PGA TOUR
DeChambeau Produces Epic Par Save To Win His Second US Open
Bryson DeChambeau held his nerve to overcome Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2, clinching his second US Open victory in dramatic fashion. The tournament's climax was nothing short of spectacular, hinging on one of the best up-and-downs for par ever witnessed in the history of major championships.
As DeChambeau stood on the 18th tee, a wild drive sent his ball careening off course, followed by an errant recovery shot that left him facing a daunting 55-yard bunker shot short of the green. The pressure was palpable, the equation simple: save par for the win. However, the execution was anything but simple. The long greenside bunker shot is notoriously the toughest in golf, and to add to the drama, no player had successfully navigated that bunker all week.
With the weight of the championship on his shoulders, DeChambeau approached his shot with meticulous precision. He blasted his ball out of the sand with near-perfect accuracy, landing it within four feet of the hole. The crowd held its breath as he lined up the putt, then erupted in patriotic fervor as he calmly sank the par save, securing a narrow one-shot victory.
Overwhelmed with emotion, DeChambeau celebrated with the ecstatic gallery, marking a memorable finish to a thrilling tournament at the 1,000th USGA Championship.
Bryson DeChambeau posted an impressive string of rounds—67, 69, 67, and 71—to finish at 6-under and claim the US Open title. This victory adds to a stellar major season for the long-hitting American, who already has a T6 finish at The Masters and a runner-up spot at the PGA Championship under his belt.
Rory McIlroy's quest for a fifth major title and his first in a decade ended in heartbreaking fashion. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman stumbled with three bogeys over the last four holes, including agonising lip-outs from inside four feet at both the 16th and 18th. McIlroy, whose last major triumph came at the 2014 PGA Championship, carded a 1-under 69 to finish at 5-under, having started Sunday three shots behind DeChambeau. Despite the disappointment, McIlroy secured a second-place finish at this year's US Open, following his runner-up performance behind Wyndham Clark in 2023, and has now achieved top 10 finishes at the US Open in his last six attempts.
Americans Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay shared third place at 4-under. Finau matched the best round of the day on Sunday with a 3-under 67, while Cantlay's consistent play saw him sign for an even-par 70, making him the only player to record all four rounds at even par or better. This T3 finish matches Cantlay's best result at a major, previously achieved at the 2019 PGA Championship, in what was his 30th start in a major tournament.
Min Woo Lee was the best-placed Australian. The 25-year-old from Perth finished at 5-over for the event after a final round 1-over 71 for a T21 finish. Adam Scott and Cam Smith also qualified for the weekend. The pair of major winners finished at 7-over and in a tie for 32nd place.
The PGA TOUR moves to Connecticut for next week’s Travelers Championship to be staged at TPC River Highlands. America’s Keegan Bradley is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Bryson DeChambeau -6
2. Rory McIlroy -5
T3. Patrick Cantlay -4
T3. Tony Finau -4
5. Matthieu Pavon -3
6. Hideki Matsuyama -2
Australians
T21. Min Woo Lee +5
T32. Adam Scott +7
T32. Cam Smith +7
MC. Jason Scrivener
MC. Jason Day
MC. Cam Davis
Image Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
