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In a Masters Tournament filled with drama, 2025 champion Rory McIlroy was so intensely focused during his final round that he notably snubbed his playing partner, according to Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy’s Focused Final Round at Masters Tournament
Bryson DeChambeau, the renowned big-hitting LIV Golf participant, commenced the final round of the Masters alongside McIlroy. The pairing created anticipation for a compelling showdown for the coveted Green Jacket on the challenging Augusta National course on Sunday.
However, the anticipated head-to-head contest did not fully materialize. While McIlroy achieved victory at the Masters, securing the coveted title, DeChambeau’s performance waned, resulting in a tied fifth-place finish at seven-under par.
Silent Round: DeChambeau Reveals McIlroy’s Focus
Despite being paired with the eventual Masters victor, DeChambeau disclosed that McIlroy offered no insights into his round, as the champion seemingly refrained from any conversation throughout their play.
“No idea. [McIlroy] Didn’t speak to me at all during the day,” DeChambeau, 31, stated when questioned about McIlroy’s disposition following his significant win.
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“He wouldn’t engage in conversation,” DeChambeau reiterated when pressed on whether he had attempted to initiate dialogue with his playing competitor.
Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy during the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament
DeChambeau indicated that the Masters champion remained silent and did not speak to him during the round.
Echoes of the US Open: McIlroy’s Determination
Recalling a prior major championship encounter, the two golfers were similarly paired at the US Open less than a year prior. In that tournament, it was McIlroy who experienced disappointment, losing to DeChambeau after a difficult finish at Pinehurst.
In the final round of the previous June’s major, McIlroy, then holding a two-stroke advantage, recorded three bogeys in the final five holes, including missed putts from short distances.
Following his US Open disappointment, McIlroy promptly departed the course and subsequently announced a hiatus from tournaments until the Genesis Scottish Open in July.
Fast forward ten months, and at the Masters, McIlroy appeared resolute in preventing a repeat of past outcomes. This time, he demonstrably ensured DeChambeau would not impede his path to victory.
Contrasting Approaches: Fan Engagement and Focus
While DeChambeau actively engaged with the Augusta National atmosphere, interacting with spectators as he approached the first tee, McIlroy, despite also being a crowd favorite, adopted a different approach, seemingly aiming to maintain a focused ‘bubble’.
“He [McIlroy] was just maintaining focus, I would assume. It’s not my typical approach, though,” DeChambeau commented regarding McIlroy’s demeanor amidst the ‘electric’ atmosphere at Augusta.
DeChambeau’s Final Round Struggles
The two-time US Open winner concluded with a three-over-par 75 on Sunday, contrasting with his prior consistent rounds in the 60s. After an impressive long putt on the 18th hole on Saturday, DeChambeau entered the final round positioned to challenge McIlroy, reminiscent of their US Open encounter.
DeChambeau’s momentum faltered in the final round, resulting in a tied fifth position finish in the Masters.
Indeed, he initially seemed poised to contend, briefly overtaking McIlroy for the lead early in the round, but ultimately struggled to sustain that momentum.
DeChambeau’s troubles began at the par-4 third hole with a three-putt from 23 feet, a misstep he later expressed confusion over.
A subsequent errant iron shot on the par-3 fourth led to another bogey. Further challenges arose on the par-4 11th, where a shot veered excessively, finding the water hazard and resulting in a double bogey.
“I intended to hit a draw into that area, but it initiated five degrees left, and I thought, `You’ve got to be kidding me,´” DeChambeau recounted. “Then I repeated a similar error from the pine straw on the 17th. It just went sharply left on me. I need to improve in those situations.”