Perhaps it should come as no surprise at all given that they are two of the best players in the world, but it is interesting just how influential Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau have been in each other’s careers, particularly in the last few years.
Of course, no player has been a bigger success story for LIV Golf than Bryson DeChambeau. Meanwhile, no player has done more to fly the flag for both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour than Rory McIlroy. The pair will also face off in December’s match also involving Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka.
And obviously, few will ever forget the enthralling final day of the US Open earlier this year, when DeChambeau capitalised on McIlroy bogeying three of the final four holes to win his second major title.
It was also DeChambeau’s quest to add more distance to his game in 2019 that prompted McIlroy to head down a similar path shortly after. It is safe to say that the Northern Irishman was nowhere near as successful.
What Rory McIlroy said about playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau for the first time
It may surprise some to learn that the pair actually played in the same group for the first time on the European Tour, with DeChambeau featuring at the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
And it was during that event that McIlroy shared his first impressions of DeChambeau.
“Yeah, first time I played with him. First time I met him. Great guy, first and foremost. Very polite, very courteous, and obviously the method that he has is very much his own. It’s funny, even he was walking just ahead of us there down the first fairway with the cap on and stuff and whatever, and the pants, it sort of reminded me of what it was like to play with Hogan,” he said.
“Yeah, lovely player. As I said, a bit of a unique method but it works for him. Looking forward to playing another nine holes with him in the morning and see how he goes. But great performance regardless of what happens. He’s probably going to turn pro later this year and to play like he’s playing, he’s definitely ready to get out here.”
How DeChambeau made an immediate impression with his first round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
It was quite a star-studded field that week in Abu Dhabi. World number one Jordan Spieth and McIlroy found themselves in the top five as Rickie Fowler won on 16 under par.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau – who was an amateur at the time – had absolutely flown out of the blocks with an opening round of 64 to take the lead. However, three subsequent rounds in the 70s – including a 78 on Saturday – put paid to his chances of a historic victory.
But clearly, that would be far from the final time that the golfing world would hear about a certain Bryson DeChambeau.
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