Perhaps the biggest story going into Bethpage will be: Will Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy face off again? They had an intense battle at Pinehurst No. 2, one that saw the Irishman crumble in the final round. Then the LIV Golf pro returned the favor at Augusta National after an abysmal performance on Championship Sunday. So, New York might be their final showdown. And McIlroy has landed the first blow on DeChambeau even before their battle on Bethpage has begun.

Speaking to Ewan Murray of The Guardian, Rors spoke about his dynamic with the Crushers GC captain. After recollecting everything that happened in the 2024 U.S. Open and the 2025 Masters Tournament, McIlroy told Murray, “I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people. That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”

Being an influencer, a part of DeChambeau’s persona is reliant on views. So maybe some of his personality on the course is also influenced by trying to seek attention. And when he doesn’t have his YouTube viewers to grab the attention from on the fairway, he shifts his focus to his peers playing majors alongside him. Either way, McIlroy’s perception of DeChambeau doesn’t reflect well on the latter, as much as he enjoys showboating.

A great example of Bryson trying and failing to steal the show came at LIV Golf Dallas 2025. He took the stage at his hometown event and got up to the mic to scream, “Go Crushers… Let’s have some fun tonight!” To him, it may have seemed like an enthusiastic roar. However, the fans didn’t perceive it that way as they found it to be cringe and heavily criticized the Crushers GC captain for his action.

Even at Augusta in 2025, DeChambeau created quite a topic for the media by stating that McIlroy has not talked to him besides him trying to be friendly. McIlroy instantly shot back, saying that at the end of the day, they are not on that course to be friends but to play. So, maybe the Irishman is not too far off the mark here.

In fact, Bryson DeChambeau’s behavior is one of the major reasons experts believe he might fail against Rory McIlroy. Let’s see how the Irishman might have an edge over his rival at Bethpage.

Will Rory McIlroy win the mind games against Bryson DeChambeau at Bethpage?

It’s no secret that Rory McIlroy is infamous for choking at critical moments. He suffered a shocking defeat in the 2011 Masters Tournament after going into the final round with a 4-stroke lead. He also blundered the 54-hole advantage at Pinehurst No. 2 to gift the 2024 U.S. Open title to Bryson DeChambeau. However, in 2025, Rory McIlroy has been a different kind of beast. He has won 4 titles, 3 of which have been in playoffs. When he is performing well, McIlroy has delivered at critical moments to curate a result. The 72nd hole eagle in the 2025 Amgen Irish Open was a prime example of that. Plus, he has also completed his career Grand Slam.

When it comes to Bryson DeChambeau, he has found some success in 2025. He won the LIV Golf Korea event, which helped him finish third in the individual standings. DeChambeau has also finished in the top-10 in three of the four majors this season. However, he hasn’t won anything outside it. In fact, in 2025, the Crushers GC captain has taken up the mantle of choking at critical moments. The final round of the Masters Tournament, LIV Golf Miami, LIV Golf Mexico, and a few other events are good examples of it. So, going into Bethpage, Rory McIlroy should certainly be a lot more confident than Bryson DeChambeau.