Sir Nick Faldo has insisted he's got no issue with Bryson DeChambeau after recently criticised the American's performance at the Masters.
DeChambeau, who won the US Open glory last year, went into the final day hoping to keep pace with Rory McIlroy at the top of the standings.
However, that didn't happen - with the 31-year-old ending the day tied for fifth after his charge towards glory fell apart.
Instead, it was Justin Rose who emerged as McIlroy's biggest threat. In the end, however, the Northern Irishman won via a tight play-off to achieve the career Grand Slam and his first green jacket at Augusta.
Sir Nick Faldo has insisted he's got no issue with Bryson DeChambeau after recently criticised the American's performance at the Masters
GETTY/REUTERS
Some golf fans on social media hit out at Faldo, who was working for Sky Sports during the tournament, believing he was too harsh in his criticism of DeChambeau.
The 67-year-old has insisted he holds no grudge against the American, though, branding those claims as 'bulls**t'.
“That’s bulls**t," he told The Times. "I like the guy. I texted him after he won the US Open.
"I don’t like the way he plays at times, which I’m allowed to criticise.
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"He said he was going to attack Troon last year. You don’t attack a links, you thread it down there.
"I’m not sure about his strategy, but he is great entertainment. I’m a fan.”
While DeChambeau did well enough at Augusta, other LIV Golfers such as Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith all toiling.
This, in Faldo's eyes, is due to LIV being a 'fail-free tour'.
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Rory McIlroy did not speak to Bryson DeChambeau at the Masters when the two teed off together
Reuters“If Max Verstappen only drove in a Formula One race four times a year, I’d be shocked if he could perform. You’ve got to be in the same arena all the time," he continued.
“They have a fail-free tour. They’ve got wonderful appearance fees and prize money galore and they’re guaranteed it next week whether they hit their hat or not.
"There’s no fear of failure, and that is a serious driving force. Cam Smith has gone quiet. Brooks has gone quiet. You can’t tell me that in some way it hasn’t affected them.
“I think they thought it was all going to be resolved and they could run off and, even if they had to pay half of it back in a fine, they’d make a huge amount of money.
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"But I don’t think [the PGA Tour-LIV divide] needs to be resolved. They’ve gone off to play their tour. Fine. They’ve done incredibly well [financially] and, if your priority is a boatload of cash, you got it.
"But if you would rather have an incredible career, I think they’ve hurt themselves.”
As for McIlroy, the Northern Irishman recently became the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam.
In Faldo's eyes he's the fifth best of all time, however, and not quite deserving of the No 1 spot just yet.
Sir Nick Faldo thinks Rory McIlroy is the fifth best golfer in history
REUTERS"Of the all-time greats, I’d put him fifth," he proclaimed.
"Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. Rory is right there.
"No discredit to Gene Sarazen, but that was a completely different era. I’ve hardly seen any footage of him, but achieving the Grand Slam puts you in a different category.”
