It’s clear at this point that Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are not “mates.”
McIlroy said as much when speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of the first round of the PGA Championship. The Northern Irishman said that when the two were paired together during the final round of the 2025 Masters, he just wanted to focus on winning the tournament.
The two golfers, one a PGA Tour player and the other a LIV player, have been developing a rivalry for the last two seasons, after DeChambeau outlasted McIlroy on Sunday at the 2024 US Open. They also have shown two very different personalities, with McIlroy laser-focused on completing the career Grand Slam and DeChambeau more outgoing on the course.
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Now that McIlroy has achieved the greatest feat in golf, he seems to be more outspoken on his relationship with DeChambeau, and it doesn’t look like their friendly feud is going anywhere.
Here’s what to know about Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
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What did Bryson DeChambeau say about Rory McIlroy?
After the 2025 Masters, DeChambeau pulled back the curtain on what happened during the final round, when he and McIlroy were paired together. He said that he and McIlroy did not speak at all on Sunday as they went for the green jacket.
Bryson DeChambeau says Rory McIlroy didn’t say a word to him all day. 💀 pic.twitter.com/z2vmJqHjpc
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) April 14, 2025
The comments quickly went viral on social media, with both McIlroy and DeChambeau supporters chiming in. McIlroy responded to DeChambeau on the matter for the first time on Wednesday.
“I don’t know what he was expecting” 🤔
Rory McIlroy on not speaking to Bryson DeChambeau during his final round at The Masters 💭 pic.twitter.com/ZOqjiMDgdJ
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) May 14, 2025
“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.”
The rivalry between McIlroy and DeChambeau doesn’t appear to have lost any momentum since the Masters. If the two are paired together at some point during the PGA Championship, it is going to be appointment viewing for golf fans.
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Who won Masters 2025?
McIlroy won the Masters in 2025, besting Englishman Justin Rose in a playoff to claim his first major championship in more than 10 years. DeChambeau was paired with McIlroy for the final round and started the day within two strokes of him, but he ultimately finished tied for fifth.
The victory put McIlroy on the Mount Rushmore of the sport, because he has now won all four major championships: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship. Only five other players in the history of golf have accomplished the feat.
