Bryson DeChambeau received the silent treatment from Rory McIlroy during the final round of the Masters.
McIlroy and DeChambeau played in the final group together at Augusta National on Sunday with many expecting a rematch of their epic battle at Pinehurst last year where McIlroy famously handed the mad scientist his second major title.
DeChambeau had a Sunday to forget at Augusta as his quest for a maiden green jacket unravelled on the back nine. But when fielding questions from the press after his round, McIlroy’s head was also scrambling after he bogeyed the last to initially squander the career grand slam.
DeChambeau said: “No idea. Didn’t talk to me once all day.”
Quizzed further, DeChambeau added: “He wouldn’t talk to me.”
It’s most likely that there was no intent or malice in McIlroy’s silence towards DeChambeau. After all, he is entitled to conduct himself as he sees fit and it was a symbol of his focus as he tried to finally get over the line at the Masters.
Clips have been circulating online of DeChambeau saying that McIlroy wouldn’t talk to him and certainly the video has been taken out of context judging by the comments.
Paul McGinley though, believes that there is enough spice in the pot for Rory and Bryson to ignite a rivalry.
“I have no problem with that,” he said. “We want rivalries and different personalities. We want a bit of edginess. We want the pointy elbows out.
“Rory had unfinished business. You know, he stole the US Open from him last year in Rory’s head, and he was not going to get another major championship stolen from him.
“It was get out of my way, here I come. I don’t have a problem with that.
“You know, the game needs that. We need rivalries.
“Bryson played poorly today, and he played poorly all week long. He was the third worst iron player all week long. So he did phenomenally well. His competitive spirit got him to where it did and to be in with a shout.
“But, you know, he folded on the last day last week in the LIV event in Miami, when he was leading, with a 75 on Sunday.
“And he played really poorly again today, folding with a 75 so he’s obviously got stuff going on with his iron play that he needs to figure out, and he’s got this big hook going on.
“And you know, that’s something that that you cannot play greens that are as firm as this, with that going on, and the stats show it, he did incredibly well to get as close as he did and but as for the rivalry, bring it on.”
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