The 2025 Masters was one for the ages: It had the intrigue of a head-to-head matchup featuring two of the game’s biggest stars, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, and plenty of history at stake. Both McIlroy and DeChambeau were vying for their first Masters wins, and for McIlroy, a chance to complete the career Grand Slam.
But McIlroy had developed an unfortunate reputation for collapsing in big moments, and when he made a double-bogey on Augusta National’s first hole to give up his lead, it looked as though his tragic recent history at the majors might repeat itself yet again.
McIlroy appeared further doomed when DeChambeau birdied the par-5 2nd hole to take a one-shot lead. But then, the tables turned. DeChambeau had the honour on the 3rd tee, and opted to lay-up with an iron to give himself a full shot onto the green on the 350-yard par 4. McIlroy hit driver within chipping range of the green.
DeChambeau then three-putted for bogey while McIlroy got up and down for birdie. The two-shot swing created a surge of momentum for McIlroy. He birdied the 4th hole (which DeChambeau also bogeyed) to take a three-shot lead with 14 holes remaining. DeChambeau never got any closer to McIlroy on the leaderboard, trailing him by as many as seven shots after 12 holes. Instead, it was Justin Rose who emerged as McIlroy’s primary adversary as the round wore on. McIlroy ultimately defeated Rose in a play-off with a birdie.
In an appearance on Ireland’s RTE Radio 1’s “Today with Claire Byrne,” three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington expressed disbelief over one particular course-management decision DeChambeau made on Sunday.
“What was he thinking on the third hole?” Harrington said. “Bryson has made his game by being a long hitter. He stands up on the third hole with a one-shot lead, possibly can drive the green, he lays up, makes bogey; Rory drives it, hits driver up to the near the edge of the green and makes his birdie.
“It was the most bizarre change of personality I’ve ever seen in the game of golf right there in that moment,” he continued. “It was beyond bizarre what he did off the tee, for him in his personality. He didn’t hit a shot afterwards.
“He has different skills but his ego has gone down this road of being a long hitter and he had a chance right there on the third hole, stand up there, burst one down there, it’s a big enough area and he just gave all the momentum back to Rory.”
Indeed, hitting it far has long been a part of DeChambeau’s brand. Though he’s slimmed down from the 22.7 kilogrammes of bulk he acquired to maximise his distance off the tee, he was still the Masters field’s longest hitter over the course of four rounds, topping McIlroy by 1.2 metres.
“It was just a change of attitude by him,” Harrington told RTE. “Not being yourself can be a very dangerous thing in golf.”
DeChambeau ultimately finished T5, four shots shy of McIlroy and Rose. It was DeChambeau’s best finish ever at Augusta, but the loss still stung.
“If I just had somewhat of good iron play this week, it would have been a lot different outcome,” DeChambeau said on Sunday. “But could have, should have, would haves.
“There’s a lot to take away from this week, a lot to learn, a lot to be proud of, a lot to be pissed about. But I learned a lot, and I’m ready to take the challenge on again.”
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