Bryson DeChambeau outlasts Rory McIlroy to win a second major title – Firstpost

Bryson DeChambeau won his second US Open title on Sunday, but it was an epic late collapse from a gutted Rory McIlroy that will be remembered for the thrilling showdown at Pinehurst.

Passed by McIlroy with six holes to play, DeChambeau kept his composure on the domed greens and sandy areas of Pinehurst to rally for the crown.

McIlroy, thwarted in his attempt to end a 10-year major victory drought, led by two shots with five holes to play.

But the four-time major winner from Northern Ireland made bogeys on three of the final four holes – two on short putts at 16 and 18 – to help hand the trophy to DeChambeau.

ANOTHER! 🏆@b_dechambeau won the 124th US Open Championship! pic.twitter.com/rzxg7eiDMc

– US Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

“I still can’t believe it,” DeChambeau said. “It’s incredible.”

DeChambeau, who also won the 2020 US Open, shot an over-par 71 to finish with a six-under-par 274 while McIlroy shot a 69 to stay on 275 after 72 holes.

In addition to taking home the $4.3 million winner’s prize from a record $21.5 million purse, DeChambeau will move from 38th to 10th in the next world rankings and will have five more years of starts in all majors.

In a meltdown in memory of Greg Norman’s epic 1996 final-round loss to Nick Faldo at the Masters, McIlroy missed putts from 2.5 feet at the par-4 16th and just short of four feet at the par-4 18th – tension-filled bogeys that left McIlroy behind in the thriller.

“To be able to wrestle a big guy like that is pretty special,” DeChambeau said of McIlroy, who left the course without speaking to the media after his painful collapse.

“For him to miss that putt (at 18), I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It played out that way,” DeChambeau added.

“The best shot of my life”

THE BUNKER SHOT OF HIS CAREER!@b_dechambeau does he still have that putt to win the US Open! pic.twitter.com/Vleb6k6PvO

– US Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

DeChambeau found dirt and weeds and a bunker at 18, but hit his third shot to four feet and sank his putt under pressure for the win.

“I wasn’t great today but I did really well and then, man, I can’t believe that up and down the last one – it was All-World, probably the best shot of my life.”

Raising his arms in triumph, DeChambeau screamed and jumped for joy, then paid tribute to the late Payne Stewart, winner of the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, who died a few months later.

“That’s Payne right there, baby,” DeChambeau said to a television camera, pointing to a Stewart pin on his cap.

The 30-year-old American became the second active player from Saudi-backed LIV Golf to win a major title after Brooks Koepka at the 2023 PGA Championship.

It was the sixth consecutive victory by an American in a major tournament since Spaniard Jon Rahm won last year’s Masters.

Americans Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay share third place with 276, two points off the pace, with Finau shooting a 67. Frenchman Matthieu Pavon finished fifth with 277 after a 71, one shot ahead of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who shot a 70 to stay on 278.

DeChambeau responded to bogeys at the fourth and 12th holes with birdies at the par-5 10th and the par-4 13th to keep the pressure on McIlroy until he cracked.

“I felt like I hit the driver. It just wasn’t starting exactly where I wanted to get to,” DeChambeau said.

“At the end of the day, on the 13th, I knew I had to make a birdie to give myself a chance, because Rory was going on a radiator.

“He made a few mistakes coming in and I just kept staying the course, focused on trying to make as many fairways as possible.”

McIlroy settled for his second straight US Open title and his 21st top 10 since his last major victory at the 2014 PGA Championship.

DeChambeau suffered his first three-putt bogey of the tournament, sinking a four-foot par-3 putt at the par-3 15th to lose one, only for McIlroy to botch his short putts, his only misses of the day to within five feet.

Pavon failed in his attempt to become the second Frenchman to win a major title after Arnaud Massy at the 1907 British Open.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, the huge pre-tournament favorite, shot a two-over 72 to sit on eight-over 288 for what was only his second result outside the top 10 this year.

“I didn’t play my best. It’s a little frustrating to finish,” he said. “I definitely need to do some things better.”