Rory McIlroy vs Bryson DeChambeau US Open 2024 recap: Full on and off-course storyline explored
Rory McIlroy entered the final round of the 2025 Masters with Bryson DeChambeau right on his tail. The Northern Irishman, who started Sunday at Augusta with a two-shot lead, came out on top and clinched his first Green Jacket. However, this isn’t the first time these two ace golfers have gone up against each other in a final round.
The 2024 US Open witnessed the classic McIlroy-DeChambeau showdown at Pinehurst. This year’s Masters chase almost became a recap of the third major from last year, where the LIV Golfer broke the latest Grand Slam champion’s heart. For the unversed, both golfers came in hot to the final day.
DeChambeau took a three-shot lead into the final day and had almost a clear sight at the prestigious US Open trophy. However, the 2020 US Open champion soon found himself behind by two as McIlroy, playing in the penultimate group, made four birdies in five holes. But the contest was not over. The 35-year-old PGA Tour star went on to miss two short putts in the final three holes to give his LIV rival the upper hand.
Notably, DeChambeau pulled his tee shot into the native area and missed the green with his second. The Saudi-backed circuit’s Crushers GC skipper scrambled with a hole-out from a bunker 55 yards away. He added a clutch par putt on No. 18 to sign off a remarkable Sunday. The now World No.10 golfer clinched his second-ever major title.
At the trophy presentation, Bryson DeChambeau said, as quoted by Sky Sports:
“I felt like I was hitting the driver the way I wanted today. I just kept staying the course focussed on trying as many fairways as I could even though I didn't but I got myself out of trouble really well but I can't believe that up and down, it was probably the best shot of my life… I was just trying to land it pretty much where I landed it. I knew that was huge to get up and down to win this huge prestigious championship. It's the highlight of my life.”
Rory McIlroy vs Bryson DeChambeau tension off-course
The Rory McIlroy-Bryson DeChambeau face-off wasn’t restricted to the greens and roughs of the US Open 2024. While the LIV Golfer won the major championship title and enjoyed an extensive celebration that included him raking a bunker, his PGA counterpart made headlines by fleeing the venue minutes after his loss.
McIlroy, who could’ve won his fifth major title that Sunday, made a quick exit from the North Carolina property. He skipped media interaction, and his private jet was in the air right after he left the venue. Notably, he then pulled out of the Travelers Championship, a signature event, and announced a short sabbatical from the sport.
The TGL co-owner returned to the playing field a few weeks later at the Genesis Scottish Open. He arrived in North Berwick to make his first public appearance since that Pinehurst heartbreak. Interestingly, he dubbed the US Open Sunday “a great day until it wasn't” and stated that he doesn’t regret his quick Pinehurst exit.
Rory McIlroy said ahead of the Scottish Open, as quoted by Golf Digest:
“I did things on that Sunday that I haven't been able to do in the last couple years… Yeah, it was a tough day. It was a tough few days after that, obviously.”
The Northern Irishman added that he got over the US Open loss by spending a few days in Manhattan. He reiterated that he didn’t mean to offend the media by avoiding them after his major exit, but added that it was ‘the least of his worries at that point.’ It is also noteworthy that the McIlroy-DeChambeau tension comes as part of the long-standing PGA Tour-LIV Golf debate the duo are part of.
However, the tensions seemingly de-escalated later in December when the duo took on each other as part of a ‘PGA-LIV showdown’ in Las Vegas. The exhibition event saw the two stars join teammates Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka in a friendly 18-hole contest. Interestingly, the US Open rivals were seen chatting together and sharing laughter, which calmed down their fans as well.
This only lasted a few months as DeChambeau called out McIlroy for giving him the silent treatment again at the Masters. This was soon rubbished by the PGA Tour icon, who said he ‘didn't know what he (Bryson) was expecting.’ Speaking in his pre-championship press conference ahead of the 107th PGA Championship, the Grand Slam winner said he was trying to win and “not going to try to be his best mate out there.”
Now, the duo is set to face off yet again at the 2025 US Open with DeChambeau returning to defend his trophy and McIlroy looking to clinch a sixth major title. It’ll be interesting to see how the competition pans out between the PGA-LIV rival duo.