Brooks Koepka has backed Rory McIlroy over Bryson DeChambeau after the pair were paired together for the final round of the 2025 Masters, with the LIV Golf star revealing he would have adopted the same silent approach at Augusta

Brooks Koepka has backed Rory McIlroy's decision not to engage with Bryson DeChambeau during the final round of the 2025 Masters, confirming he would have done exactly the same thing.

McIlroy and DeChambeau were drawn together for the concluding round at Augusta last year, with both players chasing their maiden green jacket. For McIlroy, the stakes were particularly high as he was also pursuing the career grand slam.

The duo have been open about their frosty relationship away from the golf course, and the American had inflicted what many consider McIlroy's most devastating defeat less than 12 months earlier, edging out the Northern Irishman at the 2024 US Open.

During that April 2025 encounter at the Masters, DeChambeau struggled to mount a serious challenge and faded from contention as McIlroy battled his own demons before eventually prevailing over Justin Rose in a play-off.

Following that round, DeChambeau voiced his frustration that McIlroy hadn't spoken to him across the entire 18 holes, prompting McIlroy to respond sharply: "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.", reports the Irish Mirror.

Eighteen months on, Koepka, who is also known to have little affection for Bryson, was questioned about the incident and made his allegiance abundantly clear.

"He shouldn't have," he stated on Skratch's "Dan on Golf" show when the subject of Rory's apparent snub arose. " show when the topic of Rory's perceived snub came up.. Well, I mean, he lives in his own world," Koepka said. "I mean, I don't think many people want to talk to him regardless.. "But yeah, I wouldn't have spoken to Rory, and I don't think Rory would have spoken to me, and it would have been totally fine. ".