‘I Don’t Know What He Was Expecting. We’re Trying To Win The Masters, I’m Not Going To Be His Best Mate Out There’ – Rory McIlroy Explains Blanking Bryson DeChambeau At Augusta

New Masters champion Rory McIlroy says he was in no mood to be Bryson DeChambeau’s best mate during that epic final round on Sunday at Augusta National.

After playing in the final pairing in The Masters on Sunday with McIlroy, DeChambeau said that the new Grand Slam winner “didn’t talk to me once all day”.

When a follow-up question to DeChambeau asked if he tried to speak with McIlroy at all, the 31-year-old simply stated: “He wouldn’t talk to me.”

McIlroy’s sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella explained why the Northern Irishman did not engage in conversation with DeChambeau, and now the man himself has had his say.

Ahead of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, McIlroy was asked about the situation at The Masters, and was puzzled as to why DeChambeau would be expecting anything else.

“I don’t know what he was expecting,” said McIlroy. “Like, we’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to be his best mate out there.

“Everyone approaches the game in different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do and that’s really all that it was.

“It wasn’t anything against him, that’s just what I felt I needed to do to try and get the best out of myself on that day.”

Rory McIlroy Makes Big Announcement Days Before PGA Championship

McIlroy completed the career grand slam.

On May 15 the world’s best golfers will flock to Quail Hollow in Charlotte, NC for the PGA Championship.

Fresh off of completing the career grand slam by winning the Masters in April, Rory McIlroy enters the tournament as the second betting favorite behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. The duo will be paired together along with two-time major winner Xander Schauffele, something Scheffler is looking forward to.

“I’m playing with two guys that are playing some of the best golf in the world,” Scheffler said, via The Mirror. “Xander won two majors last year, and Rory already won The Players and the Masters this year so he’s playing some fantastic golf.

“Yeah, it should be a lot of fun. I’ve seen that pairing before, and we have a good time out there, and it’s competitive. I think when I look back on my career, these will be some of the fondest memories getting to play with some of the best players in the world and compete to try to win tournaments.”

As three of the world’s best get set to battle on Thursday, McIlroy is making some noise away from the PGA Championship. On May 13 it was announced that the five-time major winner would be participating in the Australian Open.

“Five-time major champion, and career grand slam winner, Rory McIlroy will headline the men’s Australian Open in 2025 when it returns to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club on the Melbourne Sandbelt from December 4-7,” the tournament announced.

McIlroy revealed he’ll be playing in the event for the first time since 2014.

“I’m proud to be committing to the Australian Open for the next two years, especially with it being played on the world-class Melbourne Sandbelt, somewhere I’ve always wanted to play professionally,” McIlroy, the 2013 Australian Open winner, said.

“The success of the Australian Open is important for the global game, and I’m incredibly confident it will thrive again this year, especially with it being staged in one of the world’s great sporting cities and on two of the finest golf courses in the world over the next two years: The Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Kingston Heath Golf Club.”

McIlroy, Scheffler and Schauffele tee off on May 15 at 8:22 a.m. ET.