We all remember what happened in June this year? Right? If you don’t, here’s a quick recap. Earlier in June this year, Bryson DeChambeau defeated Rory McIlroy to take home the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst. This meant two things. First, McIlroy’s major drought would continue, and DeChambeau became a 2x US Open winner.

via Imago

In the final round, the LIV golfer defeated PGA Tour pro by one stroke. Yes, just one stroke. Interestingly, the Northern Irishman was in the lead on the back nine on Sunday. However, he missed a 2.5-footer for par on No. 16 and a 4-footer for par on the final hole which would have forced a playoff. He ultimately finished as runner-up.

It was perhaps the most heartbreaking defeat of Rory McIlroy’s career, so he said. Following the loss, McIlroy was visibly upset and quickly left the course without speaking to the media. However, the tables might finally turn. How so? Well, Rory McIlroy has his chance for redemption in Vegas. All thanks to The Showdown!

The made-for-TV match is all set to begin in just a few hours, and the duo will go against each other. But the heat is still there, as during the practice round on Monday, they engaged in a small, but rather savage trash talk. As they perfected their swing, Rory McIlroy said, “I’d like to get Bryson back for what he did to me at the U.S. Open.” Showcasing how his mistake caused the most excruciating defeat of his career, DeChambeau wittily replied, “Well, to be fair, you kind of did it to yourself.”

The crown erupted in laughter, including Brooks Koepka, soaking in what had just happened. Noticing how impeccable his wit has been, DeChambeau smilingly gestured “Sorry Sorry” with his hands. Even the Irish golfer was too stunned to speak as he said, “I don’t know where to go from there.” We also don’t Rory, we also don’t!

Well, as it turns out, this time the golf world failed to pick a side. While the majority of the votes are for Bryson DeChambeau, a few people are rooting for McIlroy too. A comment even had a poll wondering who would win if there was a playoff. Surprisingly, Rory McIlroy only received 28.7% of the votes, and the remaining 71.3% of the votes were for DeChambeau.

The golf world was left in splits

When it comes to the greatest influencer in the world of men’s golf, it is undoubtedly Bryson DeChambeau at the moment. Boasting a whopping 1.64 million subscribers on YouTube, he not only plays golf on the courses but also comes up with unique and fun challenges that everyone enjoys watching. Take the Break 50, or the Ace from the House Challenge. It all ended up receiving so much love. Taking to this, one of them said, “Golf is supposed to be entertaining, and Bryson is on top of that. How can you not love this guy?”

The last time Rory McIlroy won a major championship was back in 2014 at the PGA Championship. He defeated Phil Mickelson by a close one stroke, with an exceptional eagle on the tenth hole in the final round. However, after ten years, coming this close to getting the prestigious title and losing it by a thin line is indeed weary. Taking to this, one of them wrote, “Tough to come back from that.”

The Northern Irishman might not have a major victory on his belt for a long time, but his game sure is still on point. The World No. 3 golfer fared well through the 2024 season. He appeared in nineteen events and missed the cut only in one of them. Not just that. He grabbed two wins and seven top-10 finishes. Taking to his exceptional gameplay, one of them wrote, “How Rory never got to ten majors is a wonder…”

However, one of them turned out to be completely against McIlroy for some reason. They commented, “I hope Bryson beats him so bad that Rory considers giving up the game entirely.”

In the 2024 season, two players managed to take away the spotlight entirely. While Scottie Scheffler broke several records and won seven titles this season, which included a Masters win. He also bagged the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. On the other hand, Xander Schauffele also took the spotlight. This was because he only had two victories this year. And well, both of them were majors. This is a rare feat indeed. Ahead of the Tour Championship, no player could defeat Scottie Scheffler except for the 31-year-old. Taking to this, one of them commented, “Would be more competitive if it were Scottie and Xander. Bryson and Brooks take this”

While another, sharing their excitement, simply wrote, “👀  OOF 😂😂😂  This is going to be fun!  🏌️‍♂️” It sure will be, and we cannot wait! Are you excited for the much-awaited tournament to begin? Which league do you think will walk away with the trophy? Stay tuned to find out in just a few hours!