Ryder Cup Duel? DeChambeau and McIlroy Open the Possibility of an Epic Rivalry
Farmingdale, N.Y. – The Ryder Cup could be the perfect stage for a dramatic showdown between Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, if a rivalry is brewing between these two star golfers. Even though both players downplayed any animosity, both DeChambeau and McIlroy acknowledged that they would welcome measuring themselves against each other this week at Bethpage Black.“Would I love to face him? Yes. It would be a lot of fun,” DeChambeau commented on Thursday. “But, will it happen? It’s not likely. Maybe once. You never know.”
Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau, when asked earlier this year about the possibility of facing McIlroy in the Ryder Cup after they were paired in the final round of the Masters Tournament, stated that he intended to “get in McIlroy’s ear” at Bethpage. McIlroy responded to those comments last month during an interview. When questioned about DeChambeau on Thursday, McIlroy joked that he had promised European captain Luke Donald that he would only talk about the European team.“If I face Bryson at some point, I think it’s great,” McIlroy said. “I think it’s wonderful for the championship and also for us, in a way.”
Rory McIlroy
As DeChambeau pointed out, whether in foursomes, four-balls or Sunday singles, there’s no guarantee the two will face each other, given that captains select their teams and the order before knowing the opponent’s picks. “I don’t know if there’s behind-the-scenes planning or something like that,” DeChambeau said with a smile. Even if they are not facing each other, the fact that DeChambeau and McIlroy are on opposite sides this week is emblematic of the kind of relationship they have had during the most important events in the sport lately. Besides Scheffler, no other player has performed better in major championships in the last two years than DeChambeau and McIlroy. In the process, their paths have not only crossed; they have faced each other head-to-head.“It’s very easy to get caught up in the narratives this week and these rivalries and the Ryder Cup and whatever,” McIlroy said. “All I want to do is go out there and try to put blue points on the board. I don’t care who it’s against.”
Rory McIlroy
The two finished first and second at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where McIlroy’s missed short putts on two of the last three holes and DeChambeau’s miraculous bunker shot on 18 gave the LIV Golf star his second major victory.
This year at the Masters, both played in the final group on Sunday. And when McIlroy emerged with the green jacket and career Grand Slam, DeChambeau was quick to point out that McIlroy didn’t speak to him the entire round. McIlroy responded that he didn’t know what DeChambeau expected.
On Monday, Golf Channel asked DeChambeau if he had a response to McIlroy’s recent comments. “What Rory says and all that is great. He didn’t mean anything by it,” DeChambeau said. “I’m excited. Hopefully we can have some good banter back and forth and if not, and he wants to do what he’s doing, great, no problem. The crowd will be on our side.” McIlroy, who is playing his eighth Ryder Cup, has dealt with a visiting crowd several times and said he is prepared to handle an environment he doesn’t normally have to deal with. “I’m very lucky, I get a lot of support pretty much everywhere I play golf, and this week will feel a little different for me,” McIlroy said. “But that’s to be expected. … I feel like sometimes in the Ryder Cup, I’ve gotten too involved with it, too much with the crowd.” “But then there are times when I haven’t been involved enough. So I’m really just trying to find the balance of using that crowd energy to fuel your performance.” With the competition starting on Friday, the crowds present at Bethpage this week have been cheering for the U.S. team and specifically DeChambeau, who has given them much to celebrate.“I think rivalries are good for the game of golf,” DeChambeau said. “And while I have the utmost respect for Rory as a player, it will be fun to face him this week.”
Bryson DeChambeau
