Rory and Bryson chase Masters glory by way of completely different paths

DeChambeau shot a four-under-par 68 to get to inside one shot of the 36-hole chief Justin Rose (8-under), whereas McIlroy made up for his heart-breaking end on Thursday with a bogey-free Friday outing of six-under par 66 to dramatically transfer to tied third with Canada’s Corey Conners at 6-under.

The paths of the 2 very fashionable golfers had crossed final yr as nicely when DeChambeau nicked the US Open trophy from underneath McIlroy’s nostril with a shocking bunker shot on the ultimate gap. Moments earlier, the Northern Irish world No.2 had missed a brief putt that might have given him an opportunity for a playoff with the LIV Golf star.

DeChambeau began his 2025 with a visit to Gurugram for the Worldwide Sequence India. The US participant completed second on the DLF Golf & Nation Membership and added hundreds to his ever-growing fan membership together with his swashbuckling type of golf and a newfound experience in connecting with individuals. McIlroy is predicted to tee off in a brand new DP World Tour occasion to be performed on the Delhi Golf Membership course in October for a yet-to-be-announced match.

As each proceed their quest so as to add the Masters Inexperienced Jacket to their main wins (McIlroy 4, DeChambeau 2), they may not have had a extra completely different journey to the place they reached the leaderboard on the midway stage.

On Thursday, DeChambeau, 29, wasn’t completely happy together with his iron play regardless of a 69, after a bogey on the seventeenth gap. McIlroy, after reaching four-under by 14, made double bogeys on the fifteenth and seventeenth to drop to even par.

The 2 gamers then reacted in diametrically contrasting vogue.

DeChambeau spent greater than two hours within the driving vary and was the final man to get off it as he bashed ball after ball to get his irons dialled in.

“It was simply my iron play… making an attempt to get my inventory attract there. Felt like I used to be leaving the face open a little bit bit. So labored on some sequencing stuff, some face angle stuff, and really discovered the golf swing extra on the golf course (through the second spherical),” stated DeChambeau, who, as anticipated, led the sector in driving distance at 331.6 yards (McIlroy was second amongst those that made the minimize, at 317.2 yards).

The double bogey on the fifteenth was a basic instance of what the Alister MacKenzie-designed course can do to even the perfect names within the sport. When McIlroy made the primary chip from over the inexperienced into the water, he may have performed his fifth shot from the identical spot and doubtless benefited immensely by having the information of his earlier shot.

As a substitute, the Northern Irishman admitted to having a brain-fade second. He forgot he may have taken a drop on the identical spot. He walked to the drop zone as an alternative, from the place he had a totally completely different angle and topography to determine.

After his 66, McIlroy stated he was decided to not let two unhealthy holes develop into the story of his week. Not like DeChambeau, he left the golf course as quickly as he may, looking for the consolation of his household.

“As soon as I left the property final evening, I simply type of tried to depart what had occurred right here,” he stated. “I rushed out to get house to see Poppy (his daughter) earlier than she went to mattress.

“I suppose that’s one thing that I didn’t have a number of years in the past… to have the ability to get house and take my thoughts off the golf a little bit bit. I really feel like I simply did a superb job of resetting.”