Imago
Source Credit: IMAGO
Imago
Source Credit: IMAGO
Bryson DeChambeau wanted to chirp in Rory McIlroy’s ear at the Ryder Cup. Now he wants to beat the “living you-know-what out of” the Ulsterman. DeChambeau said that with a slight smirk, but you could sense he would relish defeating Rory at the Masters after last year’s slip-up.
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The Crushers GC captain is one of the hot favorites to win the Masters this year, just as he was last year before effectively handing the Green Jacket to Rory. They also had a slight verbal altercation on the 9th hole. From DeChambeau’s recent comments, don’t be surprised if something similar happens again.
“Do I respect him [McIlroy] as an individual? 100 percent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There’s no question about it. But I think that’s what’s so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you-know-what out of him,” Bryson DeChambeau said when quizzed about the relationship between him and McIlroy.
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Their rivalry is slowly shaping up to be one of the greatest of this generation. Forget the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf undercurrent running through the narrative. On the greens, they are electrifying. The duo went head-to-head at the 2024 U.S. Open with DeChambeau outlasting the Ulsterman. Less than a year after that, they were paired in the final group on Sunday at the 2025 Masters.
The two even argued over who would putt on the 9th hole in the final round. Both thought that they should go first, leading to a standoff. DeChambeau floated the idea of a golf version of a coin toss: throw a tee and decide. McIlroy, absolutely frustrated, scoffed at the frivolous suggestion and asked for a rules official to be called in. Bryson backed off, allowing Rory to putt. A year has passed, and DeChambeau is actually salivating at the prospect of locking horns with McIlroy again.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem with that. If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf,” the 32-year-old said.
It indeed is good for the game. An average of 5.9 million viewers watched the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open. Meanwhile, an average of 12.7 million viewers watched the final round of the 2025 Masters, the highest Sunday viewership since 2018. Their rivalry was one of the most important storylines at last year’s Ryder Cup.
DeChambeau said McIlroy didn’t talk to him during the final round of the Masters. McIlroy was having none of it, swatting aside the remark by saying his goal was to win the Masters and not make friends. Bryson was unbothered, once again upping the ante before the Ryder Cup by saying he is looking forward to some trash talk with Rory. The Northern Irishman also didn’t stay quiet, suggesting Bryson DeChambeau only talks about him to get “attention.”
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Quite naturally, the rivalry between the two has become one of the most anticipated moments of any major. It figures, considering both play in two different leagues and get a chance to challenge each other only in four men’s majors. Moreover, both of them are crowd favorites and have a chance to win the Masters this year.
Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy’s betting odds for the 2026 Masters
Both DeChambeau and McIlroy have betting odds of +1,200. This means that if they face off, the intensity and fan engagement will reach a new level.
McIlroy’s confidence is rooted in a dominant 2025 season where he finally completed his career Grand Slam at the Masters before winning the Race to Dubai for a seventh time. He’s carried that momentum into 2026, already logging a T2 finish at the Genesis Invitational.
However, he has recently been struggling with back issues and had to withdraw from the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. As a result, his performance at the Players Championship was also affected. While he has not complained about his back problem since then, it can play a significant role in how he performs at the 2026 Masters.
Bryson DeChambeau, on the other hand, is coming off back-to-back wins on LIV Golf. He won the LIV Golf Singapore 2026 and the LIV Golf South Africa 2026. This indicates that he is in peak form, and his numbers in major events also favor him. While both players enter Augusta as favorites, DeChambeau’s open desire for confrontation sets the stage for a psychological battle that could define the weekend, whether they’re in the same group or not.
Written by
Edited by
Riya Singhal