.

“A great day. I’m closer to the lead than I was starting off the day, which is a bonus, especially when you see Patrick goes out and shoots 67 and obviously played very well,” McIlroy told reporters a little while later.

“I rode my luck a little bit out there. You know, the chip‑in on the eighth hole, finding my ball in the azaleas on 13, not the first time. Then hitting the tree on 18 and coming back in the fairway and making a birdie from that,” added McIlroy, referring, in part, to the incredible par he made after hitting his approach on the par-5 13th into the pink bushes.

“You know, I rode my luck a little bit out there today,” he said. “Hopefully, I don’t have to rely on it too much tomorrow. But yeah, just a great day. To get myself into the final group, you know, and have a chance to win another major, I’m excited. You couldn’t ask for much more out of today.”

The duo matched shot for shot in a tremendous singles battle at the 2016 Ryder Cup, with McIlroy finally falling to Reed, 1-down. It would appear Rory has not forgotten what happened two years ago at Hazeltine.

The fiery twosome has a 2:40 p.m. ET date on No. 1 at Augusta National on Sunday. Fore on the tee!