DeChambeau sands and delivers US Open glory
Bryson DeChambeau climbed back into the most famous bunker at Pinehurst No 2, this time with the US Open trophy instead of his 55-degree sand wedge, filling the silver prize with grains of sand to commemorate the best shot of his life. Rory McIlroy wanted to bury his head in the sand.
DeChambeau won his second US Open title yesterday by getting upand-down from 55 yards in a bunker — one of the toughest shots in golf — to deliver another unforgettable finish at Pinehurst and a celebration just as raucous as when his hero, Payne Stewart, won with a big par putt in 1999.
“That’s Payne right there, baby!” DeChambeau screamed as he walked off the 18th green.
This was nothing like DeChambeau winning at Winged Foot in 2020, when there were no fans and no drama. This was high suspense that came down to a trio of short putts.
McIlroy, who for so much of the final round looked certain to end 10 years without a major, had a one-shot lead until missing a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole. Tied for the lead on the 18th, with DeChambeau behind him in the final group, McIlroy missed a par attempt from just inside 4 feet.
He was in the scoring room watching, hoping, for a two-hole playoff when DeChambeau got into trouble off the tee as he had done all day. But then DeChambeau delivered the magic moment with his bunker shot to four feet and made the par putt for a one-over 71.
“That bunker shot was the shot of my life,” DeChambeau said.
Moments later, McIlroy was in his car, the wheels spinning on the gravel to get out of Pinehurst without comment. There wasn’t much to say. This one will sting.
“As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the PGA,” said DeChambeau, who a month ago made a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole at Valhalla, only for Xander Schauffele to match him with a birdie to win the PGA Championship.
“I really wanted this one,” said DeChambeau. “When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, ‘Nope, I’m not going to let that happen.’ I have to focus on figuring out how to make this happen.”
True to his form as one of golf’s great entertainers, he put on quite the show.
The par putt wasn’t as long or as suspenseful as Stewart’s in 1999. The celebration was every bit of that. DeChambeau repeatedly pumped those strong arms as he screamed to the blue sky, turning in every direction to a gallery that cheered him on all week.
As much as this US Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s marvellous bunker shot, McIlroy played a big part. He had not missed a putt under four feet for 69 holes on the slick, domed Donald Ross greens. And then with the US Open on the line, he missed two over the final three holes for a 69.
Since he won the US Open at Congressional in 2011, McIlroy has seven top 10s in this championship without a victory — it’s been more than 100 years since anyone did that well without going home with the trophy.
DeChambeau becomes the second LIV Golf player to win a major, following Brooks Koepka at the PGA Championship last year.
An image of Stewart’s famous pose was on the pin flag at the 18th, and DeChambeau put on a Stewartinspired flat cap during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with his Crushers cap from LIV. He finished at six-under 274.
Kiwi Ryan Fox had his best round of the tournament with a one-over 71, enough to propel him nine places up to a tie for 56th on 12 over. He again struggled early, with a birdie and four bogeys in his first eight holes, before finishing with two birdies on the back nine.