The Masters 2026: Bryson DeChambeau ‘trending’ for Augusta National but did he help Rory McIlroy to Grand Slam glory? | Golf News

Bryson DeChambeau arrives as the shape participant attempting to deny Rory McIlroy a profitable title defence at The Masters, having ‘helped’ the Northern Irishman shut out Grand Slam glory final 12 months.

DeChambeau has gained his final two LIV Golf League begins and is among the many favourites to problem for a 3rd main title this week, 12 months on from dropping a final-round duel with McIlroy at Augusta National.

McIlroy had blown a two-shot lead on the primary gap of a roller-coaster Sunday, the place DeChambeau briefly moved high of the leaderboard earlier than fading to a tied-fifth end after a final-round 75.

DeChambeau snatched US Open victory from McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2 the earlier June and mocked the Northern Irishman’s final-round collapse forward of ‘The Match’ showdown later that 12 months, saying: “You kind of did it [collapse] to yourself.”

McIlroy responded by ending his 11-year wait for an elusive fifth main title at The Masters, the place he performed alongside the American on the ultimate day, with former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believing their rivalry was a optimistic think about closing out Grand Slam success.

“There’s no doubt that playing with Bryson [DeChambeau] in the last round last year helped them more than hurt him,” McGinley mentioned in a media name forward of The Masters, stay from Thursday on Sky Sports Golf.

“The cause it helped them was Bryson belittled them six months beforehand, once they did that made-for-TV occasion out within the desert. He [DeChambeau] made a wise remark about Rory messing up on the US Open so as for Bryson to win.

“That was logged and that is the type of stuff that drives Rory into focus, which is what he did when it comes to profitable the Grand Slam. Bryson actually did him a favour as a result of he compelled him into focus – he p***** him off and obtained him [McIlroy] within the mindset he wants to get in.

“If he could bring that intensity to every tournament he played, he would be Tiger Woods, but that’s not Rory and has never been Rory. He doesn’t have he doesn’t have that ability to bring that to the table every single time.

“When he does, it makes him extremely charismatic and it makes him very harmful as a golfer. When he turns up with the best mindset, everyone knows that he’s obtained the expertise.”

DeChambeau mentioned after final 12 months’s remaining spherical that the world No 2 “didn’t talk to me once all day”, though McIlroy has since dismissed that comment and claimed the American prompt they ‘throw a tee up’ to resolve who performed first on the par-four ninth inexperienced.

“I’m like, no, this is the final round of The Masters – this isn’t some game on a Tuesday afternoon somewhere,” McIlroy mentioned in a clip to promote ‘Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait‘, a documentary released on Prime Video.

‘I wasn’t going to wilt in that state of affairs. I used to be simply going to stand agency. So I mentioned ‘there is a ref proper there, why do not we get him up to come and measure?’ And he mentioned ‘no it is tremendous, you may go anyway. I do not care’.

“I just felt like that was a really big moment. I was proud of myself for holding my ground.”

Is DeChambeau ‘trending’ towards large week?

DeChambeau has posted top-10 finishes in six of his final eight majors, ending runner-up in successive editions of the PGA Championship and ending no worse than sixth in his final two begins at Augusta National.

The two-time US Open champion sits second to Jon Rahm on this season’s LIV Golf League particular person standings after profitable their final two occasions, beating Richard T Lee in a play-off in Singapore earlier than beating Rahm in sudden loss of life in South Africa.

“I think he’s trending towards it [major victory],” McGinley added. “If you look at Bryson’s performances in major championships in the last two or three years, as much as he’s had success, his iron play has been pretty poor.

“You want actually sturdy iron play higher than something [around Augusta]. It might be fascinating to see the place his iron play is, but actually final 12 months he was one of many worst performing iron gamers within the area and but nonetheless completed within the high 5 – that reveals you ways good the remainder of his sport is.

“His chipping and his putting in particular were brilliant last year and his driving is always good, but he has got to be better with his irons if he’s going to win – that’s the differentiating factor around there. You get punished badly with some wayward iron shots, so that’s going to be key for him.

“I believe the entire LIV gamers have a chip on their shoulder, which is not a nasty factor as a competitor come into it, so I would not see a number of of them elevating the gallop and having a very good week. Bryson and Jon [Rahm] actually appear like two guys in prime and stuffed with confidence.”

McIlroy arrives trying to grow to be simply the fourth participant ever – and first since Tiger Woods – to efficiently defend the Green Jacket, though was compelled to withdraw via harm eventually month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational after which struggled throughout his title defence at The Players.

“I think it [McIlroy’s game] is off, to be honest,” McGinley admitted. “I don’t think he’s primed the way he was this time last year, coming off wins at The Players and Pebble Beach [AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am].

“Obviously, the harm has derailed him a bit bit. I believe it is going to be very tough – and it all the time is – to defend round Augusta. Rory’s focus ranges might be examined due to the actions that go on as defending champion.

“There’s a lot of stuff that goes on as defending champion – it’s a good problem to have and I’m sure he’s delighted with it, but I don’t know if it’s going to drive him into a top-level performance.”

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