Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy’s coach explains silent treatment to Bryson DeChambeau

When it’s in between the lines — or with golf, inside the ropes — it’s all business for Rory McIlroy.

That memo apparently did not get to Bryson DeChambeau ahead of the final round of the Masters. 

The two were paired together again in a major, just like last year’s U.S. Open, which DeChambeau snatched from McIlroy in the late holes. McIlroy even joked over the winter that he wanted to “get back” at DeChambeau for “what he did to me” at Pinehurst. 

DeChambeau cracked, “To be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Bryson DeChambeau of the United States putt on the No. 11 green during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Ken Griffey Jr./Augusta National/Getty Images)

It was friendly competitive banter between the Ryder Cup and PGA-LIV rivals, but nothing was friendly on Sunday. 

DeChambeau said McIlroy “didn’t talk to me once” during the final round.

That was all part of the plan.

“That didn’t have anything to do with Bryson,” McIlroy’s sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, told the BBC, via ESPN. “That was just the game plan all week, and we wanted to get lost in it. We didn’t want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it. We just wanted Rory to play his game.

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland react on the fifth green during the final round of the 2025 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga.  (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU HITS RORY MCILROY WITH EPIC JAB ABOUT US OPEN CHOKE: ‘DID IT TO YOURSELF’

“The point is, if you believe you’re going to win, just play your game and assume that if you do that anywhere near the way you’re capable of, then you will end up No. 1.”

Despite plenty of hiccups, it worked. McIlroy finally won his first Masters and completed the career grand slam on his 11th attempt.

DeChambeau said he enjoyed the excitement of the day but said his partner appeared zoned in. 

“He was just like ‘eh.’ Just being focused, I guess. That’s not me, though,” DeChambeau said.

Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

McIlroy became the first player to win a Masters despite double-bogeying four times in the tournament. To combat that, he set a tournament record with 30 “3s” on the scorecard.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.