Rory McIlroy will return to Augusta next week to defend his Masters title, and ahead of the tournament, he looked back at a moment from last year that stood out to him.
Speaking on The Shotgun Start, Rory McIlroy said he was surprised by Bryson DeChambeau’s decision on the third hole during the final round.
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“The second shot on three, I think it’s interesting. I could not believe that Bryson laid up. I couldn’t believe it,” McIlroy said.
He added that DeChambeau had a chance to take control early in the round, especially with his distance off the tee.
“I just thought, with how firm the greens were, it was hard to get a wedge shot close anyway. I thought he had a chance to drive it on the green,” he said.
The lay-up did not work in his favour. DeChambeau ended up three-putting, while McIlroy made a birdie.
“I just thought that was such a huge moment,” McIlroy said, adding that it helped him settle after a tough start.
The third hole at Augusta National, called Flowering Peach, is a 350-yard par 4. It is often seen as a sleeper hole because it looks simple but can quickly lead to mistakes.
Players have to decide whether to go for the green or lay up. While it is drivable, the raised and sloping green makes it hard to control the ball, so many choose to play safe and rely on a precise wedge.
Rory McIlroy went on to win the 2025 Masters after a close final round. He made his move on the back nine and later beat Justin Rose in a playoff. DeChambeau, meanwhile dropped back after finding water on the 15th and finished tied for fifth.
Rory McIlroy recalls tense moment with Bryson DeChambeau in Masters final round
In another moment from last year’s Masters, Rory McIlroy spoke about an exchange with Bryson DeChambeau during the final round.
In a teaser for Amazon Prime’s documentary The Masters Wait, McIlroy described a situation where both players were unsure who should putt first after their approach shots.
“Both of us want to putt first, because if you can hole that putt before your opponent, it puts pressure on them,” McIlroy said.
He added that DeChambeau suggested deciding it by flipping a tee but he did not agree with that approach.
“He goes, ‘so why don’t we just throw a tee up for it to see who goes first?’ I’m like, ‘no, this is the final round of the Masters, this isn’t some game on a Tuesday afternoon somewhere!’ I wasn’t going to wilt in that situation, I was going to stand firm.”
McIlroy said he was ready to call a rules official if needed, but DeChambeau eventually let him go first. McIlroy made the putt, while DeChambeau missed.
“I just felt like that was a really big moment. I was proud of myself for holding my ground,” he added.
The two had also exchanged words after the tournament. DeChambeau had said McIlroy did not speak to him during the final round while McIlroy later said DeChambeau tends to bring him up for attention.
Both players now head into the 2026 Masters with clear goals. Rory McIlroy will look to defend his title while Brsyon DeChambeau comes in after back-to-back wins on LIV Golf.
Edited by Sonali Verma