Rory McIlroy was absolutely right to call out what Bryson DeChambeau did at last year’s Masters

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When I saw the clip on social media of Rory McIlroy detailing what happened between himself and Bryson DeChambeau on the ninth green of last year’s final round at The Masters, I felt just as annoyed as many others.

The golfing gods were smiling down on fans when Bryson DeChambeau booked his ticket to join Rory McIlroy in the last group on Sunday at Augusta National. It was a mouthwatering prospect given the duel they had engaged in at the previous year’s US Open.

Ultimately, the battle itself proved to be an anticlimax. By the time they left Amen Corner, DeChambeau’s hopes of victory had been dashed.

As it turns out, McIlroy felt that what happened on the ninth green was pivotal.

Rory McIlroy has faced a backlash over his comments concerning Bryson DeChambeau

In a clip from an upcoming documentary, McIlroy revealed that the pair engaged in a debate over who was first to putt for birdie on the ninth, with both men believing that they were further away.

Clearly, both McIlroy and DeChambeau felt that it was an opportunity to strike a psychological blow to the other. For DeChambeau, it seemed imperative that he ate into the three-shot deficit.

But the moment that seems to have created the most controversy concerns McIlroy’s almost furious reaction to DeChambeau suggesting that they use a tee flip to decide who went first.

What was incredibly surprising to me was the level of criticism that McIlroy received.

Yes, McIlroy looks quite petty for detailing this exchange. It is no secret that McIlroy and DeChambeau do not get along particularly well.

And it was already becoming apparent by the end of the front nine that DeChambeau was highly unlikely to be the man to stop McIlroy finally winning the Green Jacket. So it is not the best look from the Northern Irishman.

However, I was taken aback by the backlash.

McIlroy’s sheer desperation to win The Masters should be celebrated

Augusta National and The Masters have had their flaws over the years. Nevertheless, it is in the conversation with The Open Championship as the most iconic golf tournament on the planet.

It was also the event standing between McIlroy and sporting immortality. It had also been that way for more than a decade by the time McIlroy teed off on Thursday 12 months ago.

It was virtually impossible for anyone to empathise with what McIlroy felt heading into The Masters every single year.

While there are other players one major win away from completing the Career Grand Slam, no one in the current game had to deal with the same amount of scrutiny at a venue that has inflicted so many scars over the years.

Despite the pain, McIlroy had never been in a better position than he was walking down the ninth hole in last year’s event.

So I can completely understand why McIlroy felt so incredulous about DeChambeau suggesting a tee flip ahead of what he looked at as a key moment.

McIlroy clearly wanted to win so badly. Had he lost to Scottie Scheffler, he would have probably been able to take some positives from the week in time.

But losing to DeChambeau again would have been such a sickener.

Losing to DeChambeau once he felt that the LIV star – rightly or wrongly – was not taking it as seriously would have been even more devastating than what happened at Pinehurst the previous year.

Golf desperately needs figures like DeChambeau. He is a fascinating character who unquestionably attracts new audiences to the game.

But we should also make sure to celebrate just how desperate McIlroy was to get across the line.