DeChambeau sets sights on McIlroy in thrilling Masters showdown

DeChambeau surges into final pairing with McIlroy after clutch finish at Augusta National.

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States lines up a putt on the No. 13 green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2025. Photo by Logan Whitton/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Bryson DeChambeau Masters challenge is officially underway, and the 31-year-old LIV Golf standout couldn’t have timed his charge any better. After carding three birdies over his last four holes on Saturday at Augusta National, DeChambeau surged into solo second place, positioning himself for a dramatic final-round showdown with tournament leader Rory McIlroy.

Speaking after his round, DeChambeau revealed that his late surge was no accident.

“On 15, 16, 17, 18, those last few holes, I just kept thinking to myself: just get in the final pairing,” DeChambeau said. “Just execute those shots the best you possibly can and give yourself a chance.”

McIlroy, who eagled the par-five 15th to stretch his lead, looked like he might pull away. But DeChambeau responded with a birdie on the same hole, followed by another on 16. Then came the moment of the day—a spectacular 48-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the 18th, which ignited the Augusta crowd and vaulted him past Canada’s Corey Conners into the final pairing.

“I made a beautiful putt to finish it off,” he said, calling the moment “euphoric.”

Focus on precision pays off

While DeChambeau's flashy finish drew the headlines, he pointed to his gritty play around the greens as the true backbone of his round.

“It was all about the up-and-downs today,” he said. “That’s the real key to scoring out here. Greens in regulation are where I have to focus up, especially on a course like this.”

DeChambeau, known for his analytical approach to golf, noted that Augusta National’s quirks still keep him guessing—even after multiple appearances.

“What’s funny is on 14, I hit a great pitching wedge from like 169 yards. And I have no idea why it ended up 20 yards short of where my landing spot was,” he explained. “I think it was just a little bit of the mowing into the grain, it may have been sitting down a little bit and came out spinny, and there you go.”

That unpredictability, he says, is part of Augusta’s enduring mystery—and charm.

“That’s part of what happens out here,” DeChambeau said. “It’s going to be fun over the course of my career to figure more of that stuff out. Because it certainly doesn’t happen very often elsewhere, but it does happen a lot here.”

History on the line at Augusta

Sunday’s final pairing will feature not only two of golf’s biggest personalities but also two men chasing history. For DeChambeau, it’s a chance to win his first Masters and third career major. For McIlroy, it’s a shot at completing the career Grand Slam—something only five men have accomplished in golf’s modern era.

“We both want to win really, really badly,” said DeChambeau, who famously edged out McIlroy at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. In that final round, McIlroy missed two short putts in the closing holes while DeChambeau executed a clutch bunker save to seal his second U.S. Open title.

Their history adds an extra layer of intrigue to what is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated final rounds in recent Masters memory.

But DeChambeau is quick to brush off any talk of a two-man duel.

“It would be a mistake to think of Sunday as just Rory and me,” he said. “There are a lot of great players behind us, too. Got to be mindful of that.”

Mental edge may decide Masters glory

In DeChambeau’s view, Sunday’s showdown won’t be decided purely by power or precision. Instead, it will come down to which player can stay calm and focused under the weight of Augusta’s pressure.

“It’s about who can control themselves and who can execute the golf shots the best,” he said. “That’s what it’s going to come down to. The physical part is only half the equation out here.”

Indeed, Augusta has a way of exposing mental fragility. With swirling winds, slippery greens, and pressure building on every hole, Sunday at the Masters is unlike any other day in golf.

And while DeChambeau has had his ups and downs in previous Masters appearances—he once famously called the course a “par 67” only to miss the cut—this time feels different. His recent form on the LIV circuit has been strong, and his short game has shown real improvement.

The LIV subplot adds fuel to the fire

This final-round pairing also brings the ongoing PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf narrative back into the spotlight. DeChambeau, one of LIV’s biggest stars, is now in prime position to claim a green jacket, a victory that would be hugely symbolic for the Saudi-backed league.

McIlroy, for his part, has been one of LIV’s most vocal critics in the past, though he has softened his stance in recent months. Still, the idea of a LIV player denying McIlroy his long-sought Slam at Augusta only heightens the drama.

DeChambeau, however, insists he isn’t focused on politics or rivalries.

“For me, it’s just about the golf,” he said. “That’s what I’m here to do—play the best I can and hopefully win another major.”

Ready for the moment

As the sun sets over Augusta National and the azaleas bloom across Amen Corner, all eyes now turn to Sunday’s finale. Bryson DeChambeau Masters challenge has brought him exactly where he wants to be—on the grandest stage, with history on the line, and in direct contention with one of the sport’s living legends.

Win or lose, DeChambeau knows that these are the moments he lives for.

“This is what we dream about as kids,” he said. “Being in the final group at Augusta, chasing a green jacket. I’m just going to go out there, stay true to my game, and embrace every second of it.”