Bryson DeChambeau is considered a favourite to challenge for a third major title at The Masters, a year after losing a final-round duel with Rory McIlroy at Augusta National.
DeChambeau has won his last two LIV Golf League starts.
McIlroy’s Grand Slam Glory Fuelled by DeChambeau
Rory McIlroy played alongside Bryson DeChambeau during the final day of his Grand Slam victory at The Masters. Paul McGinley believes that final-round duel – and their past history – helped fuel McIlroy’s victory at Augusta National.
McIlroy had blown a two-shot lead on the first hole of a roller-coaster Sunday, where DeChambeau briefly moved top of the leaderboard before fading to a tied-fifth finish after a final-round 75.
McIlroy responded by ending his 11-year wait for an elusive fifth major title at The Masters, where he played alongside the American on the final day.
McGinley’s Perspective on the McIlroy-DeChambeau Dynamic
McGinley said that playing with Bryson [DeChambeau] in the last round last year helped them more than hurt him.
McGinley explained that DeChambeau had belittled McIlroy six months previously, when they did that made-for-TV event out in the desert. He [DeChambeau] made a smart comment about Rory messing up at the US Open in order for Bryson to win.
McGinley believes that comment was logged and that’s the kind of stuff that drives Rory into focus, which is what he did in terms of winning the Grand Slam. McGinley suggests that Bryson really did him a favour because he forced him into focus – he p***** him off and got him [McIlroy] in the mindset he needs to get in.
McGinley added that if McIlroy could bring that intensity to every tournament he played, he would be Tiger Woods, but that’s not Rory and has never been Rory. He doesn’t have that ability to bring that to the table every single time.
McGinley believes that when McIlroy does turn up with the right mindset, we all know that he’s got the talent.
DeChambeau’s Comments After Last Year’s Final Round
DeChambeau said after last year’s final round that the world No 2 “didn’t talk to me once all day”.
DeChambeau snatched US Open victory from McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2 the previous June and mocked the Northern Irishman’s final-round collapse ahead of ‘The Match’ showdown later that year, saying: “You kind of did it [collapse] to yourself.”
Bryson DeChambeau arrives as the form player trying to deny Rory McIlroy a successful title defence at The Masters.