We are learning that it was NOT Masters winning Rory McIlroy’s plan to purposely block any on-course conversation with Bryson DeChambeau, his final round playing parnter at Augusta National.

DeChambeau, who had led the Masters after just two final round holes, eventually faded under the weight of a closing 75 to share fifth place.

However, DeChambeau shocked most when revealing post his round that McIlroy had not spoken to him from the time the pair shook hands on the first tee until they also shook hands at the close of official play.

“He (McIlroy) didn’t talk to me once all day,” said DeChambeau.

DeChambeau had previously said he “wanted to cry” for McIlroy when he found the creek on 13, adding: “But I’ve hit bad shots in my career, too, and it happens. When you’re trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta, the Masters, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right. There were times where it looked like he had full control and at times where it’s like, what’s going on. Kind of looked like one of my rounds, actually.”

Rory McIroy and his mind coach Dr. Bob Rotella. Images GettyGolf Mthly

Though in a dramatic twist to the story, McIlroy’s ‘mind coach’ Dr. Bob Rotella has disclosed that he had informed McIlroy to avoid contact with the out-going DeChambeau.

“That didn’t have anything to do with Bryson,” Rotella said in speaking with Radio 4s ‘Today Show’.

“That was just the game plan all week and we wanted to get lost in it.

“We didn’t want to pay attention to what anyone else was scoring, or shooting, or swinging or how far they were hitting it – we just wanted Rory to play his game.

“The point is, if you believe you’re going to win, just play your game and assume that if you do that anywhere near the way you’re capable of, then you will end up number one.”

Rotella also revealed how he dealt with dealing with McIlroy’s decade-long disappointments prior to Sunday’s triumph.

“We begin with the idea that golf, by design, is a game of mistakes, and if you love golf, you have to love the mistakes,” Rotella said.

“You have to remind them that other players are playing the same game, and they will also all make mistakes.

“The second part is understanding that you are a human being, you’re going to make mistakes.

“Human beings have a free will, and that means we get to choose how we think and respond to all the crazy things that happen to us on the golf course and in life.”

And now McIlroy finally has an Augusta National members green jacket in his possession for all time, what next for the Northern Irishman?

“It’s going to be a lot of fun to see how many more he can win,” Rotella continued. “His year is off to great start, now he’s got a chance to have the greatest year he’s ever had.

“He’s getting tough mentally and emotionally, and that’s such a big part of it – you’ve got to have will that’s like steel.”

• Thank you to Irish Golfer Magazine.