Bryson DeChambeau has declared he respects Rory McIlroy but wants to 'beat the living you know what out of him' as their rivalry heats up ahead of the Masters. The American, who finished tied-fifth at Augusta last year, admitted he still feels the sting of defeat after McIlroy completed his Grand Slam.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, DeChambeau recalled a tense moment during the 2025 Masters when the pair argued over who should putt first. McIlroy refused to toss a tee to decide, insisting it was the final round, not a casual game. The incident was featured in a recent Amazon Prime documentary on McIlroy.
DeChambeau said: 'Do I respect him? 100 per cent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. I got him at Pinehurst, he got me here, and I hope there's more of those to come because it's great for the game.'
Looking back on last year's disappointment, DeChambeau acknowledged McIlroy deserved his victory. 'It was a great learning lesson. The more I put myself in those positions, the better opportunities I'm going to have to win,' he added.
The Masters begins on April 6, with live coverage on Sky Sports. Fans can expect fireworks as the two stars renew their rivalry on golf's biggest stage.
