LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau is yearning for another opportunity to compete with PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy in the final round of this week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
If it materializes, DeChambeau will have to prepare to play 18 more holes in silence.
At last month’s Masters, DeChambeau revealed to the media that McIlroy did not speak to him while they played together in the final group during the decisive round at Augusta National Golf Club.
“He didn’t talk to me all day,” DeChambeau commented at the Masters. “He didn’t talk to me. He was just focused, I guess. But it’s not my style.”
Bryson DeChambeau
McIlroy’s strategy proved effective, as he defeated Justin Rose in a one-hole playoff and claimed the coveted green jacket, becoming the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
DeChambeau carded a 75-over-par and tied for fifth place at 7-under.
During a press conference at Quail Hollow on Wednesday, McIlroy assured that his silence towards DeChambeau at the Masters was not something personal.
“I don’t know what I expected,” McIlroy stated. “We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best friend on the course.”
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy’s sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, explained that the strategy at the Masters was to stay extremely focused throughout the tournament and ignore what others were doing, including DeChambeau in the final round.
Due to their ability to hit the ball a long distance, McIlroy and DeChambeau are among the favorites to win the Wanamaker Trophy at Quail Hollow, which is one of the longest courses on the PGA Tour (7,626 yards) and is expected to be even more demanding due to the wet conditions.
“I think it’s necessary to have a lot of distance here,” DeChambeau said. “Rory is a great ball striker and his iron game is also excellent. I think it’s a golf course that suits the way he hits the ball very well, and I think it suits my game well too.”
Bryson DeChambeau
“We’ll see. Maybe it will go well, maybe it won’t. But I’m certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory will too. Hopefully we can have another opportunity like at the Masters.”
