Golf legend Padraig Harrington has openly criticized American golfer Bryson DeChambeau for what he called one of the “most bizarre” moments he has ever seen in golf. The incident happened during the final round of the Masters, where Rory McIlroy made history by winning his fifth major title and completing the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy’s thrilling win at Augusta National ended his 11-year wait for another major championship, putting him in the elite group of just six players to achieve the career Grand Slam, alongside greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. He defeated Justin Rose in a dramatic finish but may lose nearly half of his £3.2 million prize money due to taxes and other deductions.
While McIlroy celebrated, DeChambeau made headlines for a very different reason. Harrington, speaking on RTE Radio 1, questioned DeChambeau’s unusual decision-making during the crucial third hole of the final round. DeChambeau, known for his long drives, had a one-shot lead and the chance to go for the green, but instead, he played it safe, laid up, and ended up making a bogey. Meanwhile, McIlroy attacked the hole, landed near the green, and made a birdie, swinging the momentum in his favour.
Harrington said, “It was the most bizarre change of personality I’ve ever seen in the game of golf right there in that moment… It was beyond bizarre what he did off the tee.”
He added that DeChambeau, who built his career around powerful, aggressive play, backed down when it mattered most. “He had a chance to burst one down there, and he just gave all the momentum back to Rory.”
Despite his strong performance earlier in the tournament, DeChambeau’s strategy on that hole raised eyebrows and criticism, with Harrington saying it didn’t match the bold, risk-taking style fans have come to expect from him.
The Masters may be over, but the debates around decisions on the green, especially DeChambeau’s, are still echoing in the golf world.
