Bryson and Rory, two entities that were definitely more the subject of discourse than the Ryder Cup itself. There were many shots fired back and forth between them, approaching the event with Bryson acknowledging that he will “chirp” in Rory’s ear if he has to, and Rory calling Bryson an attention seeker. But the rivalry saw a clear victor when team Europe retained their Ryder Cup title on Sunday.

And McIlroy definitely did not waste time to take a dig at his so-called “rival” with his post-victory celebrations. A clip posted on Today’s Golfer and sourced from TikTok creator henlowuk, showed Rory hiding DeChambeau’s name over the rafters with the European flag. The post had the caption, “The Rory McIlroy x Bryson DeChambeau rivalry is heating up 😅” The Northern Irishman was accompanied by Matt Fitzpatrick, who had tied with DeChambeau on the Sunday Singles, making it a case of adding salt to an open wound. The whole of team Europe was also chanting “ole, ole, ole.” 

This gesture is definitely Rory’s way of keeping their rivalry very much alive.

Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau’s rivalry dates back to the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where DeChambeau’s clutch bunker save on the 72nd hole handed him a one-shot victory, leaving McIlroy devastated. Less than a year later, McIlory got his revenge on DeChambeau at Augusta, where he proudly wore the green jacket after winning The 2025 Masters in a close showdown. 

Moreover, this modern-day rivalry definitely helped in pushing the sport to a more global level. As rivalries push fans to create engagement content over social media, Rory and Bryson, in a wa,y achieved their own goals of expanding golf to a more diverse audience.

As DeChambeau himself also admitted, rivalries are important to the sport. Their rivalry is akin to the ones that have defined the sport over the years, from Palmer vs. Nicklaus to Woods vs. Mickelson. So, are they rivals, yes. But they are also two players who respect each other’s significance in the sport.

Moreover, McIlroy’s taunt and Europe’s win signal towards a much larger triumph that McIlroy has admitted as “satisfying.”

Rory McIlroy’s win was a message to the hecklers

The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black was marked not only by Europe’s narrow 15–13 victory over the United States but also by the intense negativity faced by European players and their families, particularly Rory McIlroy.

From the crowd commenting about his past romantic affiliations to one of them even throwing a beer can at his wife, Erica Still. The Northern Irishman has had a rough three days at Bethpage, so this win definitely comes with a lot.

When asked by Mirror U.S. Sports how it felt to stick it to the rowdy fans in New York, McIlroy bluntly said: “Very f—ing satisfying,” which drew a reaction from his teammates.

Moreover, even Erica reflected McIlroy’s calm composure and hailed his wife for her class and dignity despite it all and still supporting her husband throughout.

“You know, she handled everything this week with class and poise and dignity like she always has. I love her and we’re going to have a good time celebrating tonight.”

He also praised his team captain, Luke Donald, saying, “All the credit has to go to him. 11 out of 12 players returned from Rome, we knew exactly what needed to be done, and now we’re celebrating like there’s no tomorrow.”

And that is exactly what Team Europe did, enjoying a hard-fought victory that was as much a victory on the scoreboard as it was a statement of resilience, unity, and sheer determination.