Bryson DeChambeau has warned Rory McIlroy that he will be 'chirping in his ear' when the Ryder Cup begins at Bethpage Black on September 26. Both players endured frustrating weekends at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, finishing eight and seven shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler respectively.
DeChambeau's comments come after McIlroy clinched his career Grand Slam at the Masters in April. During the final round, DeChambeau accused the world number two of blanking him while they played together. Speaking to PEOPLE at the Happy Gilmore 2 New York premiere, DeChambeau said: 'I'll be chirping in his ear this time. Now, if we go up against each other, I mean, you can be sure of it. I'll get into his ear a little bit.'
McIlroy was bemused when DeChambeau's earlier comments were put to him before the PGA Championship. He said: 'I don't know what he was expecting. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there. Everyone approaches the game different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do.'
DeChambeau's performance at Royal Portrush, which included a final-round bogey-free 64, convinced Team USA captain Keegan Bradley to include him in the Ryder Cup squad. Reflecting on his tournament, DeChambeau said: 'If I would've played well the first round, I would've had a chance to go up against Scottie and go head to head. That was the whole goal and didn't happen. But the last three rounds, I played some stellar golf.'
