Rory McIlroy comments on Bryson DeChambeau from Masters

CHARLOTTE,N.C. – Rory McIlroy has finally spoken on Silence-Gate.

It’s a debate that kicked up after the final round of the Masters last month when Bryson DeChambeau was asked about the conversation with his playing competitor and eventual champion, Rory McIlroy. 

“No idea, didn’t talk to me once all day,” DeChambeau responded.

Did McIlroy give DeChambeau the silent treatment? Yes and no.

“I don’t know what he was expecting,” McIlroy said on Wednesday during his pre-championship press conference ahead of the 107^th PGA Championship. “We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.”

It was a page out of the Tiger Woods playbook and one likely suggested by McIlroy’ mental coach, Bob Rotella. 

“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,” McIlroy explained. “It wasn’t anything against him or against – it’s just I felt that’s what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.”

DeChambeau did have one comment after his final-round 74, which dropped him to T-7, that suggests he understood McIlroy’s approach all along. 

“But [McIlroy] was just like — just being focused, I guess,” DeChambeau said. “It’s not me, though.”

Maybe not, but it worked for McIlroy who joined the pantheon of great champions with a Green Jacket for life. That’s the final word on this topic.