Rory McIlroy Talks Ignoring DeChambeau at Masters, 'Don't Know What He Was Expecting'

Rory McIlroy was dismissive Wednesday when asked about Bryson DeChambeau seemingly taking issue with a lack of communication between the two golfers during the final round of the Masters last month.

After McIlroy beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win his first career green jacket, DeChambeau was asked about any conversations he may have had with the Northern Irishman while they were paired together in the final round.

"Didn't talk to me once all day," DeChambeau said. ... "He wouldn't talk to me."

Per Golf.com, McIlroy offered his side of the story this week, suggesting that he was focused on winning a major rather than making small talk:

"I don't know what he was expecting. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there. Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. Yeah, like I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That's really all that it was. It wasn't anything against him or against—it's just I felt that's what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day."

Entering the 2025 Masters, McIlroy had not won a major title of any kind since 2014, and he was still just a Masters title away from completing the career Grand Slam.

McIlroy had come close at the Masters on several previous occasions only to crumble in big moments, and he seemed intent on not letting that happen again.

After 54 holes, McIlroy held a two-stroke lead over DeChambeau, but the LIV Golf star dropped three strokes in the final round and was not a factor.

Instead, McIlroy had to contend with the hard-charging Rose, who shot a six-under 66 in the last round to go from a tie for sixth at five-under to a tie for the lead.

McIlroy had an up-and-down Sunday at Augusta National, but he still entered the 18th hole with a one-shot lead over Rose.

The 36-year-old veteran needed only a par to secure his first Masters win, but he missed what would have been the tournament-winning putt, settled for bogey and went to a playoff with Rose.

While momentum was clearly on Rose's side at that point, McIlroy played the hole of his life, making a short birdie putt to vanquish Rose and win the green jacket.

McIlroy's demeanor may have irked DeChambeau, but given what the results ultimately were, it is difficult to argue with McIlroy's decision to keep to himself during the final round.

Of course, given DeChambeau's status as a LIV Golf defector and McIlroy's as a PGA Tour loyalist, their interactions or lack thereof at the Masters may have added even more fuel to the fire regarding the PGA vs. LIV rivalry.