Bryson DeChambeau knew what was at stake heading into Masters Sunday.
After dropping a bomb of a putt for birdie on 18 on Saturday evening, DeChambeau electrified the crowd, climbing to within two shots of Rory McIlroy’s lead.
“It’ll be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau said.
So were legions of golf fans.
“If you take out Tiger, which is a big, big if, this feels like the biggest day of professional golf that I’ve ever been around,” GOLF senior writer Dylan Dethier said ahead of the final pairing. “Rory versus Bryson, two biggest stars in the game. I mean, the biggest ‘what if’ in professional golf right now is, can Rory McIlroy win a Masters?
“Now he’s up by 2, going to Sunday, and arguably the most electric player in the game is the guy in his group who, by the way, beat him in heartbreaking fashion less than a year ago.”
Masters Sunday was truly an afternoon unlike any other: excruciating, exhilarating, incredible. McIlroy won a green jacket in a playoff. His emotional outpouring on the green will be replayed for the rest of his career.
GOLF’s on-site crew got a front-row seat to all the Sunday action. How can you describe what transpired?
“The word is magic,” said GOLF news and features editor James Colgan. “This is why we love sports. Moments like this are why we do this job, it’s why we show up to these tournaments.”
“The biggest moment to me that stuck out — I was kind of standing by the end of his walk to scoring, and when he came around the corner, he was like crying like I have never seen anyone cry,” Dethier said. “And it was like everyone in the crowd just started bawling. It was a surreal scene, and I think everyone on property had been like, through the emotional wringer all day and it just culminated in this crazy moment.”
Now that McIlroy has completed the career grand slam at last, what’s next? It just so happens that the year’s next major, the PGA Championship, will be played at Quail Hollow — a venue where McIlroy has won four times.
“You guys know what’s next?” asked Dethier. “And not just in the golf season but on Seen & Heard: Rory’s 6th major championship victory at Quail Hollow.
“I mean, this one should be easy.”
To check out the GOLF crew’s final installment of Seen & Heard from the Masters, check out the video below. And make sure to tune in for more Seen & Heard content at next month’s PGA Championship.
“Seen and Heard at Augusta” is presented by Delta, a Tournament Partner of the Masters. Learn more here.
