Masters champion Rory McIlroy was so locked-in for his final round that he dealt a shocking snub to his playing partner, Bryson DeChambeau has revealed.
DeChambeau, the big-hitting LIV Golf star, teed it up alongside McIlroy with two set to battle it out for the Green Jacket over the undulating fairways of Augusta National Sunday.
However, what was set to be a mouthwatering Sunday showdown swiftly unraveled. While McIlroy finally ended his Masters drought, the American faded, finishing in a tied for fifth at seven-under.
Yet, despite playing alongside the eventual champion, DeChambeau was gifted no insight into McIlroy's round as the Northern Irishman refused to speak to him.
'No idea. [McIlroy] Didn't talk to me once all day,' the 31-year-old said when asked how McIlroy was feeling following his victory.
'He wouldn't talk to me,' he doubled down when asked again if he attempted to initiate conversation with his opponent.
Less than a year ago, the pair played out a similar duel at the US Open. Then, it was McIlroy who agonisingly failed in his pursuit of a fifth major, losing to DeChambeau following a shocking implosion at Pinehurst.
Holding a two-shot lead during the final round of last June's major, McIlroy carded three bogeys across the final five holes - missing two putts from a combined distance of seven feet.
He fled the course a matter of minutes after DeChambeau wrapped up victory and announced less than 24 hours later that he wouldn't be back at a tournament until the Tour descended on Scotland for the Genesis Scottish Open in July.
Ten months later, it appeared McIlroy was determined to prevent history from repeating itself. This time, he refused to let DeChambeau break his heart.
In footage shared to social media on Sunday, McIlroy told reporters and camera operators, 'I'd like to go up against Bryson and try to get him back for what he did to me at the US Open,' while next to DeChambeau.
The American bit back with a swift response and said: 'To be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.'
His remark prompted those around the pair to burst out with laughter, clearly enjoying the competitive rivalry between the two golf greats.
While DeChambeau appreciated the atmosphere at Augusta National, slapping hands with as many fans as he could as he approached the first tee, McIlroy, also a fan favorite, took a different approach, trying to stay in a 'bubble.'
'He [McIlroy] was just being focused, I guess. It's not me, though,' DeChambeau added when asked about the Augusta atmosphere, which he described as 'electric.'
The two-time US Open champion closed with a three-over 75 on Sunday to follow three straight rounds in the 60s. After he holed a putt from about 40 feet from off the green on the par-4 18th on Saturday, he entered the final round in prime position to break McIlroy's heart - like he did last June.
And he appeared set to do so, after leapfrogging McIlroy for the lead two holes into the round but ultimately he couldn't keep pace.
DeChambeau's first mistake came at the par-4 third where three-putted from 23 feet, and hours later, he still wasn't sure how he did it.
A poor iron shot that missed long and left on the par-3 fourth hole led to another bogey. Then came another shot that curved way too much on the par-4 11th and found the pond short of the green for a double bogey.
'I just tried to hit a draw in there and it started five degrees left and I'm like, `You've got to be kidding me,´' DeChambeau said. 'Then I did the same thing on 17 out of the pine straw. Just went dead left on me. Got to get better.'
