AUGUSTA, Georgia — From the 15th fairway at Augusta National, Bryson DeChambeau had a clear view of the unfolding drama below.
On the green, Rory McIlroy masterfully landed his second shot, leaving himself only 6 feet for an eagle putt. Even without seeing the ball drop, the roar of the crowd told DeChambeau everything: McIlroy had secured his second eagle of the day, surging to 12 under par and opening a five-shot lead over DeChambeau.
With just four holes remaining on Saturday at the Masters, catching McIlroy seemed a distant prospect, but the two-time U.S. Open champion had a singular focus.
`Get into the final pairing.`
DeChambeau responded to McIlroy`s eagle with a birdie on the 15th. On the 16th, after sinking a short birdie putt, he paused to look across the pond towards the 17th fairway where McIlroy was walking.
`Rory was moving ahead at 12 under, and I was trying to close the gap,` DeChambeau explained. `When I made that putt, I looked up and thought, `I’m still in this. I’m going to keep pushing. I’m not backing down.“
And so, the stage is set once again.
Nearly ten months after their thrilling U.S. Open finish at Pinehurst, where McIlroy faced heartbreak and DeChambeau celebrated victory, these two golfers are poised for another major championship showdown on Sunday. This time, they are in the final group together, and the Masters title is at stake.
`I need to remind myself there are still 18 holes to play,` McIlroy said, after his day`s best round gave him a two-shot lead over DeChambeau. `I know as well as anyone what can happen on the final day here.`
This isn`t a battle of good versus evil, nor is it a conflict between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. It`s simply two of the world`s best golfers competing for the most coveted prize in the sport, on its grandest stage.
Their playing styles share similarities at times. Both can dominate courses with their drivers – ranking 1-2 in driving distance this week – and their scores often depend on the unpredictability of their approach shots and putting. However, describing DeChambeau and McIlroy as polar opposites would be an understatement.
The contrast was evident as they walked off the 18th green. McIlroy, after parring his final three holes and receiving cheers and standing ovations, offered only solemn nods to the crowd. DeChambeau, concluding his round with an electrifying 48-foot birdie putt on the 18th, reacted with an enthusiastic fist pump before high-fiving fans along the rope line on his way to scoring.
`Interacting with fans sharpens my focus,` DeChambeau said. `It`s great to feel the energy exchange with the patrons here; it’s a cool feeling.`
On the course and the driving range, DeChambeau obsesses over optimal launch angles and ball speed, while McIlroy emphasizes the feeling of control, not just numbers or scores.
`If I can achieve that feeling,` McIlroy stated, `and look in the mirror tonight and say, `that’s how I want to feel playing golf,` then that’s a victory for me.`
DeChambeau is a showman, conducting himself with flair and intensity. McIlroy, in contrast, openly reveals his inner thoughts, acknowledging anxious energy and using self-encouraging notes during rounds. He relaxes with a John Grisham novel, an episode of `Bridgerton,` or, as he did on Saturday morning, watching `Zootopia` with his daughter to disconnect from his phone. DeChambeau also enjoys movies, but he prefers James Bond.
`Checking my phone isn`t a problem for me,` said DeChambeau, who has a large YouTube following.
While DeChambeau thrives on the energy of the crowd, McIlroy recognizes the need to stay focused and committed to his game amidst the intense atmosphere of the final group.
`Tomorrow in the final group, it’s going to be rowdy and loud,` McIlroy predicted. `I need to stay in my own bubble, keep my head down.`
DeChambeau, however, plans to embrace the crowd`s energy, at least until it`s time to focus on his next shot.
`It’s about reacting and being myself,` DeChambeau said. `Some might see it as different, but it`s just who I am.`
Sunday will highlight these contrasts. Yet, the most significant difference is already part of their narrative: since McIlroy`s last major win, DeChambeau has won two.
McIlroy`s near-misses are well-documented, becoming as defining as his four major victories between 2011 and 2014. At the Old Course in 2022, he was overtaken by Cameron Smith. In the 2023 U.S. Open, he couldn`t surpass Wyndham Clark. Pinehurst last year was particularly painful, with missed short putts leading to DeChambeau`s victory.
Then there was the 2011 Masters, where a 21-year-old McIlroy lost a four-shot lead in the final round.
`That was 14 years ago,` McIlroy reflected. `I’m glad I have a short memory.`
On paper, 18 holes separate McIlroy from a career Grand Slam. In reality, it`s a journey through 11 years of close calls, heartbreaks, and facing the same rival who defeated him last year. This rival is ready to embrace the challenge, maintain momentum, and potentially spoil McIlroy`s quest once more.
`We both desperately want to win. The atmosphere will be electric,` DeChambeau stated. `It`s going to be the grandest stage we`ve seen in a long time.`
