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Rory McIlroy Gave Cameron Young the ‘Bryson DeChambeau Treatment’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Abdul Bari Khan | Last updated Apr 13, 2026 11:24 AM ET

On a golf course, silence can convey a lot, particularly when the stakes are as high as they are at the Masters . Additionally, that silence usually signals business when Rory McIlroy is in the final pairing.

That’s exactly what Cameron Young experienced during the final round at Augusta National in 2026. Paired with McIlroy on Sunday, Young found himself in a similar environment to what Bryson DeChambeau experienced during his final round with the Irish golfer last year. After falling short of the Green Jacket, Young admitted there wasn’t much interaction between the two.

“There’s not much,” Young said. He further added, “I’m not one to talk a ton to begin with… and I don’t think he really wanted to talk to me today. Sunday at the Masters in the final group—you know… we’re playing against each other. I’m not trying to be best friends out there.”

Cameron Young was paired with Rory McIlroy in the final grouping of The Masters and he too got the "Bryson DeChambeau treatment" of little to no speaking, "We're not trying to be best friends out there." pic.twitter.com/KuTBvERJhd
— Chris McKee (@mrmckee) April 13, 2026

The moment isn’t entirely new for McIlroy. During the 2025 Masters, Rory’s laser focus on winning the Green Jacket also led to minimal conversation between him and his final-round partner, DeChambeau. Both golfers did exchange a few words, though that was due to a dispute. Now, a year later, despite no disagreement, Young experienced a similar situation.

McIlroy won the Masters with a final-round score of 1-under par, while Young’s +1 performance led to a tie for third place. While there was some concern about Rory losing his lead to Scottie Scheffler, his silence throughout the round appeared to help him stay focused and secure back-to-back Green Jackets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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