Bryson DeChambeau puts Rory McIlroy's Masters setback behind him by making a big change

Bryson DeChambeau is already looking ahead after falling short at the Masters and believes a change in his preparation can help him contend again at Augusta. The LIV Golf star finished tied for fifth earlier this year and is now focused on improving his game as he targets future majors.

At the 2025 Masters, DeChambeau was among the early contenders in the final round and briefly threatened Rory McIlroy’s hopes of completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy eventually held firm and defeated Justin Rose in a playoff while DeChambeau dropped out of the mix despite his strong start to the week.

Speaking to Tom Hobbs from Flushing It Golf, DeChambeau spoke about the work he has been doing away from competition. He has not played since the Ryder Cup and is expected to return at LIV Golf Riyadh in February. The former U.S. Open champion said that he has shifted his focus back to speed training.

“I'm going to start ramping up my speed again... I want to be close to 200. So that's my goal. I’ll just get to a place where I’m super comfortable swinging fast.”

Not everyone agreed that more speed should be the priority. Online golf coach Scott Allan Cole shared his thoughts on X after resharing the Flushing it post, pointing to iron play as the bigger issue at Augusta.

“What I'd rather see him focus on is distance control with his irons. At Augusta, this was the clear difference between he and Rory,” Cole wrote.

That assessment matched what played out at the Masters. McIlroy’s iron control, particularly with distance and trajectory, played a major role in his long-awaited win. In contrast, DeChambeau later admitted that his iron game let him down, suggesting that better control could have changed the outcome.

As Bryson DeChambeau looks toward the 2026 Masters, finding the right mix between speed and better iron control could decide whether he can finally win at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau reflects on Rory McIlroy’s Masters win

After the Masters, much of the focus around Bryson DeChambeau was on his remark that Rory McIlroy did not speak to him during the final round. The comment drew criticism, with some viewing it as frustration after McIlroy went on to win the green jacket.

However, DeChambeau has since offered a more measured perspective. Speaking on Flushing It, the LIV Golf star said that McIlroy’s long-awaited Masters win actually inspired him rather than bothered him.

“Seeing Rory get it done was actually more inspirational to me. Somebody has worked so hard to win that tournament for so long, kind of the same thing with me. You know, I feel like I can do the same thing,” DeChambeau said.

Since joining LIV Golf, Bryson DeChambeau has quietly put together a strong record in majors. He has missed the cut just twice in his last eight major starts, while finishing inside the top 10 in the other six.

Edited by Hitesh Nigam