Farmingdale, NY – As the 2025 Ryder Cup heats up at Bethpage Black, golf fans are clamoring for one marquee matchup to cap off the drama: Rory McIlroy versus Bryson DeChambeau in Sunday’s singles. With Europe clinging to a slim lead and the U.S. hungry for revenge after last year’s defeat, this heavyweight clash could steal the spotlight from NFL kickoffs and deliver the “Must-See-TV” moment the event desperately needs.

The rivalry between the world No. 2 McIlroy and the brash DeChambeau began at the U.S. Open in 2024 at Pinehurst when the American nipped the Irishman on the final hole. McIlroy returned the favor by outdueling Dechambeau on Sunday at the Masters in April.

Off the course, McIlroy dismissed DeChambeau’s jabs in a Guardian interview, quipping, “I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people. That is basically what I think of that.”

DeChambeau, arguably the most well-known golfer on the planet, essentially laughed off McIlroy’s absurd statement.

Both stars are firing on all cylinders heading into Bethpage — McIlroy with a win at the Irish Open, and DeChambeau’s LIV Golf dominance — making their pairing a no-brainer for fireworks. But the Ryder Cup’s blind lineup system turns it into a “crapshoot,” as one analyst put it.

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak argues captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald should borrow from the Presidents Cup playbook: live, back-and-forth picks to engineer dream matchups like this one.

DeChambeau echoed the hype, telling reporters, “Would I love to go up against him? Yeah. It would be a lot of fun,” while hinting at possible backroom deals to make it happen.

With college football dominating Saturday and the NFL looming Sunday, this showdown could spike ratings and remind the world why the Ryder Cup is golf’s ultimate grudge match.

Will the captains deliver? The tees are waiting.