Scottie Scheffler addresses growing rivalry between Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau after The Open

The Open Championship has just wrapped up its 2026 major championship season, and somehow Ryan Fox, one of the most unlikely winners in recent memory, is out of the story.

In its place? Bryson DeChambeau once again. DeChambeau was a lightning rod for criticism ahead of The Open, with analysts Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee having harsh words for his approach. Faldo said he lacked the “strategy” needed to succeed in links golf, hitting the driver as best he could and hoping for the best rather than trying to “deliver” it into the fairway.

Chamblee had a broader complaint: He believes DeChambeau is spending more time chasing YouTube golf star Grant Horvat than trying to beat the world’s best Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. So how did Bryson react? In the most Bryson way possible.

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He immediately put himself into contention with a strong score of 3-under 67 in the first round. He later told the media that he had been very “strategic” while playing Royal Birkdale, an apparent response to Faldo. But the second round was where he really came into the spotlight.

After the round was completed, looking for a 4-under 66, the rules officials brought DeChambeau back to the fifth hole, where they gave him a two-stroke penalty for improving the area around his back putt. DeChambeau was furious and threatened to withdraw from the tournament, apparently in protest.

Some players, like Xander Schauffele, came to his defense. Scottie Scheffler was also adamant that the 32-year-old is not a “cheat” person.

A player who doesn’t come to his defense? Rory McIlroy. McIlroy made it clear in his post-round comments that he did not care about DeChambeau and believed he deserved the penalty.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his tee shot on the 7th hole during the third day of the British Open Golf championship at Royal Birkdale golf club in Southport, England, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Peter Morrison/AP)

“I’m not going to stand here and act like I’m defending Bryson,” he told reporters during the tournament. “I don’t really like him. I think a lot of it is for performance. I think a lot of it is for attention.

“I didn’t think it was a great look, holding the tournament hostage like that and having all of us (players, volunteers, everyone) waiting for it to go away,” McIlroy said.

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“There is no doubt that he has improved his backline,” he added. “Again, whether it was careless or intentional, I don’t think it matters. I hope it was carelessness, but I think the two-shot penalty was absolutely justified.”

This was the latest entry into the burgeoning rivalry between two big names and big personalities in professional golf. They are on opposing sides in the Ryder Cup wars. DeChambeau was one of the first and biggest stars to go to LIV Golf; McIlroy, on the other hand, has become something of a player spokesman defending the PGA Tour. McIlroy has never played a full 18-hole match on YouTube; DeChambeau, on the other hand, has built his channel into a giant by filming with President Donald Trump and many others.

Scheffler was asked ahead of this week’s 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Minnesota if he believes competition is good for golf, and he gave a typically sharp response.

“I think golf is different from most other sports because my biggest competition during the week and on the weekend is the golf course we play on,” he told the media. “I mean, I would never stop anyone from doing something in golf. When I played basketball, I felt like there’s always going to be competition in basketball because you’re going to be playing defense against one person and it’s a lot more personal in a way because I’m actively trying to stop…like if you and I were to go out and play one-on-one, it would become a competition because I’m actively trying to stop what you’re doing.”

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“But in golf, we’re always competing with ourselves on the golf course. I’ve never been a big fan of personal attacks. I don’t think competition is a big thing in golf because, like I said, my biggest competition week in and week out is on the golf course.”

There have been a few instances where McIlroy and DeChambeau have faced off in a tournament, but they have never gone head-to-head in the Ryder Cup. Much of the rivalry seems to be McIlroy disliking Bryson, either because of his personality or going to LIV, and DeChambeau agrees because, in his words, “rivalries are good for golf.”

(Left) Rory McIlroy watches from the ninth tee during the second round of the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. July 17, 2026. (Right) Bryson DeChambeau looks on from the first green during the first round of the US Open golf tournament on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images; Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

That’s what makes the rivalry so fascinating. This isn’t competitive, it’s personal. Scheffler and McIlroy, for example, faced each other in the Ryder Cups but there seems to be only mutual respect between the two.

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But one thing is for sure: 2027 will be a fascinating season in the world of golf. Between the potential collapse of LIV Golf, the (mostly) iconic venues that host major championships, and another Ryder Cup where they are both guaranteed picks, there will be plenty of match opportunities for Rory and Bryson, this time in Europe.