Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau came face-to-face for the first time since their final-round pairing at the Masters, but it was more awkward than anything.
Amidst all the excitement of McIlroy finishing off the career grand slam last month at Augusta, DeChambeau told the media immediately after their final round together that McIlroy refused to talk to him throughout the day, sparking a social media backlash that would not die.
But their paths connected while DeChambeau was finishing his second round and McIlroy was set to begin his, according to the Irish Star.
There was “a subtle exchange” but it is unknown if they actually spoke to one another. They did at least acknowledge each other’s existence with Bryson reportedly giving the Masters champ a friendly good luck nod as Rory worked his way to the first tee.
McIlroy has been unapologetic since first hearing DeChambeau’s comments shortly after beating him head-to-head in order to claim his fifth major.
“I don’t know what he was expecting,” McIlroy said. “We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.”
And that’s hard to argue. Of course, the way one goes about keeping to themselves during a round can still be done graciously. And that was what seemed to bother DeChambeau at the time.
When a reporter asked DeChambeau that Sunday after their round together if he knew how Rory was feeling after the win, he said, “I have no idea. Didn’t talk to me once all day.”
And when pressed about trying to initiate any conversation, he added, “He wouldn’t talk to me.”
It didn’t come off very well with some of the other golfers, which is nothing new for DeChambeau, who has had run-ins with Brooks Koepka and others during his time on Tour.
Former PGA champion Padraig Harrington didn’t take kindly of Bryson at the time either, saying, “Who does Bryson want to be? Could you imagine going out on the (soccer field) and saying about the guy marking me ‘He wasn’t chatting to me, he wasn’t very nice?'”
Regardless, it seems as if the beef is over for the time being. Of course, there are still two rounds left to play this weekend and the chance of them being paired together again on Sunday still looms, despite DeChambeau going into Saturday at 3-under, while McIlroy sits at 1-over, just barely making the cut.
If the inevitable pairing doesn’t happen Sunday, however, the next chance will come June 12-15 at the US Open at Oakmont, where we’ll all be anxiously awaiting the tee times announcement.
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