Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau share somewhat of a frosty relationship.
It all began back at The Masters in April, when McIlroy was paired alongside DeChambeau during the final round at Augusta National.
The Northern Irishman won the tournament in the end, and completed the Grand Slam in the process, while the American crumbled on the final day, shooting a 75 to finish in a tie for fifth place.
After the final round, DeChambeau criticised McIlroy for not talking to him on Sunday at the Masters.
The 35-year-old was quite simply baffled when he heard those comments from the LIV Golf star, and responded by saying how every golfer is different just before the start of the PGA Championship.
“I don’t know what he was expecting,“ said McIlroy. “Like, we’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to be his best mate out there.
“Everyone approaches the game in different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do and that’s really all that it was.
“It wasn’t anything against him, that’s just what I felt I needed to do to try and get the best out of myself on that day.“
Those comments from McIlroy were entirely fair.
However, since the PGA Championship last month, things have gone seriously downhill for McIlroy.
The narrative has switched, and he may well need DeChambeau more than ever now.
Rory McIlroy needs Bryson DeChambeau after deeply concerning admission
Interestingly, DeChambeau was recently told he needs to flight down his irons like McIlroy does, if he is to become more consistent.
But now it’s the five-time major winner who needs the LIV golfer’s help.
McIlroy addressed the media at Oakmont on Tuesday, and made some deeply concerning admissions.
He explained how his life outside of golf has become more of a priority for him now.
McIlroy said, “Yeah, basically saying no to every request that comes in, trying to get home as much as possible, and trying to do the things that I enjoy. That was one of my goals for this year was to have more fun, and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“I’m trying to have more fun. We’re trying to take more trips. We’re trying to — yeah, just trying to do things that I enjoy and get back to having hobbies and filling my time with the things that I want to do. I think that’s been a big — but that hasn’t just been post-Augusta. I’ve been trying to do that for a while.
“I’ve started to play a lot of tennis again. Like Harry and Niall play tennis pretty much every week when we’re on the road, and I’ve always been like, I don’t want to injure myself, whatever, but I miss not playing. So Harry and I played quite a bit of tennis last weekend, so that was good fun.
Again, just, like, traveling and seeing the world and giving Poppy that opportunity to see the world at such a young age I think is a wonderful opportunity for her. Just that sort of stuff.“
There have been comparisons made between McIlroy and David Duval.
After Duval achieved a lifetime dream by winning The Open in 2001, his form dropped off completely.
Now McIlroy needs DeChambeau to light a spark and get the fire back in his belly.
We all know how professional golfers gain motivation from seeing their rivals win.
Scottie Scheffler alluded to this after McIlroy’s victory at Augusta, and now the Northern Irishman desperately needs to see DeChambeau win another major.
DeChambeau winning the US Open would fire McIlroy up
Both players have ambitions of winning the US Open at Oakmont this week.
Not many fancy McIlroy to win, but the same cannot be said for DeChambeau.
If Rory’s fierce rival ends up being victorious at Oakmont, he would surely find that as the perfect motivation to set some new goals and to get back out grinding on the practice ground.
McIlroy has the talent to win more majors – that goes without saying.
However, his concerning comments to the press at Oakmont on Tuesday suggested that golf really is not his priority anymore.
If that is the case, what a shame it will be.
McIlroy needs DeChambeau to help kick him back into gear more than ever now.
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