The prestigious Masters tournament is set to begin with the opening round on Thursday, and two of the most talked-about golfers entering this year’s competition are 2025 first-time winner Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau.
Last year, it seemed poised to be McIlroy and DeChambeau battling for the green jacket on Sunday, a pairing that has faced off on final days of multiple tournaments.
However, DeChambeau had his worst day of the weekend on that Sunday, shooting 3-over par to finish tied for fifth, while McIlroy went into a playoff with Justin Rose and ultimately claimed the victory.
The two have been positioned as rivals for some time now, sparking debates about whether a true rivalry exists — a topic DeChambeau addressed on Tuesday while speaking to the media.
“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,” DeChambeau said.
He was also quick to emphasize his respect for McIlroy.
“Do I respect him as an individual? 100%. 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 — that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you-know-what out of him. It’s one of those things: I got him at Pinehurst, he got me here, and I hope there’s more of those to come because it’s great for the game.”
DeChambeau’s comments had fans buzzing ahead of the tournament, with some questioning whether a true rivalry exists between him and McIlroy, while others praised his response.
“Think it’s more of a one-sided rivalry. Rory left Bryson in the dust at Augusta last year. Bryson didn’t contend after the third hole,” one fan wrote.
Another added: “Stop pushing for a rivalry. Rory doesn’t care. No one else cares. There’s never been a rivalry before. Doesn’t need one now.”
“Bryson wants a rivalry whereas Rory does not care,” another fan chimed in.
“Rory could never say anything remotely as respectful as this,” one fan remarked.
“Well spoken,” another added.