Two-proton relative momentum (q(pp)) and opening angle (theta(pp)) distributions from the three-body decay of two excited proton-rich nuclei, namely Al-23 --> p + p + Na-21 and Mg-22 --> p + p + Ne-20, have been measured with the projectile fragment separator (RIPS) at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory. An evident peak at q(pp) similar to 20 MeV/c as well as a peak in theta(pp) around 30 degrees are seen in the two-proton break-up channel from a highly-excited Mg-22. In contrast, such peaks are absent for the Al-23 case. It is concluded that the two-proton emission mechanism of excited Mg-22 is quite different from the Al-23 case, with the former having a favorable diproton emission component at a highly excited state and the latter dominated by the sequential decay process. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.