
Bob Rotella: Not talking to Bryson DeChambeau was Rory McIlroy's game plan
Rory McIlroy's sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, says the Northern Irishman's decision not to speak to Bryson DeChambeau during the final round of the Masters was 'part of the game plan'.
Ten months after McIlroy's heartbreaking defeat by DeChambeau in the US Open at Pinehurst, the pair made up the final group at Augusta National, where McIlroy almost threw away a five-shot lead before beating Justin Rose in a play-off.
DeChambeau started the day two shots behind McIlroy but slipped to a tie for fifth with a closing 75. When asked how McIlroy was feeling as he signed for his scorecard, DeChambeau said: 'No idea. Didn't talk to me once all day.' Asked whether he had tried to initiate any conversation during the round, DeChambeau
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Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bryson DeChambeau blasted for 'stupid mistake' after bizarre rules controversy as American looks to defend US Open title - but should he have been hit with a penalty?
Defending US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was blasted for making a 'stupid mistake' after he was involved in a bizarre rules controversy at Oakmont. The controversy began when the 31-year-old's second shot on the 621-yard fourth hole landed among a group of spectators after he blocked his drive into a bunker, and he was forced to lay up his second shot. After the ball landed on a spectator walkway, DeChambeau was entitled to free relief, allowing him to drop his ball to the nearest point on the fairway where there was no interference. However, caddie Gregory Bodine picked up the ball before the world No 10 could determine his new marker, prompting confusion. As the ball had already been picked up, the LIV Golf star could not return it back to the original spot after realising his relief would be further back from the crossing. DeChambeau had a long conversation with an official before they decided where could he drop the ball. He then placed the ball on the floor, rather than dropping it from knee height as the rules require. The unusual rule incident sparked confusion and criticism towards DeChambeau. 'However you look at it, that was a fairly stupid mistake for a very intelligent man,' said Sky Sports commentator Nick Dougherty. Andrew Coltart, former European Tour champion, said: 'I'm just astounded that he placed it, it's just not a natural thing to do. 'Very bizarre scenes there for Bryson DeChambeau, but he does that to us, doesn't he? He likes to keep us guessing!' Rich Beem, former PGA champion and Sky Sports commentator, was astonished at the mistake. He said: 'Just going through that whole sequence again, he had his caddie pick up his golf ball without actually marking the position it was at. 'But if you're going to take relief why would he take it so close to where it was? Why not take it an extra five yards back?' USGA officials have not yet decided if the reigning champion could be hit with a penalty. Rory McIlroy was handed a harsh penalty for a rules violation after a similar incident in Abu Dhabi in 2014 where he was judged to have not taken full relief from a spectator walkway. DeChambeau eventually recovered from the mishap, ending the front nine of his first round on a level-par 35. Speaking after the round, he said: 'Pretty disappointed with how I played. 'It's not too far off. Just got to get the putting a little bit more dialed, and I'll be right there because three-over could have easily been two-under today

The National
38 minutes ago
- The National
Rory McIlroy struggles in US Open opening round at Oakmont
The Masters champion, trying to shake off the hangover of his Augusta National win in April, came to the Pittsburgh course last week on a scouting mission and carded an 81. While he fared slightly better in Thursday's first round, his four-over-par 74 leaves him needing to produce something special if he is to win the third major of the year. A tale of two nines for Rory. 33-41 from our 2011 champion as he sits 8 off the pace. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025 He is eight shots off first-round leader JJ Spaun, who tamed the brutal Oakmont course widely described as the hardest in the game, with a blemish-free 66. The American sits one shot clear of Thriston Lawrence. Sungjae Im, Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim are a shot further back on two-under-par. World number one Scottie Scheffler, the overwhelming pre-tournament favourite, also struggled in posting a 73, along with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. Scheffler said: 'I just feel like after today, I've probably got to give myself a few more looks, it could have been a little bit of a different story. 'But the golf course is just challenging.' Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka made a better fist of it, an eagle on the fourth hole helping him to two under, while Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth were one under. J.J. Spaun produced a blemish-free round (Charlie Riedel/AP) Scotland's Robert MacIntyre reckons he played one of the best rounds of his career in shooting a level par, which puts him four shots off the pace. McIlroy was simply beaten up by an unforgiving golf course which punishes you when you miss the fairway, which the Northern Irishman did plenty of times, and even sometimes when you hit the fairway. Starting on the back nine, it seemed to be going all too well for the Northern Irishman as he made the turn at two under after birdies at the 11th and 12th. But it quickly unravelled as he played holes one to nine in 41 shots, which included four bogeys and a double bogey. His playing partners Justin Rose and Shane Lowry did not fare any better as Rose went round in a seven-over 77 with the Irishman a further two shots back and both facing the prospect of missing the cut. McIlroy's struggles make Spaun's record-equalling round of 66 even more impressive. Watch and learn! 👇👇👇 Every televised shot from J.J. Spaun's bogey-free 66, just the 8th flawless round in U.S. Open history at Oakmont. — U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025 His four birdies in a blemish-free round, which is the joint-lowest first-round score in the US Open on this course, came on the 34-year-old American's first outing at Oakmont. 'All you've been hearing is how hard this place is, and it's hard to not hear the noise and see what's on social media,' he said. 'You're just kind of only hearing about how hard this course is. 'I was actually pretty nervous. But I actually tried to harness that, the nerves, the anxiety, because it kind of heightens my focus, makes me swing better, I guess.' He continued: 'I just tried to kind of take what the course gave me. I hit a lot of good shots and tried to capitalise on any birdie opportunities, which aren't very many out here. 'But I scrambled really well, too, which is a huge component to playing well at a US Open, let alone shoot a bogey-free round. 'I'm just overly pleased with how I started the tournament.'


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler off the pace in brutal opening round at US Open
Rory McIlroy had a horrible feeling of deja vu after his US Open hopes were dented on the opening day at Oakmont, where most of the big names suffered. The Masters champion, trying to shake off the hangover of his Augusta National win in April, came to the Pittsburgh course last week on a scouting mission and carded an 81. While he fared slightly better in Thursday's first round, his four-over-par 74 leaves him needing to produce something special if he is to win the third major of the year. He is eight shots off first-round leader JJ Spaun, who tamed the brutal Oakmont course widely described as the hardest in the game, with a blemish-free 66. The American sits one shot clear of Thriston Lawrence. Sungjae Im, Brooks Koepka and Si Woo Kim are a shot further back on two-under-par. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler, the overwhelming pre-tournament favourite, also struggled in posting a 73, along with defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. Scheffler said: 'I just feel like after today, I've probably got to give myself a few more looks, it could have been a little bit of a different story. 'But the golf course is just challenging.' Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka made a better fist of it, an eagle on the fourth hole helping him to two under, while Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth were one under. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre reckons he played one of the best rounds of his career in shooting a level par, which puts him four shots off the pace. McIlroy was simply beaten up by an unforgiving golf course which punishes you when you miss the fairway, which the Northern Irishman did plenty of times, and even sometimes when you hit the fairway. Starting on the back nine, it seemed to be going all too well for the Northern Irishman as he made the turn at two under after birdies at the 11th and 12th. But it quickly unravelled as he played holes one to nine in 41 shots, which included four bogeys and a double bogey. His playing partners Justin Rose and Shane Lowry did not fare any better as Rose went round in a seven-over 77 with the Irishman a further two shots back and both facing the prospect of missing the cut. McIlroy's struggles make Spaun's record-equalling round of 66 even more impressive. His four birdies in a blemish-free round, which is the joint-lowest first-round score in the US Open on this course, came on the 34-year-old American's first outing at Oakmont. 'All you've been hearing is how hard this place is, and it's hard to not hear the noise and see what's on social media,' he said. 'You're just kind of only hearing about how hard this course is. 'I was actually pretty nervous. But I actually tried to harness that, the nerves, the anxiety, because it kind of heightens my focus, makes me swing better, I guess.' He continued: 'I just tried to kind of take what the course gave me. I hit a lot of good shots and tried to capitalise on any birdie opportunities, which aren't very many out here. 'But I scrambled really well, too, which is a huge component to playing well at a US Open, let alone shoot a bogey-free round. 'I'm just overly pleased with how I started the tournament.'