Bryson DeChambeau on Rory McIlroy's dramatic final round at The Masters: "I wanted to cry for him"

Bryson DeChambeau revealed he 'wanted to cry' for Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman came unstuck during the final round of the 2025 Masters.

McIlroy finally achieved the career grand slam on Sunday at Augusta National by prevailing over England's Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff. 

The Northern Irishman, 35, began the day with a two-shot advantage over his U.S. Open nemesis but the head-to-head battle we expected never materialised.

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Even though McIlroy faltered early, DeChambeau also struggled and dropped down the leaderboard with sloppy bogeys at the third and the fourth holes. 

Then any glimmer of hope that DeChambeau could win the first men's major of the year evaporated after he found the water at the 11th. 

It looked as though McIlroy was going to canter to victory but yet again in a major championship he began to collapse despite holding a four-shot lead. 

McIlroy dropped a shot at the 11th and dumped his third into the water at the par-5 13th from 78 yards. 

He then let another shot slip at the 14th but a stunning approach around the trees from 208 yards into the par-5 15th - perhaps one that will become career-defining - got McIlroy right back in the mix. 

With Rose making a birdie at the last, McIlroy needed a par on 18 to win. But he blocked his approach into the bunker and failed to convert from six feet.

McIlroy shook that wobble off and drained a three-footer for the win after his European Ryder Cup teammate missed from 12 feet on the first extra hole. 

DeChambeau told reporters on Sunday evening that he felt 'great' and 'in control' after he trudged off the second green. 

Asked about McIlroy's double bogey at the 13th, DeChambeau said: "I wanted to cry for him. 

"I mean, as a professional, you just know to hit it in the middle of the green, and I can't believe he went for it, or must have just flared it.

"But I've hit bad shots in my career, too, and it happens. 

"When you're trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta at The Masters, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right. 

"There were times where it looked like he had full control and at times where it's like, what's going on. Kind of looked like one of my rounds, actually."

McIlroy was pipped to victory at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2 by DeChambeau. 

Again, McIlroy held a comfortable lead but squandered it over the closing holes to give DeChambeau the opportunity to snatch the major. 

DeChambeau made an otherworldly up-and-down on the 72nd hole to win his second major title. 

McIlroy stormed off in a huff and later conceded it was the toughest loss of his careeer.

Asked if McIlroy spoke to DeChambeau throughout the final round at Augusta, the 31-year-old said he 'didn't talk to me once all day'. 

When DeChambeau was asked if McIlroy initiated any conversation, he added: "He wouldn't talk to me."

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