Golf LIVE: Bryson DeChambeau fires shot at Rory McIlroy as Masters feelings made clear

The Masters officially gets underway with Rory McIlroy looking to defend his title but Bryson DeChambeau and golf's elite are all looking to win the green jacket

The Masters is here as the first major of the year has arrived, with the best golfers in the world vying for the green jacket.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy has been in the thick of the action as he performs the duties of a Masters winner. Last night was the famous Champions Dinner, with the competition's past winners treated to a menu provided by the previous year's winner.

Today, it is the Par 3 contest as players take on the short course in a historic yearly event. The focus will be on Tommy Fleetwood's son, Frankie, after the Ryder Cup hero's son stole the headlines after taking on Ike's Pond.

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Thursday will see the action really get underway and Bryson DeChambeau has already talked up his rivalry with McIlroy. The Northern Irishman won last year's tournament in a play-off but the American challenged McIlroy all the way and has his sights on bettering his performance from 12 months ago.

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The Masters 2026

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07:11Stephen Killen

Fleetwood wants to taste Masters-winning back nine

Sticking with the Ryder Cup hero, Tommy Fleetwood, he says it would be "very special" to win the Masters at Augusta National.

It will be a 10th Masters for the Brit as he goes in search of the elusive green jacket and with his form over the last 18 months, he will be a hot favourite to claim success.

His best performance came in 2024 when he was tied for third but fell further down the field, finishing T21 12 months ago.

He said:

"It would be very special. There's no doubt for everybody that plays the game, winning a Masters, whether it be walking up the 18th, holing a putt on the 18th green, the moment you have the jacket put upon you -- you can rattle them off. I think it's on such a mantelpiece in people's career and how they view it, and it's so easy to create like those moments in your mind because we watch it every year.
"We've watched some of the best shots of all time here on the back nine of Augusta over the last however many years, and you can relate to that because you kind of feel like you know it. Whether you've played here or not, you feel like you know so much about it.
"I would love to be there late on Sunday in with a chance. Those juices flowing on the back nine of Augusta, I think, is probably -- like 2024 I was very much on the outskirts. That's the best finish I've had. I finished third, but Scottie was a long way in front. I was never really in contention. I was having a great week, and I wanted to finish as strong as I could.
But I've never had that joy yet of playing on the back nine with a chance to win the Masters. Yeah, I'd really love that so much."

07:06Stephen Killen

Fleetwood's out in force

Tommy Fleetwood’s son, Frankie, has been the focus ahead of the Par 3 contest on Wednesday.

The Masters tradition sees golfers and their families get the chance to take on the course and it was the then-seven-year-old who stole the show during an encounter with Ike’s Pond.

Last year, he said: “Well I've been doing my hardest to get it over the green.

“I've been practicing as hard as I can, just not reaching it this year. But, I'm just trying my hardest.”

Twelve months on, he is a year older, was at the back of his dad’s pre-tournament press conference and was spotted in the Taylor Made truck getting his driver altered.

Green jacket aside, this is the subplot to the tournament.

07:05Stephen Killen

DeChambeau: 'Do I respect him? 100 percent. Do I want to beat him every time? Absolutely'

Bryson DeChambeau has laid down the gauntlet for defending champion Rory McIlroy.

The American and the 36-year-old have something of a rivalry as they go in pursuit of glory at Augusta National.

World golf’s two titans went head-to-head last year with DeChambeau in the final pack, briefly leading, before McIlroy and his Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose needed a playoff to decide who would receive the green jacket.

Looking ahead, DeChambeau said:

"It's great if we can continue to have a rivalry. I don't see any problem with that. If anything, it kind of helps create more buzz around the game of golf.

"Do I respect him as an individual? 100 per cent. Do I want to beat him every time I see him? Absolutely, there's no question about it.

"I think that's what's so brilliant about the game of golf is that juxtaposition, having that sportsmanlike respect and then wanting to just absolutely beat the living you know what out of him.

"It's one of those things - like I got him at Pinehurst [No 2, 2024 US Open], he got me here [2025 Masters]. I hope there's more of those to come because it's great for the game."

07:05Stephen Killen

Good morning!

Hello and welcome to our dedicated golf blog where we will be providing you with all the latest news and build-up ahead of the Masters.

Yes, it is Masters week, the first major of the year and it is a contested field. Rory McIlroy is the reigning champion following his dramatic and emotional win 12 months ago.

The triumph saw him complete the Career Grand Slam after winning the Masters at the 17th attempt.

Can lightning strike twice in successive years? We will know on Sunday.