Bryson DeChambeau in good form — and ready to make run at Masters title

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Few players will tee it up in the first round of the Masters on Thursday coming in hotter than Bryson DeChambeau, who won his last two tournaments on LIV Golf.

DeChambeau, who dueled with eventual winner Rory McIlroy in the final Sunday pairing last year before tying for fifth after shooting a 75, believes his time is coming.

“Obviously, I’m playing well and I feel like my game’s in the best place of its career, outside of maybe Greenbrier when I shot 58,’’ DeChambeau said Tuesday. “I’m excited to get the week going and see where I can put myself.’’

When informed that the average age of the past 20 Masters winners is 32 — his current age — DeChambeau said, “If that’s the way the stats line up and they work in my favor, fantastic. I don’t try to look too much into that and focus on what I can accomplish.’’

DeChambeau called last year’s disappointing finish “a great learning lesson.”

Bryson DeChambeau hits a tee shot on the third hole during a Masters practice round on April 7, 2026 at Augusta National. Getty Images

“Leading or being tied for the lead and having the lead, that last group final round, gave me a lot of perspective on it,’’ he said. “Then losing it and having things not go my way as they finished out and Rory completed the Grand Slam. He earned it, right? It was really cool to see in person.

“As I reflect back on it, the one thing I can take from it is I can put myself in those positions. The more I put myself in those positions, the better opportunities I’m going to have to win. It’s just been a gradual learning process. You never know what this week may bring, but I certainly hope to give it my all and put myself back in that position because I want to feel it again.’’

Asked if he sees a rivalry developing between him and McIlroy, DeChambeau said, “It’s great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don’t see any problem with that. If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf.

Bryson DeChambeau waves to the patrons during his Masters practice round on April 7, 2026 at Augusta National. Getty Images

“Do I respect him as an individual? One hundred percent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely. There’s no question about it. But I think that’s what’s so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you know what out of him.

“It’s one of those things like I got him at Pinehurst [in the 2024 U.S. Open], he got me here, and I hope there’s more of those to come because it’s great for the game.’’

Cam Young, before the final round at the Players Championship, which he would go on to win, was photographed at a church near TPC Sawgrass attending Mass with his wife and kids.

On Tuesday, he was asked about that.

“Yeah, our faith is very important to us,’’ Young said. “It’s something that I feel like brings us together. It’s a nice opportunity for us to be together, to kind of share something together. We find a different church every week. Wherever we are, we find Mass to go to.

“That week it happened to be right by the golf course. So it’s a little bit different pulling in in the tournament car, unloading my kids out and having people kind of look at you the whole time.

“I get a lot of really, really nice comments, people saying, ‘Hey, thanks for setting a great example for my children.’ Honestly, it’s great to hear because I don’t feel like that’s the case all the time, and that’s one area where I’m really happy to be able to bring attention to that part of our life. I just think it’s a great opportunity to show other people that’s what we do.’’

Thursday’s featured groups include World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler with Gary Woodland and Robert MacIntyre; defending champion Rory McIlroy with Young and amateur Mason Howell; Jon Rahm with Chris Gotterup and Ludvig Åberg; and DeChambeau with Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele.