PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Bryson DeCambeau replaced his 55-degree sand stick this time with the U.S. Open trophy at Pinehurst No. Climbed into the most famous bunker in 2 and filled the silverware with grains of sand. Best shot of his life.
Rory McIlroy He wanted to bury his head in the sand.
He won his second U.S. Open title on Sunday with an up-and-down putt from 55 yards on the bunker — one of the hardest shots in golf — to deliver another memorable finish at Pinehurst and a celebration just like his hero Payne. Stuart hit it big in 1999.
“There’s Payne, kid!” DeChambeau screamed as he teed off the 18th green.
It’s not like DeChambeau won Winged Foot in 2020, when there were no fans and no drama. It was high suspense and it eventually came down to three short putts.
McIlroy, who looked certain to end 10 years without a major in the final round, had a one-shot lead until he missed a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole. With the lead on the 18th, with DeChambeau behind him in the final group, McIlroy missed a par. 4 feet from inside.
He was watching in the scoring room, anticipating a two-hole playoff, and DeChampeau got into trouble off the tee as he had done all day. But then DeChambeau delivered the magic moment with his bunker shot to 4 feet A couple of puddings For 1-over 71.
“That bunker was the shot of my life,” said DeChambeau.
Minutes later, McIlroy was in his car, the wheels spinning on the gravel to exit Pinehurst without comment. Not much to say. This is a puncher.
“As heartbreaking as it is for some, it’s heartbreaking for me at the PGA,” said DeChambeau, who made a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole at Valhalla a month ago. Xander Schauffele matched him with a birdie to win the PGA Championship.
“I really liked it,” said DeChambeau. “When I turned the corner and I saw a couple back, I said, “No, I’m not going to let that happen.” I have to focus on figuring out how to do this.
True to his form as one of golf’s great entertainers, he put on quite the show.
Bar put isn’t as long or as suspenseful as Stewart’s in 1999. Every bit of the celebration. DeChambeau pumped those mighty arms repeatedly as he screamed at the blue sky, turning in all directions to a gallery that cheered him all week.
As much as this US Open will be remembered for DeCambeau’s spectacular bunker bust, McIlroy played a big part. He didn’t miss a putt at 4 under for 69 holes on the slick, domed Donald Ross greens. Later in the US Open, he bogeyed two of the final three holes for a 69.
McIlroy had the look of a winner. He birdied four of five holes around the turn. He was the epitome of coolness, the opposite of DeChambey’s exuberance. As the chants grew louder, he confidently walked to the 14th tee with a two-shot lead.
“Ror-EE! Ror-ee!”
DeChambeau could hear them, and he hit a 3-wood on the reachable par-4 13th — the tees moved 316 yards — to the middle of the green for a birdie close.
McIlroy took a bogey from behind the 15th green, but he stood one in front when DiZambo, playing in the group behind him, missed his first three-putt of the week from 4 feet on the 15th.
That’s where this US Open spelled disaster for McIlroy.
He missed a 30-inch par putt Fall back into a tie at the 16th hole. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a wiregrass bush. He hit the green low and pitched beautifully to 4 feet. And he missed again.
DeChambeau kept fans on edge until the end. He pulled his drive to a terrible lie to the left, a tree in his backswing and a root in front of the golf ball. The best he could manage was to poke it toward the green, and it rolled into a front-right bunker.
“One of the worst places I could have been,” DeChambeau said. But his caddy, Greg Bodine, kept it simple.
“G-Bo just said: ‘Bryson, get it up and down. That’s all you have to do. You’ve done it many times before. I’ve seen some crazy shots from 50 yards from a bunker,'” DeChampeau said.
During the trophy ceremony, the shot was replayed on a video screen.
“I still can’t believe it up and down,” DeChambeau said.
Since he won the US Open at Congressional in 2011, McIlroy has gone seven out of 10 at the championship — more than 100 years since anyone did better without going home with the trophy.
DeChambeau became only the second LIV golfer to win a major at last year’s PGA Championship, following Brooks Koepka.
A picture of Stewart’s famous pose was at the pin on the 18th, and DeCambeau wore a Stewart-inspired flat hat during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with his “Crushers” hat from LIV.
He finished at 6-under 274.
Patrick Cantley He hung around this fight all afternoon, unable to get the putts in time, and his chances ended until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole. He finished with a 70 and was tied for third with Tony Fina, who had no chance of winning with a Sunday-best 67.
This is not the same DeChambeau who has become a polarizing figure — the target of heckling for slow play and his Brooks spat with Koepka. In the sand dunes of North Carolina, thousands were by his side. He signed autographs during his tour, he engaged with fans and he put on one hell of a show.
When it was over, he saw the double-decker grandstands surrounding the 18th and the thousands surrounding the 18th green and invited them to his party.
“I want all of you somehow,” he said, pointing them in every direction, “and I want you to touch this cup, because I want you to experience what it feels like to me. You’ve been a part of this journey this week, to the party.” Then I want you to be a part of it.
DeChambeau is not flawless. He hit just five fairways, the fewest in the final round by a US Open champion since Angel Cabrera at Oakmont in 2007. He couldn’t get out of trouble on the 12th, which dropped him two shots behind. He had his first three-putt of the week on the 15th at worst.
But eventually the two-time US Open champion showed his talent.
“The most impressive thing about Bryson is not that he hits the ball very far. Everyone knows that,” said Mathieu Pavon, who played with DeChambeau. He shot 71 to finish fifth. “I was surprised by the quality of the short game on 18. It was a masterclass.”
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