Rory McIlroy reaction to Masters collapse speaks volumes after Bryson DeChambeau comments

The Masters is wide open with Hideki Matsuyama leading the way after the first round but Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy will also be in the mix come Sunday

After their first rounds at the Masters, both Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy walked away feeling less than pleased, but one more visibly frustrated than the other.

DeChambeau finished with a 3-under 69, a score somewhat soured by a dropped shot on the 17th hole. Meanwhile, McIlroy suffered a collapse on the 15th and then a double-bogey on the 17th, a stark contrast to his promising 4-under after the 14th. Instead of moving to 5-under on the 16th tee, his score went in the opposite direction.

DeChambeau’s troubles began with a driver that hooked slightly, landing him in trouble on the 17th. This led to a succession of shots, including a punched out second, a wedge to the back of the green, and a delicate chip that almost made it into the hole but ultimately resulted in a bogey.

Recognizing his driver as the source of his difficulties, DeChambeau headed to the practice range after his round, determined to rectify the issue. His perseverance at the range extended past 8 p.m, a testament to his dedicated work ethic and eagerness to correct the flaw in his game that cost him towards the end of the round.

Looking back on his day, DeChambeau commented: “Yeah, it’s a great start. Any time you’re under par at the Masters, it’s an honor to be there, give myself a good chance going into the weekend. Tomorrow is going to be another great test, and hopefully I can set myself up on Saturday and give myself a chance on Sunday.”

The American openly acknowledged his swing issues, pinpointing his mistakes without hesitation. “I missed it in the right spot besides 17,” he noted.

“That was my big real miss of the day. Missed it kind of where I wanted to around the golf course. Just didn’t capitalize on a couple of holes, No. 8 being one of them.