Rory McIlroy stunned as Bryson DeChambeau takes ruthless public dig over major collapse

Rory McIlroy admitted he had no comeback after Bryson DeChambeau delivered a few harsh words over his US Open collapse.

The pair met again in similar circumstances on Masters Sunday, but thankfully for McIlroy history did not to repeat itself.

Last summer, the Northern Irishman threw away a huge lead over DeChambeau with three dropped shots on the closing four holes to blow a Major he seemed destined to win.

Less than a year later, McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the final round after a record-setting Saturday saw him carding a six-under 66.

That meant the world number two partnered with DeChambeau for Masters Sunday.

The American, however, fell away and finished tied-fifth while McIlroy needed a play-off to beat Justin Rose and win his first Masters.

It had been ten years since McIlroy claimed a success in one of the Majors, and at Pinehurst last year, it looked as if that run was going to end.

Leading by two shots with five holes to play, it seemed as if he would end that long wait without a Major title.

However, it wasn't to be, and ahead of The Showdown in December, between McIlroy, DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler, the American made a public dig at McIlroy, although it was all said in jest.

LIV Golf published a video of the pair practicing at the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.

In that clip, McIlroy says: "I'd like to go up against Bryson and get him back for what he did to me at the US Open."

DeChambeau responded by saying: "To be fair, you kind of did that to yourself."

McIlroy didn't say anything for a while until he eventually responded with: "I don't really know where to go from there."

Throughout the whole thing, the duo can be seen laughing, and it's clearly all a joke that McIlroy takes very well, given he's the target of the gag.

It was all business on the course at Augusta National on Sunday, however, as DeChambeau revealed that McIlroy did not talk to him once.

Asked how McIlroy was feeling after signing his card, he said: "No idea. Didn't talk to me once all day."

Pressed by another reporter on whether he had tried to initiate conversation during the round, DeChambeau added: "He wouldn't talk to me."

Despite the lack of conversation, DeChambeau said he felt bad for McIlroy when the Northern Irishman hit his approach to the 13th into Rae's Creek to run up a double bogey.

"I wanted to cry for him," he said. "I mean, as a professional, you just know to hit it in the middle of the green, and I can't believe he went for it, or must have just flared it.

"But I've hit bad shots in my career, too, and it happens. When you're trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta, the Masters, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right.

"There were times where it looked like he had full control and at times where it's like, what's going on? Kind of looked like one of my rounds, actually."

McIlroy threatened to squander a five-shot lead with eight holes to play before holding his nerve to birdie the first extra hole after an extraordinary final day at Augusta National.

"It's a dream come true," McIlroy said. "I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember.

"Watching Tiger (Woods) here in 1997 do what he did, winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.

"It feels incredible. This is my 17th time here and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.

"The last 10 years coming here with the burden of the grand slam on my shoulder and trying to achieve it, I wonder what we're going to talk about going into next year.

"I'm absolutely honoured, thrilled and proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion."