Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau: Biggest personal rivalry in golf explained

It is a trans-Atlantic rivalry which has simmered since the launch of LIV Golf - and ignited during two thrilling Majors in the last 15 months.

Now Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy - two of the biggest and most popular personalities in golf - will take their running feud into the Ryder Cup.

And although it will not happen in Friday’s opening foursomes, both players want to face off at Bethpage Black this weekend after months of trading off-course barbs. And if there is a Ryder Cup showdown, it promises to be electric. And their respective performances could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match between the USA and Europe.

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McIlroy was an initial vocal critic of the Saudi-backed breakaway league but his vehemence had cooled by the 2024 US Open. Seeking to end his 10-year Major drought, the Ulsterman led by three shots with four holes to go at Pinehurst but his late collapse allowed DeChambeau to win with a brilliant par at the last.

At an exhibition match in Las Vegas in December, McIlroy said he wanted “to go up against Bryson to try and get him back for what he did to me at the US Open”. The American responded: “To be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.”

The world No.2 gained his revenge at the Masters this April when he gave DeChambeau the silent treatment in the final group as the American shot a 75 - and McIlroy eventually completed his career Grand Slam in a playoff.

The world No.2 said: "I’m not going to try and be his best mate out there.”

DeChambeau has had more to say this summer. At the “Happy Gilmore 2” premiere in July, the American looked forward to the Ryder Cup and said: “I’ll be chirping in [McIlroy’s] ear this time. Now, if we go up against each other, I mean, you can be sure of it.”

The five-time Major winner responded by telling The Guardian: "I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people. That is basically what I think of that. To get attention he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others."

Now at Bethpage Black, both superstars will be targeted by the other teams - and points won against them will be worth more. McIlroy did his best to play down the rivalry in his pre-event press conference on Thursday.

“I promised Luke I would only talk about the European Team today,” he smiled. “I'm going to stick to it!

"No, look, I think, again, it's so easy to play into narratives this week and to get swept up in this whole rivalries and Ryder Cup and whatever it is. All I want to do is go and try and put blue points on the board. I don't care who it's against. If I come up against Bryson at some point, I think that's great. I think that's wonderful for the championship and wonderful for us, as well, in some ways.

“I just want to go out there and put blue points on the board and do what I can for the European Team.”

DeChambeau was more excitable as he vowed to get the home crowd “riled up” in his role as chief cheerleader.And when asked about McIlroy, the American said: “ Look, I think rivalries are good for the game of golf, and albeit I have the ultimate respect for Rory as a player. It's going to be fun to go up against him this week, whether it's against him directly or through other players. I think it going to be a fun challenge this week.

Would I love to go up against him? Yeah. It would be a lot of fun. Is it going to happen? It's not likely. I mean, maybe once. You never know. I don't know if there's planning behind the scenes or whatnot. But look, he's a fierce competitor, a great competitor, but one that I would love the opportunity to play against this week.”