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The rivalry between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau is one of the most talked-about in modern golf. It resurfaced at this year's Masters when the Northern Irishman decided to ignore the two-time US Open champ. Now, McIlroy has provided a fresh take on his behavior at Augusta National.
Back in April, McIlroy and DeChambeau were paired together for the final round of the 2025 Masters. After the former won the Green Jacket following a sudden-death playoff win against Justin Rose, DeChambeau revealed to the media that McIlroy did not engage with him "once all day".
While talking on the Fried Egg Golf Podcast, Rory McIlroy recently revealed why he chose to 'ignore' DeChambeau. The PGA Tour veteran recalled the conversation he had with his sports psychologist, Dr. Bob Rotella, before the final round in Augusta, and said (22:10 onwards):
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"And he said, 'How are you feeling today?' And I said, 'I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good about my stuff.' And I said to him, the, the one thing that I'm like, just uneasy about is just the pairing. And he said, well, just make him invisible."
"I said, well, what do you mean? He goes, well, just don't, don't engage. Don't look at him. Don't, you know, he's like, just, just get lost in your own little world. You've got Harry [Diamond] beside you, like, you know, have him be your companion and you just get lost in that world," he added.
Take a look at the full episode here:
Rory McIlroy further stated that he felt his pairing with DeChambeau was the biggest obstacle between him and the Green Jacket. In his statement, the golfer also revealed that he was able to focus on himself once he overcame that obstacle.
The 36-year-old had previously stated the reason behind ignoring DeChambeau in this year's Masters. In one of his past statements, McIlroy gave a detailed insight into how his fight in Augusta National was against himself.
When Rory McIlroy talked about the 'battle with himself' at the Masters
During the 2025 Masters, DeChambeau often engaged with the patrons, but the five-time major champion was focused entirely on his game. After the final round ended, Rory McIlroy faced the press and revealed that his battle was with himself.
The former World No. 1 was asked about ignoring DeChambeau and replied during the media interaction [via Sky Sports]:
"It's such a battle in your head of trying to stay in the present moment and hit this next shot good and hit the next shot good. My battle was with myself."
"It wasn't with anyone else. You know, at the end there, it was with Justin [Rose], but my battle today was with my mind and staying in the present. I'd like to say that I did a better job of it than I did. It was a struggle, but I got it over the line," he added.
McIlroy earned his most-coveted Masters victory this year, fourteen years after his 2011 debacle at Augusta, where he blew a four-shot lead and tied for 15th. After sinking the final putt and winning the 2025 Masters, the golfer shared an embrace with his caddie, Diamond, and wife, Erica Stoll. With the fans cheering his career grand slam win, Rory McIlroy was emotional while soaking it all in.
