Bryson DeChambeau has set the record straight after revealing Rory McIlroy ‘didn’t talk to him once’ during the final round of The Masters last weekend, insisting that there are no issues between himself and the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy, 35, was paired with DeChambeau in the final Sunday session at Augusta last weekend as he went in search of a maiden Masters title to complete a career Grand Slam. He finally got over the line with a play-off victory over Justin Rose but only after plenty of twists and turns as he navigated the final 18 holes of the tournament.
DeChambeau started the day in second place and briefly held the lead before falling away. When the American was asked what McIlroy was like during the tense final round, eyebrows were raised when DeChambeau replied: “No idea. [He] didn’t talk to me once all day.”
However, the LIV Golf star has since spoken out to Athlon Sports to make it clear that there is no suggestion that the pair have any ‘beef’.
DeChambeau said: “He was just being stoic the whole day; there was nothing more. I was like, he just didn’t talk to me. It wasn’t a slight; there’s no beef or anything.
“It was like what Tiger [Woods] did to Tony [Finau back in 2019]. It’s the same combo, but it wasn’t meant to be in a bad way, and that’s how things happen. I wish people would not interpret things, but, you know, people will do that.”
DeChambeau, who ended up finishing in a tie for fifth place, went on to give McIlroy his flowers after watching him finally end his Augusta anguish to lift the fourth and final Grand Slam that had eluded him for over a decade.
“He deserved this one; he fought his butt off and absolutely did what he needed to do to win,” DeChambeau said. “It looks scary sometimes, but it was a roller coaster for everybody. And, you know, we gave everybody a roller coaster last year at the U.S. Open. He did it this year at the Masters. So, it was fun to be a part of history.”
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McIlroy has endured plenty of difficult rounds at Augusta down the years in his bid to become just the sixth man in history to win the career Grand Slam in golf. He opened up on that battle after finally clinching his coveted green jacket last weekend, saying: “The last 10 years coming with the burden of Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that. I wonder what we are all going to talk about coming into next year! I am so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.
“All week I responded to setbacks and that’s what I’ll remember. I’m so proud of that and being able to bounce back. I would say it was 14 years in the making. Going out with a four-shot lead in 2011 and feeling like I could have got it done there. A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green.
“A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it. I want to say hello to mum and dad back in Northern Ireland. I can’t wait to see them next week and can’t wait to celebrate with them.”
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