With players wearing microphones throughout the event, it promised an entertaining exchange on the course.
The bar was set the day before the event when DeChambeau threw a cutting barb at McIlroy for his dramatic fall at the US Open in June.
McIlroy blew a two-shot lead with five holes to play at Pinehurst, missing a golden opportunity to end a 10-year major drought and hand the title to DeChambeau instead.
On the driving range, McIlroy tried to heighten the excitement by saying he wanted to face the American in the singles and avenge himself with a punishing experience.
“I’d like to go to Bryson and try to get him back for what he did for me at the US Open,” he said.
DeChambeau felt his chance without missing a beat. “If you’re good you did it to yourself,” came the dead reply.
On the day itself, the funniest moment came when McIlroy and Scheffler received their winnings – a cryptocurrency purse of $10m contributed by the sponsors of the event.
“What are you going to do with yours,” a smiling McIlroy asked Scheffler, who won more than $29 million in prize money during his impressive 2024 season.
“I don’t know,” Scheffler said in surprise.
The Masters champion added: “You know, I don’t know everything about crypto, but this is a good motivation to do some research and find out what’s going on.”
