DeChambeau excited to play on ‘grandest stage’ at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – To relax Saturday night before his epic final-round, final-pairing showdown against Rory McIlroy at the Masters, Bryson DeChambeau likely will watch a James Bond movie. Pierce Brosnan is his go-to 007.

Two hours of a Hollywood movie, however, won’t be any match for the 4-plus hours of live entertainment that will take place Sunday starting at 2:30 p.m. ET when DeChambeau and McIlroy tee off at Augusta National.

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McIlroy holds a two-shot lead over DeChambeau, and at stake is history (DeChambeau can become the first reigning U.S. Open champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 to win the Masters; McIlroy can complete his elusive grand slam); revenge (DeChambeau beat McIlroy last year at Pinehurst with a bunker shot for the ages); and bragging rights (both golfers are arguably the most popular of their generations and respective leagues).

“It will be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time,” said DeChambeau, the Crushers GC captain who has become a fan favorite since joining LIV Golf. “I’m excited for it.”

He’s not alone.

Golf fans worldwide and the patrons onsite couldn’t have asked for a more delicious development, a dream proposition at the start of the week that became a reality after Saturday thanks to a series of ground-shaking moments by both players.

McIlroy delivered early, going 5 under in his first five holes, including an eagle at the par-5 second. Then after an eight-hole stretch in which he dropped two shots, he birdied the par-5 13th and eagled the 15th to shoot his second consecutive 66 and finish at 12 under.

DeChambeau also had a quick start, making a 45-foot birdie putt on his opening hole. But the majority of his fireworks came late, with three birdies in his final four holes as he began the process of reeling in McIlroy. He ended the day by rolling in an incredible 48-foot putt from just off the green at 18 to finish with a 3-under 69 – his third consecutive round in the 60s – that leaves him at 10 under.

Afterward, a pumped-up DeChambeau celebrated with hand-slaps with fans the length of his walk to the scoring area, his face a mixture of joy and determination. It was a scene reminiscent of his victory last year at Pinehurst, a moment of golfing brilliance followed by an eruption of unbridled cheers that helped catapult him into America’s favorite golfer.

“It was just electric,” he said of his final putt. “You can get chills in your body. You just feel euphoria.”

But unlike that Sunday at Pinehurst, there are still 18 holes to play this time. Other players are desperate to join the party. Canadian Corey Conners is in solo third, four shots off the lead, while 4Aces GC star Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, shot a 3-under 69 to move into a tie for fourth at 6 under.

In Masters history, the winner has started the final round in at least a tie for second 75% of the time. Reed knows he will need a career-low score to have any chance of making some noise. His best final-round score at Augusta National is 68, which he shot just two years ago when he tied for fourth.

“For me to be able to win this golf tournament, I’ve got to shoot my lowest round I’ve ever shot on Sunday out here,” Reed said.

DeChambeau and McIlroy, each leery of focusing solely on the other, insisted the tournament is more than a two-man race. Warned DeChambeau: “We’re not the only players out there.”

It just feels that way.

DeChambeau and McIlroy were not paired together on that final day last June, which makes this duel at Augusta potentially even more special. They will prepare in different ways – especially from a mental standpoint.

McIlroy spent his post-round trying to downplay the showdown with DeChambeau. “Big thing is not to make it a rematch,” he said. “Stay in my own little world. Surround myself in our own little cocoon.”

He will likely watch an episode of Bridgerton and said he would put his phone away, avoiding the texts and other chatter that surely would be referencing what could be the biggest day of his career.

DeChambeau is just the opposite. He plans to embrace the moment. And he’s a social media force; there’s no way he’s putting his phone away. “I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.

McIlroy’s last major win was in 2014, a drought he thought had ended last year until he stumbled down the stretch at the U.S. Open while DeChambeau produced magic with a 50-yard bunker shot to save par on the final hole. Their conversations since have been rare after McIlroy offered congratulations at the ensuing major, the Open Championship.

This is the first major since then. And here they are again.

“It’s going to be,” DeChambeau said, “an electric atmosphere.”