DeChambeau edges McIlroy to win 2nd U.S. Open

Mark Schlabach, a writer for ESPN who has been with the company for a while, wrote a blog post on June 17, 2024 at twelve minutes past midnight.

In Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Sunday, Bryson DeChambeau became a U.S. Open champion once again when he finished the 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2. Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, was left still struggling to win a major championship for almost 10 years after experiencing what might be the most painful close call of his career. This happened when he failed to win the championship.

Once McIlroy missed a quick par putt for the second time in just three holes on the 18th, DeChambeau went for a challenging punch shot from a risky spot close to a tree root in the natural area. He nailed it into a bunker that was situated across the fairway. His next move was to chip the ball from a distance of 55 yards and fire it towards a spot about 4 feet away from the hole. He then confidently putted the ball into the hole for a par, making his final score 6 under par, which was one point higher than McIlroy's score.

DeChambeau expressed his intention to try and birdie the 18th hole, provided he was able to hit a good drive. Unfortunately, he ended up pulling his shot. DeChambeau was aware of Rory's position on the course. He was caught up in the moment, unable to accurately predict how he could surpass the score of his competitor. However, he heard a response from the crowd that gave him energy and encouragement. The sudden burst of excitement caused DeChambeau to feel a surge of adrenaline, and he was confident that he could overcome the challenge ahead.

DeChambeau and McIlroy were tied at six under and McIlroy played in the group before the final group. Both players hit their tee shots into an unpredictable area of natural vegetation near the grandstand located on the left side of the fairway on the 18th hole.

When McIlroy was playing golf, his ball stopped behind a big clump of wiregrass which was about 123 yards away from the hole. McIlroy chose to hit the ball through the grass and onto the fairway, as that was his only choice. Although his approach managed to stop just before the green, his chipped ball stopped at 4 feet away from the hole, and he missed the par putt. Finally, he made the bogey putt, but he couldn't do anything else, he just watched DeChambeau finish his game.

On television in the room where scores were recorded, McIlroy observed DeChambeau's triumphant putt. Shortly after, he exited the parking lot designated for players in a vehicle provided as a courtesy. McIlroy refrained from speaking with the press.

DeChambeau praised Rory as one of the all-time greats and acknowledged how unique it was to compete against such talent. DeChambeau expressed sympathy for Rory's missed putt, emphasizing he would never wish that circumstance on anyone. Regardless, that's just how the match unfolded.

Upon leaving the 18th green, triumphing as the U.S. Open champion for the second time, DeChambeau shouted with excitement, "That's Payne, baby!" His statement alluded to Payne Stewart, who won the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 by sinking a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole, triumphing over Phil Mickelson by a single stroke.

Stewart perished in an airplane accident on Oct. 25, 1999. DeChambeau recounted that his determination to study at SMU was partly linked to the sight of a large artistic painting featuring Stewart.

DeChambeau referred to his chip from the bunker on the final hole as the "greatest shot I've ever made."

DeChambeau shared that his aim was to land the ball where he eventually did and make it run towards the right. He recalled the legendary putt by Payne and how it broke up that way. DeChambeau knew that getting up and down was vital to clinching the prestigious championship, which would be a major highlight for him. Even now, he finds it hard to believe that he won the championship – it is truly remarkable.

Matthieu Pavon, who was a teammate of DeChambeau, described DeChambeau's performance on the 18th hole as an impressive "master class."

Pavon shared that Bryson's ability to hit the ball far is not what impresses him the most. This is widely known. However, what really stood out to him was how excellent Bryson's short game was on the 18th hole. He believes that Bryson is an incredible player with no areas of weakness, making him a true champion.

DeChambeau, who claimed victory at the 2020 U.S. Open hosted at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, began the ultimate round with a 3-point advantage. Though he temporarily surrendered it to McIlroy during the latter part of the game, he eventually managed to regain supremacy and clinch the win.

In the last round, DeChambeau achieved a score of 1-over 71. This means that he scored more than the standard number of strokes required to complete the course. What's interesting is that he's the first winner of the U.S. Open to have achieved a score higher than par in the last round since Graeme McDowell did so ten years ago while playing at Pebble Beach Golf Links. McDowell's score was 3-over 74.

"As I took the turn and realized I was a few positions behind, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't allow this. I concentrated on finding a way to achieve my goal," DeChambeau expressed. "I was fortunate as Rory missed a few easy putts towards the end."

McIlroy shot a score of 1-under 69 and came in second place in a major tournament for the fourth time in his career. Additionally, he ended up in the sole second position, just one stroke behind Wyndham Clark, in the 2023 U.S. Open held at Los Angeles Country Club. He has become the second professional golfer in the last 40 years to come in second place by only one point in the same major tournament in consecutive years; the first one to achieve this feat was Jim Furyk, who accomplished it in the U.S. Open back in 2006 and 2007.

Tony Finau shot a score of 3-under 67, while Patrick Cantlay finished with an even-par 70. Both players tied for the third position with a total of 4-under for the tournament. Pavon was eyeing a historic achievement by becoming the first French golfer to win the U.S. Open, but ended up in fifth place after carding a 1-over 71 on Sunday.

The initial U.S. Open held at Pinehurst No. 2 after ten years will be recalled not just for DeChambeau's triumph but also for McIlroy's downfall. McIlroy was striving to secure his inaugural major championship since the 2014 PGA Championship that occurred at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Having successfully overtaken DeChambeau with exceptional birdies on holes 9, 10, 12 and 13, McIlroy became the first player in golf history to reach a score of 8 under, giving him a 2-shot lead. However, he unfortunately ended his final round in a manner that will not be easily remembered as his performance deteriorated.

McIlroy had a few errors in his game, ending up with bogeys on three of the holes: the 15th, 16th, and 18th. Specifically on the 15th, he hit his tee shot too hard, and it went over the green. Then, he unfortunately couldn't hit his ball close enough to the hole to make par.

Following DeChambeau's blunder on the 15th hole, resulting in McIlroy taking a lead by 1 shot, things took a strange turn on the 16th hole. McIlroy, who had maintained a perfect record of not missing any putts within 3 feet all season, surprisingly hit a 2½-foot par shot too hard and it unfortunately bounced out.

During the U.S. Open, McIlroy had a bit of a rough time towards the end of the game. He ended up playing the last four holes in three more strokes than he needed to, making him the first runner-up to do so since Mickelson in 2006 according to ESPN Stats & Information. It's interesting to note that Mickelson also had a similar experience during his game, where he played the same four holes in three extra strokes and lost to Geoff Ogilvy by one point.

DeChambeau expressed his confidence that the golfer will win several other major championships. He believes that the player's passion for the sport will only increase with time. DeChambeau respects the way he plays and even admitted to feeling nervous when the player was leading by two points. Nonetheless, DeChambeau managed to win the game.