“Didn’t talk to me once all day,” Bryson DeChambeau recalled about his interactions with Rory McIlroy during their Masters final round, leaving some wondering if they were in a golfing cold war. McIlroy went on to win the tournament, becoming the sixth golfer in history to win the career Grand Slam. So, what happened? Well, Sports psychologist Bob Rotella spilled the beans, suggesting that McIlroy’s actions were nothing but a game plan, and while the silence was indeed strategic, intrigue lingers. Like Rotella, many thought McIlroy avoiding DeChambeau during their game was his way of locking in for the game, but could it be more than that? Well, perhaps.

Speaking on the latest YouTube episode of Golf on CBS, golf anchor Joe Musso mentioned that he’s hoping for another thrilling golf battle soon. Ideally, he’d love to see a competition that goes down to the wire, similar to the US Open or the Masters. Musso then moved on to talk about the strained relationship between McIlroy and DeChambeau. The tension between them is noticeable, especially after DeChambeau didn’t mention McIlroy when discussing players performing well recently.

“Rory and Bryson, who seemingly get more and more bad blood by the day. Yeah, Bryson not mentioning him in Korea, too, and talking about guys who are playing well at the moment. So, I’m hoping for an all-time battle again,” said Musso. Well, it is true. At the LIV Golf Korea, the LIV golfer conveniently left McIlroy’s name out when mentioning other top players.

When asked about his goals for the PGA Tour and major events, DeChambeau said, “My goal is to win every tournament that I show up to.” He acknowledged the strong competition, noting that “Scottie is on a great run, Joaquin Niemann is on a great run, Jon Rahm has been playing well,” and anticipating a fierce battle at the PGA Championship.

Speaking of a fierce battle at the PGA Championship, Musso also predicted how a matchup between Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau would be exciting, as they’ve had some great battles in the past, like at Whistling Straits. “I think a Scotty versus Bryson one would be very fun, because that’s a pairing you could see at Bethpage, like we saw at Whistling Straits. Seeing them go back and forth, they have some good blood.” 

Well, it’s true. The 2021 Ryder Cup match at Whistling Straits was amazing without a doubt. The Scheffler-DeChambeau duo was on fire! They rode high after going unbeaten in their matches, and it was easy to see why. They tied with Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton on Friday, then took down Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland on Saturday.

Scheffler raved about DeChambeau, saying it was way more fun having him as a partner than an opponent. “I must say it’s more fun when I’m on his team than when I’m playing against him,” Scheffler said. He couldn’t get enough of DeChambeau’s talent, adding, “The guy is really talented, and I couldn’t imagine a better partner.” So yes, this pairing seems to have a good dynamic, with both players engaging in healthy competition.

But coming back to the topic, did you know, not counting McIlroy in the top contenders for the second major of the season, isn’t the only time DeChambeau has taken a dig at the PGA Tour pro?

Bryson DeChambeau takes a jab at Rory McIlroy for something he excels at

Bryson DeChambeau dodged the question about comparing himself to Rory McIlroy, saying, “I can only speak for myself. I can’t speak for Rory.” But it’s clear DeChambeau loves being in the spotlight and connecting with fans. He thinks it’s his job as a pro golfer and “a bit of an entertainer” to bring some excitement to the game. For him, it’s all about spreading the love for golf and making it more enjoyable for everyone watching.

“I genuinely care about the game of golf and growing it globally,” he emphasized, adding a dash of charisma to the Augusta greens. DeChambeau’s fan-friendly approach was on full display during a whimsical late-night stroll around the Masters grounds, where he stumbled upon a local resident’s world-class putting green and lavished praise on its unique gradations.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy was in his own zone, totally focused on the game. “I’m not going to look at what my playing partner’s doing. I’m not going to look at the leaderboard,” he said, shutting out distractions and going into golfing mode. And it paid off – McIlroy’s intense concentration helped him snag the win, while Bryson DeChambeau’s game didn’t quite come together. Now the question is: can DeChambeau bounce back and shine at the PGA Championship? Share your thoughts in the comments!