Rory versus Bryson? Who ya got?

Today’s Masters golf tournament cannot get any better than the last group with the two most popular golfers today in Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. And if today’s intrigued isn’t enough, it’s the 39th anniversary of the year Jack Nicklaus won his last masters in perhaps the most unbelievable and incredible fashion! (Three hours of pure bliss!)

 

We haven’t had this type of anticipation, one can argue, since the 2005 Doral with Tiger and Phil at their best in the last group together and Tiger squeezing out a one stroke victory in an amazing 18 holes of golf. Today? Can be bigger and more glorious!

 

Bryson

 

Bryson’s stint with the LIV tour has given him more time to work on his swing and on his YouTube channel. Heading into the Masters, Bryson wasn’t happy with his putting stroke. One alteration a week before this week has made all the difference. “I just left the face swing more open [on the backstroke].”

 

Bryson’s history of the Masters wasn’t great until last year’s sixth place finish. In fact this year was the first year where he posted under 70’s rounds in back to back days at Augusta. He has won on the LIV tour twice, both in 2023. He won the US Open in 2020 and last year played at Pinehurst. But his resume was missing this tournament in Georgia.

The former SMU golfer would love to have the green jacket placed on his broad shoulders, but being 2 strokes behind, he has his work set out. The man he’s trying to catch? LIV’s nemesis, Rory McIlroy.

 

Rory

 

There was a time when Phil Mickelson was the most celebrated golfer to never win a major tournament. He was the fans choice when they weren’t cheering for Tiger. With Rory staying with PGA Tour and not going into the LIV tour, millions of fans flocked to the Irishman’s camp.

 

Once the face of the Tour against LIV, Rory backed off and has changed his persona. His marital problems popped up during this past year and the stress of being the one outspoken critic of LIV wore on him. And some see him as the cold, heartless champion.

 

But he has a chance to do something great. If he wins today, he will have completed his personal Grand Slam of golf, winning the PGA, Open Championship (British Open), US Open and finally the Masters. And to do so on the anniversary of Jack’s last major win would be possibly the story of the year so far for golf.

But working on his relationship with his wife and family might have given him a new perspective on handling pressure. For all his successes, there have been incredible failures. (See 2022 Open Championship and 2023 US Open.) And the biggest was last year’s US Open where he had two putts less than four feet that might have helped him defeat Bryson but missed them both!

 

Bryson v Rory

So here we have the chance to see something that rarely happens in golf: the two best players for the week playing in the last group together. I picked Bryson to win early this week with my sons. But seeing Rory here now, I really hope he can wear a green jacket. He has carried so much of the fans’ frustration with golf for two years now. It’s time the golf God’s reward him for that!

 

Enjoy!