PINEHURST, NC – Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open on Saturday for the second time the best shot of his life for another memorable finish on the 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 – and another heavy dose of heartache for Rory McIlroy.
In a final hour that featured more blunders than brilliance, DeChambeau ended a week of high-stakes entertainment with an up-and-down from 55 yards out of the bunker, made a 4-foot par putt to close with 1-over 71.
“That’s Payne over there, baby!” DeChambeau screamed as he walked off the 18th green.
Payne Stewart famously made a 15-foot par putt on the final hole in 1999 at the first US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, beating Phil Mickelson by one shot. DeChambeau said he was inspired to go to SMU when he saw Stewart’s mural on campus.
The par putt wasn’t as long or dramatic as Stewart’s in 1999. The celebration was every time. DeChambeau repeatedly pumped his strong arms as he screamed into the blue sky, turning in every direction to the gallery that cheered him all week.
McIlroy was in the scoring room, spoiled by another close call in the majors.
This will sting. It seems that this US Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s excellent bunker shot, McIlroy played a big part in surprisingly missing two short putts, the end of just inside 4 feet for par on the final hole. He closed with 69.
He had looked like he was winning all day Sunday, racking up four birdies in five holes around the turn. He was a model of cool, the opposite of DeChambeau’s spirit.
McIlroy was two shots ahead walking to the 14th tee. The chants grew louder β βRor-EE! Ror-ee!β and DeChambeau could hear them.
McIlroy took a bogey from the back of the 15th green, but he remained one in front 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 where this US Open hit McIlroy. He missed a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole to fall back into a tie. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot fell behind the infamous wiregrass bush. He explodes off the green and rises well to 4 feet.
And he missed again.
McIlroy watched from the scoring room as DeChambeau escaped from a bad lie left fairway – a tree in the back swing, a root in front of the golf ball – and punched out into the bunker. He is an expert blast shot from the soft sand that rolled out on the crispy green to set the winning putt.
“I still can’t believe it went up and down,” DeChambeau said as he watched a replay from the video screen during the trophy presentation. “Probably the best of my life.”
McIlroy spun his tires on the gravel as he left the fast without comment. Since winning the US Open at Congressional in 2011, he has had seven top 10s without a victory – it’s been more than 100 years since someone did so well without taking home the trophy.
DeChambeau became the second LIV Golf player to win a major title, following Brooks Koepka at last year’s PGA Championship.
The image of Stewart’s famous pose was on the flag pin on the 18th, and DeChambeau put it on a Stewart-inspired flat cover during the trophy presentation, then replaced it with the “Crushers” cover from LIV.
He finished at 6-under 274.
Patrick Cantlay was circling this matchup all afternoon, unable to hit the right putts until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole that ended his chances. He closed with a 70 and tied for third with Tony Finau, who matched Sunday’s best with a 67 without having a serious chance of winning.
Cantlay needed a runner-up finish to earn his fourth American berth in the Olympics. That goes to Collin Morikawa. Corey Conners closed with a 70 to move past Adam Hadwin and claim an Olympic berth for Canada.
DeChambeau earned $4.3 million β more than winning the LIV event β from a record $21.5 million purse.