Augusta, Ga. — Sunday’s marquee duel at the Masters between Bryson Deccanbeau and Rory McIlroy began with fireworks but ended in silence.
Deccanbo kicked out McIlroy twice in the final round on Sunday, and even it out after the first hole McIlroy made a double bogey. Deccanbeau took a one-shot lead on the second hole after making a birdie.
Four innings later, McIlroy was led by three shots, and Deccanbo was not approaching all day on a scoreboard or a joke between the two rivals. When asked how his partner was on the course, Deccanbeau replied, “I don’t know. You didn’t talk to me all day.”
He was asked if he was about to start a conversation.
“He wouldn’t talk to me,” Deccanbo said. “He was just like that — I think he was just focused. But that’s not me.”
That’s the least of the concerns of Deccanbeau.
He bogeyed the third and fourth holes, making the first double bogey of the week on the 11th, bogeyed the 17th, and finished with 75, four shots from McIlroy and Justin Rose, winning the first hole of the playoffs.
DeChambeau entered the day he was tied up to the 43rd in the Greens due to restrictions and hit 11 on Sunday. On Saturday, he hit just nine but finished with just 25 putts. It took 32 on Sunday.
Deccanbeau said he didn’t understand how solid and fast the green has been since Saturday, and played the third hole as he had hoped, but his putt said he had passed the cup nine feet. He chalked it up here as a learning experience for future tests.
“I’ve never seen a putt faster than that,” he said. “These greens have become so fast. Agriculturalists at Augusta National and Masters know how to play the full tricks for you.”
Despite the lack of warmth on the course between the two candidates, Deccanbeau said it could be related to McIlroy’s ups and downs, especially when he chased the first master, when the third shot bounced into the water on the 13th of the par-5.
“I wanted to cry for him,” Deccanbeau said. “I must have been, as an expert, just knowing you hit it in the middle of the green and not believing that he went for it or burned it.
Deccanbeau says he “didn’t dial in” to the iron and says he will continue to hit his heels and continue to work on finding the right fit.
“We’re going to see new equipment right away, and this will allow us to optimize the game to even bigger levels.” “In fact, we’re very excited about that.”
Deccanbo said he’s struggling but found his way to the final group on Sunday and gained confidence from finishing with his fifth tie at the Masters.
“I’ve been doing a lot of good things this week,” he said. “I’m excited for the rest of my life.”