Bryson DeChambeau has broken his silence on his ‘beef’ with Rory McIlroy after revealing the Masters champion had ignored him at Augusta National.
An emotional McIlroy achieved golf’s career Grand Slam after holding his nerve to get the better of Justin Rose in a tense play-off last Sunday.
McIlroy and DeChambeau were the final pairing and both were in with a shot at claiming the Green Jacket.
The American started off just two shots behind his partner and briefly led the way, but he ultimately slipped away and finished tied for fifth.
Despite throwing away the commanding lead he held at the turn, McIlroy clinched his victory with a birdie during a replay of the 18th, banishing over a decade of agony.
After the day’s drama, DeChambeau said McIlroy ‘didn’t talk’ to him once. He has now addressed his comments, insisting there was no issue between them.
Bryson DeChambeau insisted he has no issues with Rory McIlroy after his Masters snub
McIlroy held his nerve to beat Justin Rose in a play-off and clinched a career Grand Slam
The Northern Irishman was visibly emotional after his birdie on a replay of the 18th
Speaking to Athlon Sports, he said: ‘He was just being stoic the whole day; there was nothing more. I was like, he just didn’t talk to me.
‘It wasn’t a slight; there’s no beef or anything.
‘It was like what Tiger [Woods] did to Tony [Finau, in 2019]. It’s the same combo, but it wasn’t meant to be in a bad way, and that’s how things happen.
‘I wish people would not interpret things, but, you know, people will do that.’
On McIlroy’s success, DeChambeau added: ‘He deserved this one. He fought his butt off and absolutely did what he needed to do to win.
‘It looks scary sometimes, but it was a rollercoaster for everybody. And, you know, we gave everybody a rollercoaster last year at the US Open.
‘He did it this year at the Masters. So, it was fun to be a part of history.’
McIlroy’s sports psychologist Bob Rotella said the cold shoulder approach was a deliberate tactic to allow him to focus his concentration on the job at hand.
DeChambeau was paired with McIlroy on the final day but was given the cold shoulder
McIlroy (seen celebrating with his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy) ended a decade of hurt
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today, Rotella said: ‘That didn’t have anything to do with Bryson.
‘That was just the gameplan all week and we wanted to get lost in it.
‘We didn’t want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it – we just wanted Rory to play his game.
‘If you believe you’re going to win, just play your game and assume that if you do that anywhere near the way you’re capable of, then you will end up number one.’
