'Fierce competitor' Rory McIlroy's classy gesture to Bryson DeChambeau after US Open defeat

Rory McIlroy extended his congratulations to Bryson DeChambeau this Monday after their first encounter since the US Open showdown at Royal Troon. Despite a heart-wrenching finish at Pinehurst No. 2, where McIlroy lost a two-shot lead with just five holes remaining to DeChambeau, the Northern Irishman was quick to acknowledge DeChambeau's victory, which marked the American's second major title after a nail-biting final round.

The defeat was a bitter pill for McIlroy , who left the Pinehurst site moments after DeChambeau's winning putt and chose not to attend his post-championship press conference. After taking some time off following his near-miss at the Scottish Open, McIlroy returned to action in preparation for The Open Championship.

It was five weeks after their intense battle at the US Open that McIlroy and DeChambeau finally met again upon arriving at Troon. DeChambeau shared details of their conversation with the press, saying: "I said hello to [McIlroy] yesterday, and we talked. He said congrats. Everything is great there," reports the Mirror .

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As they gear up for another major competition this week, DeChambeau added, "He is 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."

DeChambeau is a man in form on the major stage, finishing tied-sixth at the Masters and second at the PGA Championship before winning in North Carolina. "He has now arrived in Ayrshire on the hunt for his first-ever Claret Jug. [I am] very confident, obviously," he claimed.

"It all depends if I'm striking it well. I can come in here with the most confidence, obviously, off of a major championship win. Played decent last week, as well.

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"I can continue to drive the ball as well as I have and ball strike my irons the way I know I can and putt the way I know I can. If I do those three things well, even four things with chipping and bunker play and on the greens, I will give myself a chance. I know how to get the job done."

"It's just a matter of if I'm as consistent as I was at the US Open last weekend and a few other venues as well. If I can play the golf that I have been, I think I'll give myself a great chance."

DeChambeau's best finish at an Open came in 2022, where he finished in a tie for eighth at St Andrews.

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