'Didn't have anything to do with Bryson': McIlroy's brutal Masters snub explained

A key member of Rory McIlroy's team has explained why the Irish superstar didn't speak to his rival Bryson DeChambeau during a tense Masters fourth round.

DeChambeau set tongues wagging on Monday when he revealed McIlroy "didn't talk to me once all day" as they made their way around the famed Augusta National in the hunt for a green jacket.

Ultimately it was DeChambeau who fell apart and McIlroy who held his nerve to clinch his maiden Masters jacket in a playoff with Justin Rose.

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DeChambeau is typically animated on the course and often chats to his caddie or fellow players, but when asked how McIlroy reacted to a double bogey on the 13th he revealed, "No idea (how he feels), (he) didn't talk to me once all day".

Asked if he tried to speak to McIlroy, DeChambeau said, "He wouldn't talk to me".

The comments sparked rumours of a feud between the pair, but McIlroy's psychologist Bob Rotella explained it was part of the plan.

"That didn't have anything to do with Bryson. That was just the game plan all week and we wanted to get lost in it," Rotella told Radio 4's Today.

"We didn't want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it – we just wanted Rory to play his game.

"The point is, if you believe you're going to win, just play your game and assume that if you do that anywhere near the way you're capable of, then you will end up number one."

Many people have pointed out the nine-second clip shared across social media on Monday took DeChambeau's comments out of context.

The full interview was much more friendly towards McIlroy.

The LIV Golf big-hitter was asked specifically about when McIlroy double bogeyed the 13th after finding water.

"I wanted to cry for him," DeChambeau said.

"I can't believe he went for it... 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."

The two have an intriguing recent history on and off the course.

It was McIlroy who capitulated at the end of the US Open last year to hand DeChambeau the trophy on a platter.

The Northern Irishman controversially fled the venue without even congratulating the champion on his victory - an act that DeChambeau publicly brushed aside but would have no doubt left a sour taste.

A clip was posted across social media during the Masters at the weekend which showed the pair on the driving range between rounds.

The video shows McIlroy telling bystanders, "I'd like to go up against Bryson (in the fourth round) to get back for what he did to me at the US Open", to which DeChambeau - standing only a couple of metres away - replied, "to be fair you kind of did it to yourself", which drew laughter from all including McIlroy.

Publicly the pair have maintained they are fine with one another, although others seem intent on driving a wedge between them.

Irish legend Padraig Harrington gave DeChambeau a clip when speaking to Irish Independent Sport on Monday.

"Could you imagine going out on a football pitch and saying the guy marking me wasn't talking, or wasn't very nice to me, you know?" Harrington said.

"I didn't say a word to Sergio Garcia (during a tournament), because it suited me to talk, but I ain't trying to relax to the other guy."

McIlroy had previously been outspoken in his dislike of players ditching the PGA Tour to sign lucrative deals with LIV. The Irishman has come around in recent months and no longer speaks negatively about LIV or its players.

DeChambeau was once considered a PGA Tour villain and got many rivals offside, but has reimagined himself in recent times and is now one of the more popular players around the world.