‘Not trying to be his best mate’ – Rory McIlroy left puzzled by Bryson DeChambeau’s ‘cold shoulder’ comments

Rory McIlroy says he doesn’t know what Bryson DeChambeau was expecting after being called out over silent treatment at the Masters. McIlroy won the first major of the year at Augusta after teeing off alongside DeChambeau in the final group. McIlroy was speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of his first major appearance since winning the MastersGetty But despite the Northern Irishman finally ending his 11-year drought at the majors and completing the career grand slam, many headlines were dominated by the American’s post-round comments. As McIlroy headed to a sudden-death play-off, DeChambeau was asked if he had the chance to get his rival’s thoughts in the scoring tent. He responded: “No idea. Didn’t talk to me once all day.” When pressed on whether he tried to initiate conversation with McIlroy, a blunt DeChambeau responded: “He wouldn’t talk to me.” Those comments were put to McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship, which begins on Thursday. “I don’t know what he was expecting,” McIlroy said. “We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there. “Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. “Yeah, I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That’s really all that it was. “It wasn’t anything against him or against — it’s just I felt that’s what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.” The two golfers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf divide, have become embroiled in a rivalry at recent majors. DeChambeau got the silent treatment from McIlroy on Masters SundayGetty DeChambeau broke McIlroy’s heart at the US Open in 2024, before telling him ‘you did that to yourself’. The LIV Golfer briefly usurped McIlroy at the top of the Masters leaderboard in April, although his challenge ultimately faded away. Off the course, they share a different perspective on the emerging world of YouTube golf, with DeChambeau one of its biggest stars and McIlroy publicly voicing his lack of interest. Speaking at a recent LIV Golf event, DeChambeau said: “I can only speak for myself. I can’t speak for Rory. What I can say about myself is that I genuinely care about the game of golf and growing it globally and inspiring a bunch of people and kids, especially kids, to play this great game. “So it’s my duty, as not only a professional golfer, but a bit of an entertainer, to interact and be as authentic as I possibly can be with myself and with my fans. I think it’s my responsibility to do so. I’ll continue to keep doing that because that’s what I believe in.” Many expect the second major of the year to deliver another showdown between McIlroy and DeChambeau. McIlroy has been dominant at Quail Hollow over the yearsGetty Quail Hollow, where McIlroy has won four times in recent years, rewards distance off the tee – and DeChambeau is statistically the game’s best driver of the ball. “I do believe you have to have a lot of distance out here,” said DeChambeau earlier this week. “Rory is a great driver of the golf ball and his iron play is great, too. “I think it’s a golf course that sets up for his shot shapes pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine, too. We’ll see. Maybe I do well, maybe I don’t. “But I’m certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory is. Hopefully we can have another go at it again like the Masters.”

May 15, 2025 - 00:04

‘Not trying to be his best mate’ – Rory McIlroy left puzzled by Bryson DeChambeau’s ‘cold shoulder’ comments

Rory McIlroy says he doesn’t know what Bryson DeChambeau was expecting after being called out over silent treatment at the Masters.

McIlroy won the first major of the year at Augusta after teeing off alongside DeChambeau in the final group.

McIlroy was speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of his first major appearance since winning the Masters

But despite the Northern Irishman finally ending his 11-year drought at the majors and completing the career grand slam, many headlines were dominated by the American’s post-round comments.

As McIlroy headed to a sudden-death play-off, DeChambeau was asked if he had the chance to get his rival’s thoughts in the scoring tent.

He responded: “No idea. Didn’t talk to me once all day.”

When pressed on whether he tried to initiate conversation with McIlroy, a blunt DeChambeau responded: “He wouldn’t talk to me.”

Those comments were put to McIlroy ahead of the PGA Championship, which begins on Thursday.

“I don’t know what he was expecting,” McIlroy said. “We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.

“Look, everyone approaches the game different ways.

“Yeah, I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That’s really all that it was.

“It wasn’t anything against him or against — it’s just I felt that’s what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.”

The two golfers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf divide, have become embroiled in a rivalry at recent majors.

DeChambeau got the silent treatment from McIlroy on Masters Sunday

DeChambeau broke McIlroy’s heart at the US Open in 2024, before telling him ‘you did that to yourself’.

The LIV Golfer briefly usurped McIlroy at the top of the Masters leaderboard in April, although his challenge ultimately faded away.

Off the course, they share a different perspective on the emerging world of YouTube golf, with DeChambeau one of its biggest stars and McIlroy publicly voicing his lack of interest.

Speaking at a recent LIV Golf event, DeChambeau said: “I can only speak for myself. I can’t speak for Rory. What I can say about myself is that I genuinely care about the game of golf and growing it globally and inspiring a bunch of people and kids, especially kids, to play this great game.

“So it’s my duty, as not only a professional golfer, but a bit of an entertainer, to interact and be as authentic as I possibly can be with myself and with my fans. I think it’s my responsibility to do so. I’ll continue to keep doing that because that’s what I believe in.”

Many expect the second major of the year to deliver another showdown between McIlroy and DeChambeau.

McIlroy has been dominant at Quail Hollow over the years

Quail Hollow, where McIlroy has won four times in recent years, rewards distance off the tee – and DeChambeau is statistically the game’s best driver of the ball.

“I do believe you have to have a lot of distance out here,” said DeChambeau earlier this week.

“Rory is a great driver of the golf ball and his iron play is great, too.

“I think it’s a golf course that sets up for his shot shapes pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine, too. We’ll see. Maybe I do well, maybe I don’t.

“But I’m certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory is. Hopefully we can have another go at it again like the Masters.”