Bryson DeChambeau reveals uncomfortable Rory McIlroy exchange

Bryson DeChambeau has revealed Rory McIlroy was 'edgy' in their first face-to-face meeting since the American triumphed at the 2024 U.S. Open. 

McIlroy, 35, had a golden opportunity to end his 10-year wait for a major championship triumph at Pinehurst No.2 in June. 

The Northern Irishman endured a late collapse, playing the final four holes in 3-over par when he had led by two strokes. 

He even managed to overhaul an overnight deficit of three strokes, but missed par putts inside four feet at the 16th and 18th hole to derail his chances in dramatic fashion. 

A furious McIlroy watched the drama unfold from the scorer's hut and made a quick exit from the property, opting not to talk to reporters or even congratulate his LIV Golf rival. 

A few weeks later McIlroy claimed the loss wasn't the toughest of his career, insisting that he felt far worse when he collapsed at the 2011 Masters.

It also stung more when he couldn't catch Cameron Smith at the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews, he said. 

After McIlroy completed his media duties at the home of golf in 2022, he was spotted crying into his wife's arms on the back of a golf cart. 

DeChambeau and McIlroy are set to face each other next week at the Crypto.com Showdown in Las Vegas. 

McIlroy is partnering PGA Tour player of the year Scottie Scheffler and DeChambeau is teaming up with Brooks Koepka. 

Koepka recently made the admission he was 'wrong' about DeChambeau. 

As for McIlroy and DeChambeau, it is the first time they have faced each other since The Open in July. 

DeChambeau told Golf Digest's The Loop that in their first interaction since that dramatic finale at the U.S. Open that McIlroy did take a little bit of time to get comfortable. 

"It definitely for a little bit like 'hey, hey, great, great' sort of thing. Then as time moved on we warmed up and it was fine,' DeChambeau said.

"There was no issues ultimately and we had a good time. We were there for quite a while. We spent some good time together.

"It was good but ultimately I still want to kick his… yeah. I'm excited for next week!"

'We're trying' 

McIlroy and Scheffler had to convince PGA Tour officials to let them play next week's Showdown. 

The pair required releases as the contest is not a Tour-sanctioned event. 

McIlroy told reporters earlier in the week that the match was created to show fans that the best players want to play against each other more often having endured unprecedented disruption for more than two years since the inception of LIV Golf. 

"The players want to play together more often," he said.

"I feel like we’re all in this holding pattern because of the negotiations and the deal and it’s not really good for anyone."

McIlroy was referring to the PGA Tour's negotiations with Saudi Arabia's PIF. 

The PIF are LIV's primary backers. 

It has been reported by Bloomberg that the established Tour have finally struck a deal that will see the PIF take a six per cent stake in PGA Tour Enterprises. 

Should that come to pass it would surely signal the beginning of the end of the hostilities in the sport. 

Scheffler echoed McIlroy's sentiments. 

"Ideally, I think the end goal here is to get the game of golf back together," he said. 

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