CBS presenter Amanda Balionis quizzed Bryson DeChambeau about his furious reaction after last year’s Masters final round as the pair spoke on the driving range ahead of this year’s tournament
Amanda Balionis called back to Bryson DeChambeau’s previous chat with her at the Masters(Image: Masters)
Amanda Balionis didn’t hold back when she questioned Bryson DeChambeau on the Masters driving range. The CBS presenter, who was working on Monday for the Masters in-house channel, had no qualms about referencing her previous encounter with the American.
On that occasion DeChambeau was furious – and understandably so. He started in the final pairing alongside Rory McIlroy on Masters Sunday last year and even briefly held the outright lead during the round.
However, the American faltered and carded a final score of 3-over, ending tied-fifth at 7-under – four strokes behind McIlroy and Justin Rose. It proved a devastating disappointment for DeChambeau, who is still chasing his first Masters victory.
And his frustration was evident in the conversation he had with Balionis shortly afterwards. Speaking on the Masters’ internal broadcast, Balionis asked DeChambeau: “I can’t help but think you’re coming into this tournament with a little chip on your shoulder.
“The last time we spoke you were really mad at yourself for the way you played in that final round. And there was some fire there. Is that fire rolling into this week?”
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy warned Bryson DeChambeau wants to ‘beat the you know what out of him’ at MastersREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy’s comment to Scottie Scheffler brought up with stark difference in behaviour
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The 32-year-old replied: “There’s always passion here, whenever I’m trying to win a tournament. Been trying to win this event for quite a while and hopefully I’ve learned a lot of lessons.
“I’ll continue to learn more lessons this week, but hopefully my game is in the place where I can get it done this week.” Balionis then asked: “What can you learn from a Sunday finish like you had last year?
DeChambeau cut a frustrated figure after McIlroy got the better of him(Image: Getty Images)
“Is there something you can immediately put into this week?” DeChambeau, composed and measured, responded: “Yeah, that it’s OK, that no matter what happens, it’s OK.
“You’re still going to live life, you’re still going to go on, you’re still going to go back to your family, have a great time the rest of the year and that’s the more important thing I can look forward to, is focusing on home and making sure that I understand golf is a game, just a game, and it’s not that big of a deal.”
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The Team USA Ryder Cup star then spoke about Asterisk Talley, the 17-year-old who endured a heartbreaking collapse at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Talley had begun the final round with a one-shot advantage but ended up finishing tied-fourth.
DeChambeau was spotted consoling a visibly upset Talley shortly after she addressed the media. He went on to say: “I had to give a couple of minutes of my own time to Asterisk.
“I know her a decent amount from the central valley and I had to relive that moment, in a sense, again with her and hopefully help her understand it doesn’t define her. It’s just a moment she can learn from.”
