Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau’s Silent Rivalry Heats Up Ahead of U.S. Open
The tension between Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau appears to be growing with every tournament. During the Masters, McIlroy made it clear that he wasn’t interested in bonding with DeChambeau on the course, stating, “I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there.” This response came after DeChambeau pointed out that McIlroy didn’t speak to him throughout their round. McIlroy justified his silence by saying he was focused entirely on winning and had no time for distractions, adding, “I just have to stay in my own little world.”
DeChambeau Flaunts New Irons
Taking things further, DeChambeau is now proudly showing off his new equipment—a move some interpret as a subtle challenge to McIlroy. At LIV Golf Virginia, he highlighted the potential of his LA Golf Proto irons, which feature single-length shafts and innovative “bulge and roll” technology aimed at reducing side spin and improving consistency. He admitted the irons still have room for optimization, but they’re already delivering promising results.
However, DeChambeau did express disappointment with his driver performance, calling it subpar by his standards. He currently uses the Krank Golf Formula Fire Pro LD driver and plans to work on his driver game ahead of the next tournament.
McIlroy’s Driver Dilemma
McIlroy is also battling issues with his driver. After switching to a new 44-inch club, he struggled badly at the Canadian Open—hitting just 13 of 28 fairways and recording a quadruple-bogey eight on the fifth hole. Aware of the challenge that awaits at Oakmont, he acknowledged that driving accuracy will be crucial, stating, “What you need to do more than anything else there is hit fairways.” Over the weekend, he plans to test multiple drivers to regain control off the tee.
His concerns are compounded by the recent controversy surrounding his driver, which was reportedly deemed non-conforming during the second major of the year.
USGA on Driver Testing Ahead of Oakmont
As the U.S. Open approaches, the USGA has confirmed that around one-third of the field will undergo driver testing at Oakmont. Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s chief governance officer, reassured players and fans that the issue of illegal drivers is minimal. The CT (characteristic time) limit for spring-like effect is 239 microseconds, with a tolerance up to 257. Pagel emphasized that even drivers that slightly exceed this range aren’t providing unfair advantages.
Pagel also underscored the sport’s reputation for integrity, stating, “Golfers want to play by the rules and they want to play with conforming equipment.” While some in the public may assume otherwise when testing results leak, the USGA insists these deviations are minor and don’t significantly affect performance.
The Bigger Picture: Gear vs. Experience
With both McIlroy and DeChambeau working through their own equipment challenges, the question remains: will Bryson’s cutting-edge gear be enough to outshine Rory’s experience and mental discipline? Or is the hype around his new clubs merely a distraction from McIlroy’s greater long-term consistency?
As Oakmont draws near, the spotlight will be firmly on this modern golf rivalry—two very different approaches to the game clashing on one of the sport’s toughest stages.