Bryson Crushes Field to Reach Pinehurst Pinnacle
Author: www.golfworld.com.au Date Posted:17 June 2024
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Bryson Crushes Field to Reach Pinehurst Pinnacle
Fan-favourite Bryson DeChambeau seized victory at Pinehurst No. 2 to win his second US Open. Down the stretch, DeChambeau held his nerve and capitalized on Rory McIlroy’s late collapse to secure a dramatic one-shot win.
DeChambeau began the final day with a three-shot lead but found himself trailing by two as McIlroy made four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, raising hopes of ending his 10-year drought and capturing his elusive fifth major title.
McIlroy stayed ahead until bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes, followed by another on the par-four 18th, derailed his bid. He missed two putts from inside four feet during this closing stretch, despite being 496-496 from inside four feet so far this season. An extraordinary up-and-down from DeChambeau on the final hole, clinched a final round of 71, & his second major title. Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay ended up a further shot back, tying for third place with Matthieu Pavon.
Alongside Patrick Cantaly in the penultimate group, McIlroy, started strong by sinking a 20-foot putt at the first hole. He moved within one shot of the lead after DeChambeau failed to save par at the fourth.
A tough break for McIlroy at the par-five fifth saw his excellent approach run off the sloping green, leading to a bogey after a difficult chip shot into a bunker. This allowed DeChambeau to go two shots clear. Despite missing the green four times in five holes, McIlroy scrambled to stay in contention. DeChambeau maintained his lead with an impressive up-and-down at the eighth and a 15-foot putt to remain six under.
The gap narrowed to one when McIlroy birdied the ninth, then drained a 25-footer at the par-five tenth to share the lead. DeChambeau briefly regained the lead with a birdie at the 10th and saved par at the 11th, only to see McIlroy pull level again with a long-range birdie at the 12th.
A two-shot swing at the 13th saw McIlroy take the lead after his drive benefited from a grandstand bounce, while DeChambeau bogeyed the previous hole. DeChambeau responded with a birdie at the 13th to tie McIlroy at seven under, and reclaimed the lead when McIlroy bogeyed the 15th.
Both players showed nerves in the closing stretch. DeChambeau three-putted the 15th, and McIlroy missed a short par putt at the 16th. McIlroy managed to save par from the sand at the 17th but faltered at the last, missing the green in two and failing to save par from inside four feet, dropping back to five under.
DeChambeau, after a wayward tee shot, missed the green but executed a remarkable 55-yard pitch to four feet and converted the putt, securing his major victory.
"I felt like I was hitting the driver the way I wanted today," DeChambeau said during the trophy presentation. "I just kept staying the course, focused on hitting as many fairways as I could. I got myself out of trouble really well, but I can't believe that up-and-down. It was probably the best shot of my life. It's the highlight of my life."
