Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after winning the US Open golf tournament on Sunday in Pinehurst, NC
Mike Stewart/AP
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Mike Stewart/AP
PINEHURST, NC – Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open on Sunday for the second time with the most beautiful photo of his life for another memorable finish on the 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 – and another major heartbreak for Rory McIlroy.
In a wild final hour filled with more blunders than brilliance, DeChambeau capped off a supremely entertaining week by going up and down from a bunker at 55 meters, make a 4-foot par putt ended with a score of 1 in 71.
“That’s Payne right there, baby!” DeChambeau shouted as he walked out of the 18th hole.
Payne Stewart made the famous 15-foot par putt on the final hole in 1999 at the first U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, defeating Phil Mickelson with one shot. DeChambeau said he was inspired to come to SMU when he saw Stewart’s mural on campus.
The par putt was not as long and dramatic as Stewart’s putt in 1999. The celebration was just that. DeChambeau kept swinging those sturdy arms as he screamed into the blue sky, turning in all directions toward a gallery that had been cheering him on all week.
McIlroy was in the scoring room, devastated by another near-loss in a major.
This will sting. Although this US Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s amazing bunker shot, McIlroy played a key role by missing two putts shockingly short, The last one was 4 feet away par on the last hole. He finished with a 69.
He had the look of a winner for long on Sunday, making four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn. He is a cold figure, in contrast to DeChambeau’s exuberant personality.
McIlroy held a two-shot lead heading to the 14th tee. The chants grew louder — “Ror-EE! Ror-EE!” and DeChambeau could hear them.
McIlroy bogeyed from behind the 15th green, but he still held a one-shot lead when DeChambeau, playing in the group behind him, had his first three-putt of the week on the 15th when he missed from 4. feet.
And that’s when this US Open took a devastating turn for McIlroy. He missed his par putt by 30 inches At the 16th hole, we were in a tie again. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a famous patch of grass. He came off the green and threw the ball beautifully to 4 feet.
And he failed again.
McIlroy was watching from the scoring room as DeChambeau got out of a terrible position left of the fairway – a tree in his backswing, a root in front of the golf ball – and punched it into the bunker . He expertly hit a shot from the soft sand rolling onto the crisp turf to seal the winning putt.
“I still can’t believe it,” DeChambeau said as he watched the replay from the video screen during the trophy presentation. “Probably the best photo of my life.”
McIlroy spun his tires on the gravel and quickly left without comment. Since winning the US Open at Congress in 2011, he has had seven top 10s without a win – it’s been more than 100 years since anyone has done that well without coming home with the trophy.
DeChambeau became the second LIV Golf golfer to win a major title, following Brooks Koepka at last year’s PGA Championship.
An image of Stewart’s famous pose appeared on the pin flag on the 18th, and DeChambeau wore a Stewart-inspired flat hat during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with a “Crushers” hat. of LIV.
He finished at 6-under 274.
Patrick Cantlay lingered in this duel all afternoon, unable to make a putt in time until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole, ending his chances. He finished with a 70 and tied for third with Tony Finau, who bested Sunday with a 67 without ever having a real chance of winning.
Cantlay would have needed a runner-up finish to earn the Americans fourth place at the Olympics. That belongs to Collin Morikawa. Corey Conners finished with a 70 to edge Adam Hadwin and earn an Olympic spot for Canada.
DeChambeau earned $4.3 million – more than he would have received for winning a LIV event – from a record purse of $21.5 million.
