Bryson DeChambeau eyes PGA redemption as rivalry with Rory McIlroy heats up

DeChambeau had emerged as McIlroy's biggest threat at Augusta, closing to within two shots after three rounds and setting up a dramatic Sunday. It was the latest chapter in a budding rivalry, following DeChambeau's memorable triumph over McIlroy at last year's US Open.

This time, McIlroy was able to get his revenge. While DeChambeau faded on the final day, McIlroy surged to a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose, finally capturing his elusive Green Jacket.

Now, with Quail Hollow as the backdrop, two of golf's most explosive hitters could be headed for another head-to-head clash on one of the sport's biggest stages.

"I do believe you have to have a lot of distance out here," said DeChambeau. "Rory is a great driver of the golf ball and his iron play is great, too.

"I think it's a golf course that sets up for his shot shapes pretty well, and I think it sets up well for mine, too. We'll see. Maybe I do well, maybe I don't.

"But I'm certainly going to give it my all, and I know Rory is. Hopefully we can have another go at it again like The Masters."

DeChambeau is no stranger to the spotlight at golf's biggest events, and after a string of strong showings, the big-hitting American believes he's entering a new phase of confidence and consistency on the major stage.

With his near-miss at Augusta still fresh and another chance looming at the PGA Championship, DeChambeau says he's learning how to peak when it matters most - and how to give himself repeated chances to contend.

"I feel like I've always had the capacity to play well in major championships and contend consistently. A lot of things have to go right in majors for you to play well. Your whole game has to be on," he added.

"So I felt like at Valhalla, especially after Augusta, that was the second time that I played well in a major, and it kind of gave me that confidence that I could just keep moving forward with that at every major and keep hammering down on majors.

"Besides the Open Championship, which I feel like is something I've got to continue to work on, which I am rigorously working on, I feel like I'm moving in the right direction with giving myself a lot of multiple chances to win these major championships.

"So I felt like at Valhalla last year, it was more of an assurance of saying, hey, I can do this, and I can do this for a long time, God willing. I'm going to continue to try and play my best golf."