Rory McIlroy Explains Viral Bryson DeChambeau Moment from 2025 Masters in New Video

Part of Rory McIlroy completing the career grand slam by winning the 2025 Masters included outdueling playing partner Bryson DeChambeau in the final round, and the five-time major champion provided a behind-the-scenes look at a tense moment between the two on the ninth green.

In Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait, a new documentary that will be released on March 30 on Prime Video, McIlroy explained they were both facing similarly-distanced birdie putts and needed to decide who was away.

"I thought it very clearly was my putt," McIlroy said. "I thought his ball was slightly closer than mine. We sort of look at each other … I'm like, 'well, I think it's me to go.' And he's like, 'well, I think it's me to go.' It's a very gamesmanshipy, match-play thing. Really, both of us want to putt first because if you can hole that putt before your opponent, it puts pressure on them."

According to McIlroy, DeChambeau then suggested throwing a tee up for it, which the eventual Masters champion rejected.

"This is the final round of the Masters, this isn't some game on a Tuesday afternoon somewhere," he said. "… I wasn't going to wilt in that situation, I wanted to stand firm."

DeChambeau relented, and McIlroy drained the birdie putt before his opponent missed and settled for par.

"I just felt like that was a really big moment," McIlroy said. "I was proud of myself for holding my ground."

That these were the two golfers involved only added to the drama.

DeChambeau outdueled McIlroy to win the 2024 U.S. Open and is also one of the most notable golfers who left the PGA Tour to join LIV. That made them natural rivals and only added to the stakes in the final round at Augusta.

McIlroy ended up shooting one-over par in the final round, while DeChambeau fell off the pace at three-over par. It was Justin Rose, instead, who provided the biggest challenge with a six-under final round to force a playoff.

Despite Rose's momentum, McIlroy prevailed in that playoff to win the Masters for the first time in his career.