In heartbreaking fashion, Rory McIlroy lost to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open last month. However, the two have gotten back together ahead of this week’s Open Championship.
When Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy got back together at Royal Troon on Monday for the first time since their match at the US Open last month, the former gave the latter his congratulations.
At Pinehurst No. 2, McIlroy was heartbreakingly denied his first major championship in ten years after giving up a two-shot lead to DeChambeau with just five holes remaining. After an exciting final round, the American went on to win the event by one shot over the Northern Irishman, earning his second major championship.
It was a tough conclusion for McIlroy, who left Pinehurst after DeChambeau’s final putt and declined to take part in the post-championship media duties.
After experiencing heartbreak, the 35-year-old decided to take a break from competition. Last week, he returned to the game at the Scottish Open to get ready for The Open Championship. Five weeks following their match at the US Open, McIlroy and DeChambeau first met at Troon.
DeChambeau revealed to reporters, via their private chat, “I said hello to [McIlroy] yesterday, and we talked.” He congratulated me. There, everything is fantastic.” The LIV Golf star continued, looking forward to yet another big match this week: “He is a fierce competitor.
“I have no doubt that this week he will give it his all for the fans and everyone else. I’m going to follow suit. We will be in competition. I’m hoping for another exciting battle.” On the big stage, DeChambeau is a man in form. Before winning in North Carolina, he tied for sixth place at the Masters and finished second at the PGA Championship.
“He is feeling as confident as he has ever felt going into an Open, having just arrived in Ayrshire to pursue his first-ever Claret Jug. “[I am] very confident, obviously,” he declared. “Everything relies on how well I’m hitting it. Naturally, having just won a significant championship, I can enter this room with the highest level of confidence. performed admirably last week as well.
“I can keep driving the ball as well as I have, strike my irons with the ball as well as I know how to putt.” I’ll give myself a chance if I can do those three things well—and even the four things with chipping, bunker play, and on the greens. I am capable of getting the job done.
“It just depends on whether I play as consistently as I did at the US Open and a few other locations last weekend. I believe I’ll have a great chance if I can continue to play the level of golf I have.” DeChambeau’s best Open result occurred in 2022 at St Andrews, where he tied for eighth place.
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