Go ahead and get Bryson DeChambeau fitted for his green jacket.
Folks, there’s nothing quite like Sunday at the Masters. It’s bittersweet in a way, because it marks the end of the anticipation and the duration of Masters week. But then again, the final round at Augusta National Golf Club almost always guarantees fireworks. It certainly seems like we’re ramping up for a finish for the ages as Rory McIlroy leads the tournament at 12-under-par, with Bryson DeChambeau only two strokes behind thanks to this massive putt on the 18th hole yesterday.
He’s a man of the people.
Now the stage is set for a rematch of sorts between Rory and Bryson. There might not be bad blood between the two – even though the LIV Golf versus PGA Tour storyline is present – but there is a bit of tension. Golf fans will remember that DeChambeau practically ripped the U.S. Open Championship out of Rory’s hands last summer, and it seems like the Irishman has been looking for revenge ever since.
What happened at the U.S. Open even provided this moment months after, which now seems a bit prophetic with Rory and Bryson paired together in the final pairing of the 2025 Masters:
Rory missed a really short putt that would have put him in a playoff with Bryson, in case that “you kind of did it to yourself” comment wasn’t clear.
And when each golfer finished their respective round yesterday, setting up what could be a two-horse race for the Masters, their interviews with the media told me everything I needed to know about Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. When Rory came off the golf course, he shied away from a “Bryson rematch” question, saying that he was going to stay in his own “cocoon” and focus on himself.
When Bryson was asked pretty much the exact same question about facing off against Rory in the final grouping with a green jacket on the line, he struck a different, more confident sounding chord with his answer:
“It’s gonna take a lot of patience to get it done… you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Rory McIlroy wants to “hide in his cocoon” tomorrow and Bryson DeChambeau wants to embrace the moment.
My money is on Bryson.
pic.twitter.com/48fCBxzybj— LIV Golf Nation (@LIVGolfNation) April 13, 2025
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Ladies and gentlemen, Bryson DeChambeau is your 2025 Masters Champion. I feel pretty confident in saying so, and some interviews that Rory and Bryson sat down for later also bolstered my belief that Bryson will take home a green jacket. Rory, at 35-years-old, is a father, and when he was asked how he’ll entertain himself between the third and fourth rounds of the tournament, he said he’ll probably watch Zootopia with his daughter, Poppy. McIlroy also stated that he’ll try to stay off his phone.
Again, Bryson was asked a very similar question, and the 31-year-old gave a very different answer. I don’t know if DeChambeau had somehow heard how Rory answered, but it sure seemed like he took a couple of shots at the leader of the Masters:
“I’m going to be practicing a little bit before it gets dark. Eating… looking at my phone. I don’t have a problem with that… watching a movie probably tonight. Fun movie, what’s tonight? Oh it’ll probably be a James Bond movie.”
"Watched Zootopia with Poppy."
"Probably a James Bond movie."
Rory and Bryson are trying to stay entertained before their final round of the Masters. 😂 pic.twitter.com/JA0Hvo3lLQ
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 13, 2025
God bless Rory for watching Zootopia with his daughter… but you’ve got to imagine that Bryson watching James Bond give him the edge he needs to heroically chase down McIlroy. I doubt DeChambeau will care how the final round plays out, as long as he’s able to get Rory shaken or stirred (up) in some way.
The only thing Rory really has going in his favor is the book that he shared he was reading this week ahead of the Masters. Early in Masters week, a reporter asked him if he was indulging in any novels, and he shared that he was currently John Grisham’s The Reckoning.
If you believe in signs from the universe, the opening of the book does paint a rather coincidental picture of what Rory McIlroy could do today if he were to break through and win the Masters – which would finally complete his career grand slam (only five professional golfers have ever done so).
The opening page of the Reckoning, which is the book Rory is reading this week.
Presented without commentary. pic.twitter.com/g02lHTLcB7
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) April 13, 2025
