Rory McIlroy's relationship with Bryson DeChambeau has never been warm, and it boiled over again at Royal Birkdale last week.

Now Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, the man who managed McIlroy through the first four years of his professional career, has publicly sided with DeChambeau, calling his old client's comments unnecessary.

“I don’t think the tee time delay is what drove Rory to be like he was,” Chandler said in an interview with BetVictor Online Casino.

“Rory is Rory. Rory likes to give his opinion and he messed up because saying he wasn’t fond of Bryson was unnecessary.”

It all started on Friday at the 154th Open Championship. DeChambeau was hit with a two-shot penalty for inadvertently improving his lie in the thick rough at the par-4 5th.

He didn't take it well. DeChambeau walked back out to the scene of the incident with a rules official, argued his case for hours, and reportedly threatened to withdraw from the tournament.

The fallout was a mess for everyone else in the field. Saturday's tee times weren't released until close to 11 p.m. It left players, caddies and volunteers waiting around Southport with no idea when they'd be teeing off.

McIlroy, fresh off his third round, was asked about it, and he admitted he wasn't going to defend DeChambeau. He said much of his conduct was performative and attention-seeking, publicly calling out that he 'wasn't fond' of DeChambeau and his behavior.

Still, Chandler did not pretend the tension was made up

Chandler acknowledged DeChambeau clearly gets under McIlroy's skin and that the pair aren't friendly from the very first.

 “Bryson obviously rubs Rory up the wrong way. They’re not mates and they’ve had a couple of head to heads. These things happen in all sports but I think it’s a good thing,” Chandler added in the same interview with BetVictor Online Casino.

This was not the first time McIlroy and DeChambeau have crossed paths at the biggest moments.

At the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, DeChambeau closed with a bunker shot for the ages on the 72nd hole to beat McIlroy by a single stroke. McIlroy left the course without congratulating DeChambeau in person.

Their paths crossed again in the final round of the 2025 Masters, with DeChambeau grouped alongside McIlroy as his closest challenger. DeChambeau briefly took a share of the lead early before his round unraveled.

On the 9th tee during the final round, McIlroy and DeChambeau clashed over who should putt first for birdie. Both of them believed their ball was closer to the hole and wanted to putt first to apply pressure.

DeChambeau suggested throwing a tee up to decide who would go first. But McIlroy rejected the idea, stating it was the final round of the Masters and not a casual game.

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Written by

Md Saife Fida