Bryson DeChambeau has finally congratulated Rory McIlroy for winning the Masters after aiming a snide dig at the champion following their final round.
The big-hitting American played alongside McIlroy on Sunday at Augusta National but a poor final round ultimately took him out of contention.
DeChambeau revealed afterwards that McIlroy hadn’t spoken to him at all during their 18 holes together in a blunt post-round interview.
But the LIV Golf star has now finally praised McIlroy, writing on Instagram on Monday morning: ‘It was a battle all week, and even without my best stuff, I proved to myself that I have the ability to win this tournament one day.
‘It’s tough, but moments like this have taught me a lot and now I’m more motivated than ever to get back to work.
‘Thank you all for the unwavering support this week! We will be back.
Bryson DeChambeau has finally congratulated Rory McIlroy for winning the Masters on Sunday
‘Huge congratulations to Rory on an incredible achievement in completing the career Grand Slam of golf. He deserved to get this one.’
The post represented a marked difference from DeChambeau’ comments on Sunday night.
What was set to be a mouthwatering Sunday duel between the pair swiftly unraveled.
While McIlroy finally ended his Masters drought, the American faded, finishing in a tied for fifth at seven-under.
And DeChambeau revealed after he was gifted no insight into McIlroy’s round as the Northern Irishman refused to speak to him.
‘No idea. [McIlroy] Didn’t talk to me once all day,’ the 31-year-old said when asked how McIlroy was feeling following his victory.
‘He wouldn’t talk to me,’ he doubled down when asked again if he attempted to initiate conversation with his opponent.
The reaction prompted fans to dig out footage from last December in Las Vegas, where McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler faced DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in ‘The Showdown’ – a LIV vs PGA event where the two traded digs on the driving range.
A mic’d up McIlroy said he’d like to face DeChambeau again on the final day of a major championship to ‘try to get him back for what he did to me at the US Open.’
DeChambeau replied: ‘Well, to be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.’
DeChambeau admitted he had ‘no idea’ about McIlroy’s mood after the triumphant victory
The American (back) that McIlroy (front) refused to talk to him throughout the round
The pair were referencing McIlroy’s horrifc collapse at Pinehurst in 2024, where he missed two short putts in the final three holes to win the tournament while some DeChambeau magic from the bunker on the 18th saw him capitalize for glory.
McIlroy’s coldness has already caused debate in the aftermath of his Augusta triumph.
World No 35 Byeong Hun An, who finished Tied 21st on Sunday at the tournament, responded the clip from DeChambeau’s interview on X: ‘He seemed upset about this.
‘Not sure if some contexts cut out or something. But I’m not going to expect my competitor to talk to me or talk back.’
Daily Mail also reported that DeChambeau, 31, made a delayed arrival to the tee for the start of his round with McIlroy, 35, getting there around 10 minutes after his opponent. Perhaps that was why McIlroy kept his distance.
