Bryson DeChambeau says he always wants to “absolutely beat the living you know what out of” Rory McIlroy as he reflected on his Masters defeat to the Northern Irishman last year.
DeChambeau, ranked 24th in the world, put himself into the final group on Sunday last year but lost to Rory McIlroy, whom he edged at Pinehurst for the 2024 US Open crown.
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He said the loss was a “great learning lesson” while showing his rivalry with McIlroy is alive and well heading into the first major of 2026.
Speaking about McIlroy, he said: “It’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem with that. If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf.
“Do I respect him as an individual? 100 per cent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There’s no question about it.
“But I think that’s what’s so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you-know-what out of him.
“It’s one of those things like I got him at Pinehurst, he got me here, and I hope there’s more of those to come because it’s great for the game.”
DeChambeau, known for his long tee shots and YouTube videos, declared in 2020 that Augusta National played as a “par-67” to him because of his driving distance.
Six years later, the two-time US Open champion boasts he has learned patience and accepts he must take what the famed course will allow as he prepares for the 90th Masters.
“There’s a sense of obedience you have to have out here,” he said Tuesday. “But it truly is patience because it gives you the opportunity to go for it.
“More patience, not as aggressive all the time. Knowing where to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive. Those are the things. Making better decisions.”
DeChambeau, who was 34th in 2020 and never shot better than 69 at the par-72 layout, was fifth last year and sixth in 2024.
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Bryson DeChambeau says he always wants to “absolutely beat the living you know what out of” Rory McIlroy.Source: Getty Images
The LIV Golf star has traded ball bashing and distance for location and strategy when it comes to Augusta National.
“Focusing on hitting the bigger parts of the greens, making sure I’m missing it in the right places to certain flags, is really what has adjusted my mindset in a positive way,” he said.
“In times past, I’d just be going right for the flag, and it quite honestly would get me in a lot of trouble. I have my golf swing a little bit more under control than I have in years past.”
The 32-year-old American won LIV titles last month in Singapore and South Africa and has five triumphs in the Saudi-backed series over the past three years.
“I’m playing well and I feel like my game is in the best place of its career,” DeChambeau said. “I’m excited to get the week going and see where I can put myself.”
Re-visiting Norman’s 1996 Masters mare | 03:09
RELAXED MCILROY FINDS NEW CHALLENGES AFTER MASTERS WIN
Putting on a green jacket has lifted an incredible weight off the shoulders of Rory McIlroy as the relaxed reigning Masters champion strolls around Augusta National.
The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland completed a career Grand Slam by capturing the green jacket last year to end a 10-year major win drought and years of chasing a Masters crown.
“It’s so nice to walk around property or be out on the golf course and just not have that hanging over me,” McIlroy said Tuesday. “It feels that it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”
McIlroy will on Tuesday night local time host the Champions Dinner with a menu including elk sliders and yellowfin carpaccio.
“People keep asking me, ‘Why didn’t you go more Irish and I said because I want to enjoy the dinner as well,” McIlroy joked.
World number two McIlroy tries to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back winners of the Masters with a victory this week.
Turns out the end of his slam quest with a fifth career major title was only the beginning of a new story for McIlroy.
“I think the story as it relates to me is what do I do from now onwards? What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game?” McIlroy said.
“There’s still a lot that I want to do. You think every time you achieve something or have success that you’ll be happy, but then the goalposts move, and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.
“I think what I’ve realised is, if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that’s the big thing because honestly I felt like the career Grand Slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realised it wasn’t the destination.” Of all the majors, McIlroy says his best chances to win more titles will come at Augusta National.
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“I feel like I’m still young, but I’m very experienced. I’ve been doing this for a long time. This is my 18th start,” McIlroy said.
“I do feel like I’ve got another hopefully 10 good shots at this. Not that I don’t at the other majors, but I just think that everything here is a little more predictable.
“I just think the more experience you have around this golf course, the better it is.”
This year, however, McIlroy has a new outlook. It’s what helped him arrive on Saturday instead of Monday and relish in the perks of being a Masters winner.
“For the past 17 years I just could not wait for the tournament to start,” McIlroy said. “And this year I wouldn’t care if the tournament never started. That’s sort of the difference.”
McIlroy during a practice round on Tuesday at Augusta.Source: AFP
– No less motivated –
Knowing he will have the chance to return as often as he likes has not dimmed motivation, McIlroy said, even with the pressure of winning the slam released.
“It’s completely different. I feel so much more relaxed. I know I’m going to be coming back here for a lot of years, going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here,” he said.
“It doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, just more relaxed about it all.” McIlroy is already pondering the places at Augusta National where he can attack the course better.
“You’re always going to have to pick and choose your spots around here, where to be aggressive and where not to, but I definitely think there’s places where I could be more aggressive off the tee,” McIlroy said.
“There’s a few tee shots out here where I’ll just try to be a bit more aggressive, and then if you do hit a good tee shot, you turn a potentially tough hole into a birdie hole.”
‘Love being back here’: Smith on Augusta | 02:16
SCHEFFLER JUGGLES INFANT SON AND MASTERS PREPARATION
Scottie Scheffler is getting plenty of sleep and practice time for this week’s Masters even with infant son Remy and his family at Augusta, although green jacket safety causes concern.
World number one Scheffler, seeking his third Masters title in five years and fifth major victory overall, has not played the past three weeks with wife Meredith giving birth to son Remy on March 27.
Scheffler has enjoyed being a dad again after two-year-old Bennett but realises he must set aside family life to focus on this week’s challenge at Augusta National.
“Once you drive down Magnolia Lane, everything else melts away and you get to be here and be focused,” Scheffler said.
“This place is almost a challenge in a sense that you need to be able to get your stuff done and go home because I could camp out on that range for days and days and continue to practice.” The 29-year-old American is the reigning British Open, PGA Championship and Olympic champion and can compete a career Grand Slam with a victory in June at the US Open.
This week, his wife’s caretaking is nearly as crucial as anything a caddie could offer on the course.
Scottie Scheffler is getting plenty of sleep and practice time for this week’s Masters even with infant son Remy.Source: AFP
“I’m getting plenty of sleep. My wife is a trooper,” Scheffler said. “Having a newborn is always an interesting thing, but Remy is so young right now, they sleep a lot of the day. I think he’s used to being in the womb at this point. Yeah, I’ve been able to get a decent amount of sleep.” Scheffler, however, has had to help out, as when he was wearing his green jacket on Sunday while holding Remy as he walked into the Augusta National clubhouse.
“If I’m wearing it near him, I’m just hoping he doesn’t ruin it or anything like that,” Scheffler said. “Throw up on it. Who knows?” It’s a battle for balance of life and work that has Scheffler concerned about keeping his private life private, especially for his children.
“Sometimes I think it feels like we live almost two separate lives, where I have this life where I come out here and play and compete, and sometimes my friends are brought into that arena that I kind of live in,” Scheffler said.
“I still feel like I go to work each day. It doesn’t feel like I’m sitting at a desk obviously. I love my job, but I don’t feel any different than I did when I was a kid.
“So I don’t see why I would need to live any different or do anything like that. There’s no reason that my kids need to be on TV or on my Instagram or whatever it is.
“My kids need to have a normal upbringing or as normal as I can, and we’ll go from there.”
LIV vs. PGA set to unravel at Masters | 01:26
RAHM CONFIDENT OF PLAYING ‘27 RYDER CUP AND DP WORLD TOUR
Jon Rahm says he is confident he will play in next year’s Ryder Cup and on the DP World Tour in September despite a dispute with the European circuit over fines.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, the two-time reigning LIV Golf season champion who is seeking his third major title at this week’s Masters, said Tuesday that he remains in talks with the DP World Tour about more than $3 million in accumulated fines for playing events in the Saudi-backed rival series.
“We keep talking about the DP World Tour and trying to figure out a solution that works best. I didn’t think that going the legal route and going to court was good for anybody,” Rahm said Tuesday.
“I have faith in us and the DP World Tour. We’re going to find a good solution for both of us.” Rahm, the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters champion, dropped an appeal against the fines last month but refuses to pay, leaving his Ryder Cup and DP World Tour status in doubt.
Rahm said he was confident he would be able to play in the 2027 Ryder Cup for Europe at Ireland’s Adare Manor and compete in DP World Tour events in September after the LIV Golf campaign.
For now, Rahm said he is not sure he could play a DP World Tour event until the matter is resolved.
Jon Rahm says he is confident he will play in next year’s Ryder Cup.Source: AFP
“I truly don’t know. I’m not planning to play until September. So that’s a bit of a positive. If I were unable right now, it doesn’t matter,” Rahm said.
“We keep talking to them and we keep trying to negotiate. I have given in quite a bit in a few things.
“We’re going to work it out. It’s going to work out. The DP World Tour is doing what they need to do and following the channels they need to follow, but I’m confident this will be sorted out before I tee it up in September.” Rahm tees off Thursday in his 10th Masters start coming off a LIV Hong Kong title last month and runner-up efforts in South Africa, Adelaide and Riyadh plus a two-week break before Augusta.
“Happy to have two weeks off in this time and kind of reassure that what I’ve been working on is the right things,” Rahm said.
Rahm said he spent much of his three-month winter break working on swing adjustments.
“Having the time off was really nice. Over the three months, I could definitely think about what I could improve on,” he said.
“I did a lot of good work and I think that set the base for how I’ve played this year.”
Scott relaxed ahead of 25th Masters | 03:02
EXTRA MASTERS SECURITY EASES ANXIETY BATTLE FOR WOODLAND
Gary Woodland will have special security this week at the Masters as he battles anxiety and stress following 2023 brain surgery.
Woodland had not won since the 2019 US Open until two weeks ago at the Houston Open, taking the title just two weeks after going public with his mental health struggles.
The 41-year-old American underwent surgery to remove part of a brain tumor and has since battled post-traumatic stress disorder that made him want to run off golf courses at times.
Just as with his PGA Tour events, Woodland will have extra security measures this week at Augusta National, qualifying after his Texas triumph.
“I’ve met with Augusta. I’ve met with their security team,” Woodland said Tuesday. “Just like on tour, I’ll have security with me. The main deal is they were showing me where security is.
“The whole deal for me is it’s visual, right? If I can see somebody, then I can remind myself that I’m safe constantly.
“So I have a good idea now where security is on every hole. The big deal for me, my caddie knows too, so he can constantly remind me.” Woodland never knows what might cause an episode, so even with 12 prior Masters starts, it’s a new challenge.
“I don’t have control when this thing hits me, and it’s tough,” Woodland said. “It can be a fan. It can be a walking scorer. It can be a camera guy running by me, just any startlement from behind me can trigger this pretty quickly.
“Knowing where the security is is a constant reminder that I’m safe.” Woodland said speaking publicly about his issues has brought him greater strength to deal with them.
“Speaking about it and how I feel afterwards made me a lot stronger,” he said. “I didn’t know that releasing this battle was going to make me stronger, and it has done that. I feel a lot stronger now than I did three weeks ago, I can tell you that.
“No matter how hard it is out here, I know I have someone I can talk to, that I can have security.”
Even his victory at Houston did not come without having to fight down his feelings.
“I had a big battle Friday of Houston. I got hypervigilant on the ninth hole and I battled the last 10 holes thinking people were trying to kill me,” Woodland said.
“I talked to tour security that night and I told them what I was going through, and every time I looked up on the weekend, my security team was behind me.
“Last year I didn’t talk to tour security. I fought this on my own. It was awful. Turning around and knowing that I’m safe, having somebody there with me, it’s the only reason why I won two weeks ago.” Woodland has received messages from several people who has had their own struggles to overcome and been inspired by his story.
“It just shows that everybody is going through something,” he said.
Spieth suffers HORROR meltdown in 2016 | 02:02
FITZPATRICK TRIES TO BALANCE GOALS AHEAD OF MASTERS
Matt Fitzpatrick said his hot form means he has never been more confident entering the Masters, but the world number six but will be keeping his expectations low when he tees off.
The 31-year-old Englishman, who won last year’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, captured last month’s PGA Tour Valspar Championship a week after finishing second at the Players Championship.
“It’s definitely the most confident I’ve been,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wouldn’t say that means I’m going to go out there and play well. The key is obviously to have as low expectations as possible and as high a confidence as possible.
“This is definitely the best form I’ve been coming into this tournament. Just kind of trying to roll with it and enjoy that.” “Definitely a lot of momentum,” said the 2022 US Open champion. “The weird thing is winning and then having two weeks off and then you come in again. I think winning the week before is a bit more on a roll. You’ve got the same swing feels and whatnot.
Matt Fitzpatrick said his hot form means he has never been more confident entering the Masters.Source: Getty Images
“In that two weeks off, there’s a few things that just felt like were maybe a little bit different,” he said.
“It’s just managing that and making sure I’m on the right track.” Fitzpatrick, who is making his 12th Masters start having made 10 consecutive cuts with a best finish of seventh in 2016.
“The experience is the biggest thing here. The more you can learn about the golf course, the better,” Fitzpatrick said.
“There’s so much to learn on every different hole, particularly where to put the pins and where to miss around the greens, as well as just looking at the history of the event and what holes you can be a little bit more aggressive on and which holes you need to play smart.” Fitzpatrick spoke to his psychologist ahead of the Masters, working on the balance between confidence and overconfidence.
“It just goes back to the expectation standpoint,” he said.
“It’s taking the confidence from that, that things have improved so much from where they were last year, but as well as having those expectations you can’t have the high expectations.
“I’m playing really well, but golf is golf. It can change quickly or it can continue for how it is.” “Every year I feel like I’m a completely different player to the one before,” said Fitzpatrick.