Rory McIlroy's evolving stance on 'fierce competitor' Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf ahead of PGA showdown

Golf's heavy-hitters Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler from the PGA Tour are set to join forces against LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in a headlining exhibition match this December.

This event stirs up fresh discussions as peace talks between PGA and LIV Golf, stagnant since June 2023, might see new life.

Amidst golf's internal battle, which is about more than just tour supremacy, we delve into the various narratives at play , including McIlroy's dynamic stance on the divide, and his evolving dynamics with DeChambeau, among others.

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Coming to De DeChambeau's defence

In a display of unexpected camaraderie, McIlroy previously stood up for DeChambeau during the latter period of intense public scrutiny in 2021. As spectators jeering spurred the PGA Tour to intervene by threatening to eject unruly fans, McIlroy vocalized his empathy.

"I certainly feel some sympathy for him because I certainly don't think that you should be ostracised or criticized for being different. I think we have all known from the start that Bryson is different and he is not going to conform to the way people want him to be. He is his own person. He thinks his own thoughts and everyone has a right to do that.

"There are certainly things that he has done in the past that have brought some of this stuff on himself. But at the same time I think he has been getting a pretty rough go of it of late, and it's actually pretty sad to see because he, deep down, I think, is a nice person. All he wants to do is try to be the best golfer he can be. And it just seems like every week something else happens and I would say it's pretty tough to be Bryson DeChambeau right now."

Swing inspiration

McIlroy, 35, confessed to trying to mimic DeChambeau's unique swing after his 2020 US Open victory - a move that didn't work out well for him. Consequently, he missed the cut at the 2021 Players Championship, reports the Mirror .

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't anything to do with what Bryson did at the US Open," he admitted. "I think a lot of people saw that and were like, 'If this is the way they're going to set golf courses up in the future, it helps. It really helps.

"I thought being able to get some more speed is a good thing, and maybe to the detriment of my swing, I got there. But I just need to maybe rein it back in a little bit."

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DeChambeau, 30, was one of the first players to switch to LIV upon their launch in 2022, a stark contrast to McIlroy who staunchly defended the PGA. Although he never targeted any specific player, he made several biting remarks in general.

"I think at this stage, if you go over and play on a different tour, then go over and play on a different tour," McIlroy stated in July 2022. "You're sort of basically leaving all your peers behind to go make more money, which is fine.

"But just go over there. Don't try and come back and play over here again. This whole having your cake and eating it type thing is what the resentment [stems from] within the [PGA and DP World Tour] membership."

Changing LIV stance

McIlroy's stance has softened considerably since then, particularly after the PGA reversed its position to open discussions with LIV. He has hinted that he was perhaps too critical of those who made the switch.

Earlier this year, while appearing on the Stick to Football podcast, he admitted: "I think at this point, I was maybe a little judgemental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start. I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods' position.

"I can't judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgemental at the start. I wouldn't say I've lost the fight against LIV, but I've just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now. At the end of the day, we're professional golfers and we play to make a living and make money, so I understand it."

US Open fallout.

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The rivalry between McIlroy and DeChambeau hit an intense peak at this year's US Open, with McIlroy ending up as runner-up yet again. Despite his disappointment, McIlroy showed true sportsmanship by offering congratulations at the following Open, prompting DeChambeau to share, "I said hello to him yesterday, and we talked. He said congrats. So everything's great there.

"He's a fierce competitor. I know he's going to give the fans, give everybody as much as he can this week. I'm going to be doing the same. We're going to be competing. Hopefully, it will be another good battle."

Despite winning against him, DeChambeau has publicly respected McIlroy's game, remarking: "He'll win multiple more major championships, there's no doubt. I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow."

DeChambeau, discussing the competitive spirit of their game, admitted to feeling pressure when McIlroy was advancing on the leaderboard: "I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, 'Uh-oh, uh-oh.' But luckily things went my way today."

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