For over a decade, Rory McIlroy has been searching for his fifth major victory – and was denied last year in the US Open at Pinehurst by Bryson DeChambeau.
The Irishman had a second place finish at The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018, the 2022 Masters, and the US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club in 2023.
But it was last year’s one-stroke loss that particularly stung. After battling all day long to possibly force a playoff with his American rival, McIlroy missed a par putt on the 18th hole to fall a stroke back of a win.
Not only was it a personal blow, but losing to DeChambeau marked a victory for LIV Golf as one of its biggest detractors made a mistake to gift a rebel player a major title.
The 35-year-old may be forgiven for wanting to avoid DeChambeau at all costs or to harbor ill feelings towards him.
But speaking in season three of Netflix’s behind-the-scenes golf docuseries ‘Full Swing’, McIlroy praised his rival.
Rory McIlroy opened up about his thoughts on Bryson DeChambeau in Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’
DeChambeau won his second major title last summer at Pinehurst, defeating McIlroy
McIlroy made a number of crucial mistakes on the back nine and missed a par putt on the 18th
‘Bryson is exactly what the game of golf needs right now,’ McIlroy said on the show.
‘I would certainly like the opportunity to play against him a little more often. He has made the game of golf more exciting this year.’.
Even though he had plenty of praise for the man that bested him to the trophy, McIlroy still feels the pain of the loss.
‘As crushing as a defeat that I have had, it was probably the toughest finish to a tournament I’ve ever had,’ McIlroy confessed.
McIlroy notably left very soon after holing his final putt – leaving Pinehurst before the trophy ceremony had concluded.
‘I didn’t want to speak to anyone, didn’t want to see anyone,’ McIlroy said when addressing his swift exit.
‘I just wanted to get on the plane and go home. I did everyone a favor by getting out of there.’
While McIlroy did plenty of talking about the US Open loss, DeChambeau was absent from the series. Executive producer Chad Mumm said, ‘Bryson unfortunately declined to officially participate in the show… I think we did a really good effort of telling his story without his direct point of view.’
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Rory McIlroy reveals his true feelings about rival Bryson DeChambeau after crushing US Open defeat
