Bryson DeChambeau is relishing the chance to renew his ‘rivalry’ with Rory McIlroy, admitting he wants to ‘beat the living you-know-what’ out of the Northern Irishman after last year’s Masters heartbreak.
DeChambeau and McIlroy were the final pairing on Sunday at Augusta, with the lead changing hands before the American fell away and McIlroy clinched the Green Jacket in a playoff against Justin Rose.
That came less than a year after they tussled at the 2024 US Open, when DeChambeau triumphed after a dramatic McIlroy collapse at Pinehurst.
They are very different players and personalities and on Tuesday, the LIV Golf star said last year’s final round was a great ‘learning lesson’ that helped fuel his fire ahead of the Masters this week.
‘Do I respect him as an individual? 100 percent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There’s no question about it,’ DeChambeau said of McIlroy.
‘That’s what’s so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you-know-what out of him.’
Bryson DeChambeau is relishing the chance to renew his ‘rivalry’ with Rory McIlroy at Augusta
They were the final pairing at last year’s Masters, when McIlroy clinched the Green Jacket
DeChambeau continued: ‘It’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem with that. If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf.
‘It’s one of those things – I got him at Pinehurst, he got me here, and I hope there’s more of those to come because it’s great for the game.’
Over the past 12 months, McIlroy and DeChambeau have stoked their rivalry with public comments about one another.
The American claimed after that final round that the Northern Irishman ‘didn’t talk to me once all day.’ McIlroy responded by saying: ‘I don’t know what he was expecting. We’re trying to win the Masters – I’m not going to try and be his best mate out there.’
They faced off at last year’s Ryder Cup, too, and after leading Europe to victory in New York, McIlroy playfully covered DeChambeau’s name with a flag. Then recently, the defending Masters champion revealed how they clashed over a crucial putt in last year’s final round at Augusta.
In a new Amazon Prime documentary, the Northern Irishman detailed a stand-off over who should go first. McIlroy thought his ball was further away and stood his ground. He later said he was ‘proud’ of himself for not giving in.
That helped reignite their rivalry ahead of this week’s Masters, with DeChambeau desperate for another crack at the Green Jacket.
After winning the Ryder Cup, McIlroy covered DeChambeau’s name with a Europe flag
‘It’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem,’ said the American
The American, who had a career-best finish of fifth in 2025, believes his game is in perhaps the best shape of his career. And he wants to right the wrongs of 12 months ago.
‘Leading or being tied for the lead and having the lead, that last group final round, gave me a lot of perspective on it,’ DeChambeau said.
‘Then losing it and having things not go my way as they finished out and Rory completed the grand slam. Last year he earned it, right? It was really cool to see in person.
‘Secondarily, as I reflect back on it, the one thing I can take from it is I can put myself in those positions. The more I put myself in those positions, the better opportunities I’m going to have to win.
‘It’s just been a gradual learning process. You never know what this week may bring, but I certainly hope to give it my all and put myself back in that position because I want to feel it again.’
