AUGUSTA, Georgia — At Augusta National`s 15th hole fairway, Bryson DeChambeau watched the drama unfold ahead.
On the green, Rory McIlroy`s delicate second shot landed softly, leaving him just six feet from an eagle. Though DeChambeau might not have seen the ball drop, the crowd`s roar told him everything: McIlroy had secured his second eagle of the day, surging to 12 under par and a five-shot lead over DeChambeau.
With only four holes remaining, catching McIlroy seemed unlikely. However, it was Saturday at the Masters, and the two-time U.S. Open champion had a singular goal.
`Get into the final pairing.`
DeChambeau responded to McIlroy`s eagle with a birdie on the 15th. On the 16th, after sinking another short birdie putt, he paused to look across the water towards the 17th fairway where McIlroy was walking.
`Rory was moving ahead at 12 under, and I was trying to catch up,` DeChambeau explained. `After my birdie, I looked up, and it was like a statement to myself, `I`m still in this. I`m not giving up.“
Here we are again.
Almost a year after their captivating U.S. Open finish at Pinehurst, where McIlroy faced heartbreak and DeChambeau celebrated victory, they are set for another major championship clash on Sunday. This time, they are in the final group together, competing for the Masters title.
`I need to remember there are still 18 holes to play,` McIlroy said after his day`s best round put him two ahead of DeChambeau. `I know as well as anyone how much can change on the final day here.`
This isn`t a battle of good versus evil, nor is it a feud between golf tours. It`s simply two world-class golfers vying for the sport`s most prized symbol of victory on its grandest stage.
Their playing styles share similarities. Both can overpower courses with their drivers, ranking first and second in distance this week. They often rely on the unpredictability of their approach shots and putting to determine their scores. Yet, describing DeChambeau and McIlroy as complete opposites wouldn`t be an exaggeration.
The contrast was evident as they walked off the 18th green. McIlroy, having parred his last three holes, received cheers and standing ovations, responding with solemn nods. DeChambeau, however, finished with a jolt of energy – a 48-foot birdie putt on the 18th – reacting with a fist pump and high-fiving fans along the rope line on his way to scoring.
`Interacting with fans sharpens my focus,` DeChambeau noted. `It`s great; when I connect with the crowd, especially the patrons here, they give back that energy, which is a fantastic feeling.`
On the course and practice range, DeChambeau seeks perfect launch angles and ball speed, while McIlroy emphasizes the feeling of control over 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,` that`s a victory for me.`
DeChambeau is a showman, conducting himself with flair and intensity. McIlroy, in contrast, openly reveals his inner feelings. He speaks of anxious energy, writes motivational notes in his yardage book, and relaxes with a John Grisham novel, `Bridgerton,` or by watching `Zootopia` with his daughter, as he did on Saturday morning, to avoid his phone. DeChambeau also enjoys movies, planning to watch James Bond.
`Looking at my phone isn`t an issue for me,` said DeChambeau, who has a large YouTube following.
While DeChambeau thrives on crowd energy, McIlroy knows he must work on Sunday to win by staying focused and composed amidst the lively patrons.
`Tomorrow in the final group, it will be energetic and loud,` McIlroy predicted. `I need to stay in my own bubble, keep my focus.`
DeChambeau intends to embrace the crowd`s energy, at least until it`s time to play his shot.
`It`s about reacting and being myself,` DeChambeau said. `People can judge as they wish, but I`m just different.`
Sunday offers a significant stage for their differences to be displayed. Yet, the most crucial difference is already evident: DeChambeau has won two majors since McIlroy`s last major victory.
McIlroy`s past disappointments are well-known, becoming as much a part of his narrative as his four major wins between 2011 and 2014. At the Old Course in 2022, he couldn`t respond as Cameron Smith overtook him for the Claret Jug. In the 2023 U.S. Open, he couldn`t surpass Wyndham Clark. Pinehurst last year was particularly painful. McIlroy missed crucial short putts and watched DeChambeau secure par on the 18th to win.
Then there was the 2011 Masters, where a 21-year-old McIlroy held a four-shot lead going into the final round, only to shoot 80 and leave without the title.
`That was 14 years ago,` McIlroy said about that Masters. `I`m glad I forget quickly.`
On paper, 18 holes separate McIlroy from a career Grand Slam. In reality, it`s 11 years of near-misses and heartbreaks, and now, the same rival who defeated him last year stands in his path. A rival eager to embrace the challenge, maintain his aggressive play, and potentially spoil McIlroy`s ambition once more.
`We both desperately want to win. The atmosphere will be electric,` DeChambeau stated. `It`ll be the grandest stage we`ve seen in a long time.`
