Bryson DeChambeau begins fighting talk with Rory McIlroy ahead of Masters showdown | Golf | Sport
Bryson DeChambeau has openly declared his fighting spirit with the words “I’m not going to back down” ahead of a nail-biting final day clash with Rory McIlroy at the Masters. The Ulsterman, who had been leading by four shots during the third round, seemed poised to cruise to victory and secure his career Grand Slam.
However, the American made a bold statement by sinking three late birdies to slash McIlroy’s lead to just two. Following a four-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, DeChambeau’s celebration was a direct challenge to the crowd.
DeChambeau shared his thoughts, saying: “I always leaderboard watch. Certainly want to know where I stand for sure. Rory was kind of moving forward. He was at 12-under, and I was kind of chasing a bit. When I made that, I looked up and I said, kind of as a statement: ‘Like, you know what, I’m still here. I’m going to keep going. I’m not going to back down’.”
“Is there such a thing as overnight momentum? Yeah, for sure. I think there’s a bit of it. Is it going to be the full reason why I play well or not my best tomorrow? No. But there is momentum.”
The two-time US Open champion, who edged out McIlroy by one stroke at Pinehurst the previous June, anticipated an “electric atmosphere” for the showdown.
He added: “It will be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time, and I’m excited for it. We both want to win really, really badly. Shoot, there’s a lot of great players behind us, too. Got to be mindful of that. It’s about who can control themselves and who can execute the golf shots the best. It’s going to be an electric atmosphere.”
DeChambeau trailed by three shots entering the final round at Pinehurst, but this time around, he’s starting on the back foot, two shots adrift of McIlroy off the first tee.
“I think it’s fun, a feeling like you have to hit every single shot to the best of your ability, and you can’t let off the gas pedal. You just have to focus and play the absolute best golf you possibly can. When you’re leading, it’s a little different. I’ve had those times, as well. You attack that a little differently. But for me, I’ll be chasing tomorrow. It will be a fun test.”
McIlroy, poised in pole position, plans to take it easy, aiming to unplug his phone and indulge in an episode of Bridgerton before the concluding round. Contrastingly, DeChambeau has a different approach; after addressing the media, he jetted off to the floodlit practice area saying: “For me, it’s going to be practicing a little bit before it gets dark. Eating. Looking at my phone. I don’t have a problem with that.
“And just getting treatment on my body. Relaxing as much as possible. Watching a movie, probably, tonight. A fun movie. It will probably be a James Bond movie or something like that. That will be fun. I love James Bond movies. What era? Pierce Brosnan. Tomorrow morning, I’ll probably go to bed late and get up around 10:00, 10:30 and see how the course is playing and go from there.”
