Sports Desk

Rory McIlroy had a clear explanation for Bryson DeChambeau on Wednesday regarding the lack of conversation between them during their final-round pairing at the Masters: it wasn’t personal—it was just part of the competition.

DeChambeau, who edged out McIlroy by one stroke at Pinehurst No. 2 last summer with a clutch bunker save on the final hole, briefly held the lead at the Masters on Sunday after two holes. However, his game unraveled, and he finished with a 75, tying for fifth place.

“He wouldn't talk to me,” DeChambeau said, hinting at what sounded like a snub. Though it's common for there to be minimal small talk in high-stakes final pairings, his remark suggested there may have been tension.

McIlroy, however, clarified his mindset. “I don’t know what he expected,” he said. “We’re out there trying to win the Masters. I wasn’t going to focus on being his buddy. Everyone has their own way of handling pressure. I was locked in on what I needed to do. It wasn’t anything personal—just what I felt was necessary to get the best out of myself.”

That focus ultimately paid off, as McIlroy claimed victory in a playoff, securing both the green jacket and the elusive career Grand Slam.

Meanwhile, on the caddie front…
Sepp Straka, who has already earned two PGA Tour wins this year, has had a bit of a caddie carousel over the past two weeks.

At the Truist Championship held at Philadelphia Cricket Club, Straka relied on close friend Drew Mathers to carry his bag, filling in for his regular caddie, Duane “Dewey” Bock. Bock is sidelined with a back injury that will also keep him out of action for the upcoming PGA Championship.

Next in line is someone who will look strangely familiar — his twin brother, Sam.

“It was already planned,” Straka said. “Dewey's daughter is graduating college on Friday, I believe. So my brother was already going to caddie Friday, Saturday. So it wasn’t a huge change of plans. We just told him he’s going to be going the whole week instead.”

Sam Straka also played at Georgia and was considered the better of the Austrian twins at one point. He also caddied for his brother at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sepp Straka said Bock had an MRI and is expected to be back to work at the next tournament.

Straka won the Truist Championship to go along with The American Express in January. The latest victory sent him to a career-best No. 9 in the world ranking.

PGA champions dinner

The PGA Championship has a dinner for past champions on Tuesday night, and this one had stronger attendance than most with 17 champions.

hat included Dave Stockton, with the most history. His first PGA title was in 1976 at Congressional at 1-over 281, making him the last PGA champion to win with a score over par.

As usual, there were stories. Rich Beem, the 2002 winner at Hazeltine, was amazed to hear from Larry Nelson, a two-time PGA champion. Nelson won in Atlanta in 1981, and he beat Lanny Wadkins in a playoff in 1987 at PGA National.

“He said he won with four sets of irons — he didn't have the same set for the rounds,” Beem said. “And before the final round, he was on the putting green with two putters.”

A fascinating story, but maybe not for Wadkins, who also was at the dinner. Wadkins won the first sudden-death playoff in major championship history in 1977 at Pebble Beach.

The only two players in the field at Quail Hollow who were not at the dinner were Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka.

Viktor Hovland almost skipped the 2024 PGA

Viktor Hovland was so unhappy with his swing last year that he considered withdrawing ahead of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

He wound up finishing third.

“I almost didn’t play last year, and I almost won the tournament,” said Hovland, who shot a pair of 66s on the weekend and finished three shots behind. “So it’s like I look at that as a huge win. I almost won a major championship without feeling good about my game at all. So I don’t look at that as, like, man, I’m lacking a bunch of stuff.”

Hovland had some similar struggles with his swing earlier this year and missed the cut in three straight tournaments, only to bounce back and win the Valspar Championship in late March.

Since then he’s made the cut three more times, his best finish a tie for 13th place at the RBC Heritage. And while the world’s 11th-ranked player still isn’t particularly thrilled with his swing, he’s in a better headspace entering this year’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

“If I can get the ball consistently in the fairway off the tee, even though I don’t feel amazing, my iron play has been pretty solid this year,” Hovland said. “So I can still get the ball in the hole.