Bryson DeChambeau wins 2024 U.S. Open with clutch finish to deny Rory McIlroy

Bryson DeChambeau won the 2024 US Open on Sunday for the second time with the best photo 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 wild final hour with more mistakes than brilliance, DeChambeau capped off a week of great entertainment by climbing up and down 55 meters from a bunker, making a 4-foot par putt to close with 1 over 71.

“That’s Payne right there, honey!” DeChambeau shouted 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 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, beating Phil Mickelson by one stroke. DeChambeau says he was inspired to go to SMU when he saw a mural of Stewart on campus.

The par putt wasn’t as long or as dramatic as Stewart’s in 1999. The celebration was just that. DeChambeau repeatedly pumped those strong arms as he shouted into the blue sky, turning in every direction to a gallery that had cheered him all week.

McIlroy was in the scoring room, devastated by another tough decision in a major tournament.

This one will tie. As much as this US Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s wonderful bunker shot, McIlroy played a major role by shockingly missing two putts, the last just 4 feet for par on the final hole. He closed with a 69.

He looked like a winner for a long time on Sunday, making four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn. He was a model of cool, the opposite of DeChambeau’s exuberance.

McIlroy was two shots ahead heading to the 14th tee. The screams grew louder—”Ror-EE! Ror-EE!” and DeChambeau could hear them.

McIlroy made bogey behind the 15th green but maintained a lead when DeChambeau, playing in the group behind him, made his first three-putt of the week on the 15th when he missed from 4 feet.

And that’s when the US Open took a devastating turn for McIlroy. He missed a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole to tie. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a famous wire bush. He took a shot near the green and put it beautifully to 4 feet.

And he was wrong again.

McIlroy was watching from the scoring room as DeChambeau escaped a terrible lie to the left of the fairway — a tree on his backswing, a root in front of the golf ball — and hit it into the bunker. He deftly shot from the soft sand that rolled onto the crunchy green to set up the winning shot.

“I still can’t believe these ups and downs,” DeChambeau said as he watched a replay on the video screen during the trophy presentation. “Probably the best photo of my life.”

McIlroy spun his tires on the gravel as he quickly exited without comment. Since winning the US Congressional Open in 2011, he has seven top 10s without a win – it’s been more than 100 years since anyone did this 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 flag on the 18th, and DeChambeau donned a Stewart-inspired cap during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with his LIV “Crushers” cap.

He finished at 6-under 274.

Patrick Cantlay lingered on this duel all afternoon, unable to make his putts fall at the right time, until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole that ended his chances. He finished with a 70 and tied for third with Tony Finau, who equaled Sunday’s best with a 67, without ever having a great chance of winning.

Cantlay would need a runner-up finish to get the fourth American spot at the Olympics. This goes to Collin Morikawa. Corey Conners closed with a 70 to surpass Adam Hadwin and claim an Olympic berth for Canada.

DeChambeau won $4.3 million – more than he earns from winning a LIV event – ​​with the record purse of $21.5 million.