Rory McIlroy is rarely afraid to speak his mind, and that is certainly the case with his latest verdict of Bryson DeChambeau.
Both players are currently playing at The Open Championship, where the American has stolen the headlines with his two-shot penalty on Friday.
DeChambeau was docked two shots after being adjudged to have improved the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole during his second round of the major, thus falling from seven-under to five-under.
Late into day two after the ruling, the LIV Golf superstar suggested he may not return to the course for day three, but that threat did not amount to anything as he played on Saturday.
And McIlroy, who certainly hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with DeChambeau or LIV Golf over the years, has now shared his honest opinion on his rival following the controversy at Royal Birkdale, which is great for golf.
Was Bryson DeChambeau’s penalty unfair?
He was penalised two shots following an incident on the fifth hole…
Golf needs Rory McIlroy’s ruthless Bryson DeChambeau comments at The Open
Unsurprisingly, several players were asked for their take on the incident in Southport, which left DeChambeau very frustrated.
Some understandably opted against sharing their exact thoughts on the controversial matter, but McIlroy wasn’t one of them.
“I was watching it live,” said the Northern Irishman. “I was up in the players’ lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn’t seem right.
“Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, I think we all… it was pretty obvious for why. Yeah, I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing.
“Again, it’s like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.”
And discussing the post-round threat from DeChambeau that ultimately delayed the rest of the field knowing their round three tee times, McIlroy noted: “Late night for everyone.
“Yeah, look, I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention.
“To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”
READ MORE: Bryson DeChambeau has made a statement with his golf at The Open and deserves extra praise for it
McIlroy hasn’t held back, but golf is crying out for rivalries like this, and his comments are only going to create more drama and tension.
It certainly helps that the two players involved have an intriguing history, and that they are two of the biggest superstars in the game and have been for some time.
Six-time major winner McIlroy is well-respected and hugely popular almost everywhere he goes, and while the same cannot be said for two-time major winner DeChambeau, he definitely has his loyal followers, and he is definitely blockbuster 100% of the time.
Moreover, his future in the game remains up in the air given the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, with a full-time venture into YouTube seemingly among his possibilities.
What do you think about Bryson DeChambeau’s conduct with the media?
He could, however, make a dramatic return to the PGA Tour, which would simply make for blockbuster viewing alongside McIlroy.
Unfortunately star names like McIlroy and DeChambeau only really come face-to-face in majors and Ryder Cups, but clearly there is the potential for huge drama and rivalries when they do finally reunite.
Their thrilling rivalry has now been reignited at Royal Birkdale, leaving fans wanting more and more, with plenty of fireworks still possible between now and the end of the tournament after what McIlroy has just said.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
