‘Not fond of him’: McIlroy torches rival after ‘performative’ antics
Rory McIlroy has fired a major shot off the course, labelling controversial rival Bryson DeChambeau as “performative” at the British Open.
Forever the showman, DeChambeau high-fived a line of spectators, accepted a request for a selfie with a kid and then stopped to fist-bump a fan after leaving the driving range for his third round, just a day after copping a two-shot penalty.
Bryson DeChambeau. Getty Images
Shouts of “We love you Bryson” and “Go Bryson” followed him to the first tee, where fans cheered and whooped when he was introduced by the starter.
If the American was concerned how he’d be received at Royal Birkdale after his heated brush with officials and subsequent penalty for inadvertently improving the path of his swing that blew up the year’s final major, he needn’t have worried.
OK, there was the odd jibe from the deep galleries - “Watch your step, Bryson” was one of them - but DeChambeau enjoyed overwhelmingly positive support in his third-round 69 that left him four shots off the lead on Sunday (AEST).
In fact, golf’s big entertainer revelled in it.
On the second hole, he appeared to have a wry smile on his face as he assessed how to get to his ball that was buried in thick grass to the back left of the green. Every movement and practice swing by DeChambeau was met with an “ooooooh” by fans, clearly a nod to his heavily scrutinised actions.
At the par-4 sixth hole, DeChambeau drew more laughter from spectators when he addressed his second shot by stretching out his legs in an exaggerated stance - similar to how he stood for the shot in question on Friday.
Paul McGinley, an analyst on British broadcaster Sky Sports, predicted that what happened to DeChambeau the previous round would spur him on.
“Playing with a chip on your shoulder can be a good thing,” McGinley said.
Jon Rahm used the American as an example of players who “do really well when they have, let’s say, some extra going on off the course”.
Not everyone enjoyed DeChambeau’s antics, however.
McIlroy described it as “performative” in a brutal post-round interview.
“I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it is performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention,” he said.
“To hold the tournament hostage like that and to have all of us waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”
DeChambeau has suggested the swelling popularity of his YouTube channel - where he has fun, comes up with some wacky ideas and shows the world a different side to him - is as important as the results he gets.
Yet, not much in golf beats lifting the claret jug - and he’s still in contention, even if a bogey on the 18th hole ruined a strong closing stretch.