Rory McIlroy playing with new freedom after Masters win, says there’s a reason he didn’t talk to Bryson deChambeau during Augusta battle

Rory McIlroy won the Masters by being so determined he didn’t talk to his playing partner, and his victory could have positive implications for his Australian visit.

A day after committing to the next two Australian Opens, Rory McIlroy says he’s playing with “house money” after completing the career grand slam and that freedom could produce something special.

McIlroy, the world No.2 will start the PGA Championship at a soggy Quail Hollow no longer “burdened” by targets after his Masters success.

Instead, he’s now freed up to look to play “my best golf” and tick off personal goals, including adding another Australian Open title to his resume after inking a deal to play in 2025 at Royal Melbourne and 2026 at Kingston Heath, declaring his 2013 win was “one of the highlights of my career.”

“Look, I have achieved everything that I’ve wanted – I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in the game,” he said.

“I dreamt as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I’ve done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.

Rory McIlroy is unburdened after his Masters win. Picture: AP Photo/Matt York

“I feel like I sort of burdened myself with the career grand slam stuff, and I want to enjoy this.

“I want to enjoy what I’ve achieved, and I want to enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career, and I don’t want to burden myself by numbers or statistics. I just want to go and try to play the best golf I can.”

In a video message from Quail Hollow, McIlroy, who defeated Adam Scott at Royal Sydney in 2013 to win the Stonehaven Cup, reiterated his excitement about heading to Melbourne.

“I cannot wait to come back down to Australia,” he said.

“I’ve had so many great times in Australia over the years and being a past champion ... winning the Stonehaven Cup was one of the highlights of my career.

“It’s been 11 years so can’t wait to get down there.”

To Melbourne, from Rory McIlroy ✉️

pic.twitter.com/X9YKvnqtLc

— Golf Australia ⛳️ (@GolfAust) May 15, 2025

Despite ticking all his career boxes, McIlroy said his competitive fire had not been diminished. He could just now approach his career in a different way in pursuit of more wins.

“I’m just the same person. I turn up and try to have the same attitude and the same approach to each and every tournament and try to get the best out of myself. Some weeks that results in wins, and some weeks it doesn’t,” he said.

“As long as I approach every week that way, all I can do is go out there and try to play the golf that I know that I’m capable of. As I said, some weeks someone just plays better than you, and other weeks it’s your time.

Scottie Scheffler puts the green jacket on Rory McIlroy. Picture:y Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

“I’ve played over 400 events in my career. I’ve played a lot of major championships. I know how these things go, and you’ve just got to go out there and play.”

Under questioning in North Carolina, McIlroy was asked about brushing playing partner Bryson deChambeau in the final round at Augusta after the LIV star revealed the Masters champ didn’t talk to him for the entire round.

“I don’t know what he was expecting. We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there,” McIlroy said.

“Look, everyone approaches the game different ways. I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That’s really all that it was.

“It wasn’t anything against him … it’s just I felt that’s what I needed to do to try to get the best out of myself that day.”