Rory McIlroy Reflects on Tense Masters Moment with Bryson DeChambeau

The golfer details a heated exchange on the 9th hole that he says fueled his eventual Masters victory.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:21pm

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In a new documentary, Rory McIlroy is opening up about a tense moment he had with fellow golfer Bryson DeChambeau during the final round of the 2025 Masters tournament. The two players, who were paired together, argued about who should putt first on the 9th hole, with McIlroy saying he "wasn't going to wilt in that situation" and was "going to stand firm." McIlroy went on to win the tournament, his first career Masters title, while DeChambeau faded down the stretch. McIlroy says the incident with DeChambeau was a "really big moment" and that he was "proud" of himself for holding his ground.

Why it matters

The exchange between McIlroy and DeChambeau highlights the intense rivalries and competitive nature of professional golf, especially at the highest levels of the sport like the Masters. The incident also provides insight into McIlroy's mental toughness and determination, which helped propel him to victory despite the on-course tension with his playing partner.

The details

According to McIlroy, he and DeChambeau both had similar length birdie putts on the 9th hole, and they disagreed over who should putt first. DeChambeau suggested they "throw a tee up" to decide, but McIlroy refused, saying "this is the final round of the Masters" and that he "wasn't going to wilt in that situation." DeChambeau later told reporters that McIlroy "didn't talk to me once all day," but McIlroy said he wasn't going to try to be DeChambeau's "best mate out there" when they were both trying to win the tournament.

  • The incident occurred during the final round of the 2025 Masters tournament in April.
  • McIlroy went on to win the 2025 Masters, his first career victory at that major championship.

The players

Rory McIlroy

A 36-year-old professional golfer from Northern Ireland who won the 2025 Masters tournament.

Bryson DeChambeau

A 32-year-old professional golfer who was paired with McIlroy in the final round of the 2025 Masters.

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What they’re saying

“I thought it very clearly was my putt. I thought his putt was slightly closer to mine. We sort of look at each other and I'm like, 'I think it's me to go.' And he's like 'I think it's me to go.'”

— Rory McIlroy

“Why don't we just throw a tee up for it to see who goes first. And I'm like no, this is the final round of the Masters. This isn't some like game on a Tuesday afternoon somewhere. I'm like, no. I wasn't going to wilt in that situation. I'm going to stand firm.”

— Rory McIlroy

“[He] didn't talk to me once all day.”

— Bryson DeChambeau

What’s next

McIlroy is set to defend his Masters title at Augusta National in April 2026.

The takeaway

The tense exchange between McIlroy and DeChambeau on the 9th hole of the 2025 Masters underscores the high-stakes, competitive nature of professional golf's biggest tournaments. McIlroy's refusal to back down and his eventual victory showed his mental fortitude, which helped him finally win the elusive Masters title after years of coming close.