If there was one storyline missing from The Masters in 2025, it was surely a battle down the stretch on Sunday between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
Golf fans could have hardly asked for a better leaderboard heading into the final round at The Masters. Rory McIlroy was two shots clear of Bryson DeChambeau, who in turn was two ahead of third place Corey Conners.
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Speaking after his third round, DeChambeau hinted at feeling it was going to come down to himself and McIlroy. That was a dream scenario given the conclusion to the US Open the previous year.
However, it did not exactly play out that way.
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McIlroy made a double bogey on the first. And by the end of the second hole, DeChambeau led the tournament.
However, the American’s challenge would end over the next 10 holes. He left the 12th green on six under par, having dropped five shots since the second.
And speaking on Fried Egg Golf, McIlroy – who ended up winning in a playoff with Justin Rose – suggested that the turning point came shortly after DeChambeau made that early birdie.
“I think both three and four were huge moments. I was walking up the third fairway before Bryson had hit his second shot, one shot behind, after starting two ahead,” he said.
“Then I was walking off the fifth tee box three shots ahead. I was like what just happened?
“I think the second shot on three, it’s interesting because I could not believe that Bryson laid up. I couldn’t believe it.
“I didn’t realise, but I know now that is what he has been doing all week, especially to left pins but I thought with how firm the greens were, it was hard to get a wedge shot close anyway and I thought he had a chance to drive it on the green. I did not think I could quite get there, but I thought he had a chance.
“He had just got one ahead, I felt like even though it was early in the round, if he were to take driver out there and hit it on the green, it really is like taking the tournament by the scruff of the neck.
“I was just so surprised he hit iron. He then three-putts and I end up making a three. I just thought that was such a huge moment. Then I hit that good shot into four and make the putt.
“If I didn’t have those two holes after such a rough start I probably don’t go on to win.”
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The LIV Golf star came in for criticism for comments he made after McIlroy’s win. DeChambeau pointed out how the Northern Irishman did not speak to him all day.
DeChambeau was slated over his comments about McIlroy. And the 36-year-old explained how he made a conscious effort to block out what was going on with his playing partner.
“I felt like that was going to be the toughest thing I was going to have to deal with that day, Bryson himself and just the way we completely are polar opposites in terms of how we approach the game,” he said.
“I felt like he was going to have a portion of the crowd and I was going to have a portion of the crowd and having to deal with that a little bit.
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“I said that to [Bob] Rotella. We always met by the caddie area there before I went to the range every day and he said ‘how are you feeling today?’ I said ‘I’m feeling good, I’m feeling good about my stuff’. But I said to him the one thing I am uneasy about is just the pairing.
“He said ‘just make him invisible’. He goes don’t engage, don’t look at him, just get lost in your own little world. You have Harry beside you, have him be your companion and just get lost in that world.
“That is what I tried to do. But I felt like that was the biggest impediment between me and winning The Masters that day. And then once it was apparent that wasn’t going to be the biggest impediment then I made myself the biggest impediment!”
Had anyone been told that McIlroy would ultimately finish four shots clear of DeChambeau, they would have assumed that a straightforward Sunday was on the cards.
However, that could hardly be further from the truth.
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