Rory McIlroy extended his congratulations to Bryson DeChambeau on Monday as they met at Royal Troon for the first time since their dramatic battle at last month's US Open.
McIlroy was painfully close to securing his first major championship in a decade at Pinehurst No. 2, losing a two-shot lead with just five holes remaining to DeChambeau.
The American went on to clinch the event by a single shot ahead of the Northern Irishman, earning his second major title after a thrilling final round.
The ending was a bitter pill to swallow for McIlroy, who left the Pinehurst venue within minutes of DeChambeau sinking his final putt, choosing to miss his post-championship media obligations.
Following his disappointment, the 35-year-old opted to take a break from golf before making a comeback at last week's Scottish Open in preparation for The Open Championship. And now five weeks after their US Open encounter, McIlroy and DeChambeau crossed paths for the first time again upon arriving at Troon.
Discussing their private conversation, DeChambeau told reporters: "I said hello to [McIlroy] yesterday, and we talked. He said congrats. Everything is great there."
Looking forward to another major showdown this week, the LIV Golf star added: "He is a fierce competitor. I know he's going to give the fans, give everybody as much as he can this week. I'm going to be doing the same. We're going to be competing. Hopefully it will be another good battle."
DeChambeau is a man in form at the majors, placing tied-sixth at the Masters and second at the PGA Championship before winning in North Carolina.
"[I am] very confident, obviously," he claimed. "It all depends if I'm striking it well. I can come in here with the most confidence, obviously, off of a major championship win. Played decent last week, as well.
"I can continue to drive the ball as well as I have and ball strike my irons the way I know I can and putt the way I know I can. If I do those three things well, even four things with chipping and bunker play and on the greens, I will give myself a chance. I know how to get the job done.
"It's just a matter of if I'm as consistent as I was at the US Open last weekend and a few other venues as well. If I can play the golf that I have been, I think I'll give myself a great chance."
DeChambeau's tie for eighth at St Andrews in 2022 has signalled his best finish at The Open so far.
