DeChambeau wins US Open after McIlroy’s collapse17th June 2024
US Open final leaderboard
-6 DeChambeau (US); -5 McIlroy (NI); -4 Cantlay, Finau (US); -3 Pavon (Fra); -2 Matsuyama (Jap); -1 Schauffele, Henley (US)
Selected others: +1 Aberg (Swe); +2 Morikawa (US); +3 Fleetwood (Eng); +4 Rai (Eng); +6 Hatton (Eng); +8 Scheffler (US), McKibbin (NI)
Rory McIlroy made three bogeys in his final four holes to blow the chance to end his 10-year wait for a major and allow Bryson DeChambeau to snatch the US Open.
The Northern Irishman had overhauled a three-shot overnight deficit to the American to lead by two strokes with five to play but missed par putts within four feet at the 16th and 18th derailed his chances in devastating fashion.
DeChambeau clinched his second major title with a nerveless four-foot putt that was set up by a brilliant escape from a greenside bunker that he described as “the shot of my life”.
“That was huge, to get up and down and win this prestigious championship – that will be the highlight of my life,” added DeChambeau, who also won the title in 2020.
It is the fourth time McIlroy has finished second at a major since winning his fourth at the US PGA Championship in 2014.
It was a thrilling denouement to a gruelling test over four days at Pinehurst’s fabled Number Two course in North Carolina.
The first 14 holes of the final round belonged to McIlroy as he overhauled third-round leader DeChambeau thanks to some superb long-range birdie putts.
However, McIlroy’s touch on the greens completely deserted him down the stretch as he missed from inside three feet on 16 then four feet on 18 to present DeChambeau, in the group behind, with the opportunity to seal victory.
“Rory is one of the best to ever play,” said DeChambeau. “Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special. For him to miss that putt [on 18], I’d never wish it on anybody. Luckily, things went my way.”
The champion’s own journey down the 18th was not without trouble, as he found a waste area off the tee then the bunker short of the green with his approach.
However, the 30-year-old continued the superb scrambling that had kept him in with a chance during a poor day of ball-striking by splashing out and holing a putt of a similar length McIlroy had missed moments earlier.
As the popular American celebrated wildly amid raucous scenes around the 18th green, a dejected McIlroy watched on from the scoring room before quickly departing without talking to the media.