BRYSON DECHAMBEAU PLAYED MASTERS FINAL MASTERS ROUND IN SILENCE BECAUSE RORY MCILROY REFUSED TO SPEAK

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Rory McIlroy was locked in during his final round at The Masters. While that Sunday performance was a bit up and down, he ultimately emerged victorious in a playoff versus Justin Rose. In doing so, McIlroy became a Grand Slam winner.

The elusive Masters victory was finally achieved. The golfer was overcome with emotion after the fact.

McIlroy broke down in tears on the 18th green. A weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His playing partner, Bryson DeChambeau, saw his opponent’s determination throughout that final day.

DeChambeau said he was forced to play his final round in silence. McIlroy was too locked in.

“He didn’t talk to me once all day,” he said after the tournament. “He wouldn’t talk to me.”

The two players have a bit of history as it relates to the recent LIV-PGA Tour split. DeChambeau bolted for LIV money. McIlroy stayed put while championing moral superiority with The Tour. It was almost fitting to see them battle it out for the Masters win.

The duo had much different ways of dealing with the pressure atop of the leaderboard.

Bryson DeChambeau spent Friday night hanging with fans at The Masters.

He reportedly took a walk to clear his mind before the final rounds. He stumbled across a custom putting green in someone’s back yard.

He reportedly took a walk to clear his mind before the final rounds. He stumbled across a custom putting green in someone’s back yard.

A gathering took place at the home of Paul Pearman, an Augusta resident that enjoyed the golf action over the weekend. DeChambeau spent an hour or so hitting balls and getting to know the fan while taking his mind off of the competition for a brief moment.

It offered a much different approach that what we saw from a laser-focused Rory McIlroy. It’s somewhat expected, though, given DeChambeau’s ability to play loose and build off the energy of the crowd.

It seemed to pay immediate dividends, too, when he shot a 69. Unfortunately, DeChambeau wasn’t able to capitalize. He struggled on Sunday, shooting +3 on the day. He fell from second to fifth in the standings.

McIlroy, meanwhile, was able to fend off Justin Rose, who shot -6 in his final round. One extra hole was needed to decide this year’s Masters champ. The Northern Irishman came out victorious following a speechless Sunday finish.

- JACOB ELSEY