Rory McIlroy has issued a brutal response to Bryson DeChambeau after he claimed he ignored him in the final round of his incredible 2025 Masters win.
McIlroy finally got his hands on the iconic green jacket at Augusta National - 3,898 days on from his last major in 2014.
The Northern Irishman became just the sixth player to claim a Grand Slam alongside Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player - and collected a record £3.2 million in prize money.
His victory came 14 years on from his heartbreaking collapse in the same tournament which had evaded him.
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After nearly throwing it away again, McIlroy prevailed a sudden death play-off against Justin Rose, producing a birdie on the first bonus 18th hole to secure the victory.
The 36-year-old was completely locked in throughout the competition, to the point that playing partner DeChambeau claimed he "didn't talk to him once all day" and had "no idea" how McIlroy felt afterwards.
A month on and speaking ahead of the PGA Championship, McIlroy had a fiery response to DeChambeau's claims that he ignored him - though he stressed that it was nothing personal against him.
Rory McIlroy responded to Bryson DeChambeau's Masters claim
"I don't know what he was expecting," McIlroy said in a press conference. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there.
"Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. Yeah, like I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That's really all that it was.
"It wasn't anything against him - it's just I felt that's what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day."
Having previously blown a four-shot lead as well as missing a putt for the win, McIlroy dropped to his knees after the win, which was his fifth major and secured him lifetime exemption to compete in the Masters every year.
Bryson DeChambeau's Rory McIlroy claim was disputed by viewers
Though DeChambeau said he had no conversation with McIlroy whatsoever, one user on social media observed that McIlroy did speak to him at the very start of the last round. and claimed he heard it on the broadcast.
On X, @SheriffShaneD wrote: "Rory literally walked up to him on the first tee, said something to the effect of 'let’s have a good day, play well'. Heard it on the broadcast."
McIlroy will look to continue his winning run by becoming just the sixth golfer to win the first two majors of the year in 70 years.
The action gets underway on 15 May at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
Topics: Rory Mcilroy, Golf
Josh Lawless