Once again, Bryson DeChambeau is the U.S. Open champion. DeChambeau edged out Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst on Sunday to win his second U.S. Open title and second overall in his career.
McIlroy, who won the tournament back in 2011, was in good shape to be the one to repeat in 2024, ending the first round five under par. It presented a perfect opportunity for McIlroy to end his decade-long drought without a major title.
By the time the third round ended, DeChambeau climbed to first place with seven under par lead while McIlroy sat tied at second with four under par alongside Patrick Cantlay and Matthieu Pavon.
McIlroy took the lead in the final round again with eight under entering the four final holes. However, several unexpected mistakes, including missing a two-foot par putt on 16 and a three-foot par putt on 18, ended up erasing his lead.
DeChambeau, on the other hand, pulled off a master shot from 55 yards on the final hole to get out of a bunker and had a successful putt to finish one stroke ahead of McIlroy.
“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,'” DeChambeau later said. “I was a little lucky. Rory didn’t make a couple of putts that he could have coming in.”
