US Open result: Bryson DeChambeau wins as Rory McIlroy throws away late lead
Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open today for the second time with the best shot 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 of more blunders than brilliance, DeChambeau capped off a week of high entertainment by getting up-and-down from 55 yards out of a bunker, making a 4-foot par putt to close with a 1-over 71.
“That’s Payne right there, baby!” DeChambeau screamed 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 shot. 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 every bit of that. DeChambeau repeatedly pumped those strong arms as he screamed to the blue sky, turning in every direction to a gallery that cheered him on all week.
McIlroy was in the scoring room, devastated by another close call in a major.
This one will string. As much as this U.S. Open will be remembered for DeChambeau’s marvelous bunker shot, McIlroy played a big part by shockingly missing two short putts, the last one from just inside 4 feet for par on the final hole. He closed with a 69.
He had the look of a winner for so long, running off 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 walking to the 14th tee. The chants grew louder — “Ror-EE! Ror-EE!” and DeChambeau could hear them.
McIlroy took bogey from behind the 15th green, but he stayed one ahead when DeChambeau, playing in the group behind him, had his first three-putt of the week on the 15th when he missed from 4 feet.
And that’s where this U.S. Open took a devasting turn for McIlroy. He missed a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole to fall back into a tie. On the 18th hole, McIlroy’s tee shot landed behind a notorious wiregrass bush. He blasted out short of the green and pitched beautifully to 4 feet.
And he missed again.
McIlroy was watching from the scoring room as DeChambeau escaped from an awful lie left of the fairway — a tree in his back swing, a root in front of the golf ball — and punched it out into the bunker. He expertly blasted a shot from the soft sand that rolled out on the crispy green to set up the winning putt.
“I still can’t believe that up-and-down,” DeChambeau said as he watched a replay from the video screen during the trophy presentation. “Probably the best shot of my life.”
McIlroy spun his tires in the gravel as he left quickly without comment. Since he won the U.S. Open at Congressional in 2011, he has seven top 10s without a victory — it’s been more than 100 years since anyone did that 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 pin flag at the 18th, and DeChambeau put on a Stewart-inspired flat cap during the trophy presentation, later replacing it with his “Crushers” cap from LIV.
He finished at 6-under 274.
Patrick Cantlay lingered around this duel all afternoon, unable to get the putts to fall at the right time until he missed a 7-foot par putt on the 16th hole that ended his chances. He closed with a 70 and tied for third with Tony Finau, who matched a Sunday best with 67 without ever having a serious chance of winning.
Cantlay would have needed a runner-up finish to get the fourth American spot in the Olympics. That goes to Collin Morikawa. Corey Conners closed with a 70 to move past Adam Hadwin and claim an Olympic spot for Canada.
DeChambeau earned US$4.3 million — more than he gets from winning a LIV event — from the record US$21.5 million purse.
A win for LIV Golf as well
Cameron McMillan
DeChambeau joins Brooks Koepka to win a major after joining the LIV Golf League.
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Rory again misses out
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And another second for Rory. He had a two shot lead with five to play but over the last four went bogey-bogey-par-bogey.
Bryson wins it
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What a round for Bryson. Known as the big driver, his driver just went missing today. The amount of times he was stuck in the native stuff but he scrambled. He also finished second at the PGA Championship and sixth at the Masters.
Bryson DeChambeau wins!
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US Open no.2 for Bryson at Pinehurst no.2
Final hole
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Bryson lines up this putt for the win...
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Make that 3'11 for par and the US Open.
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Right below the hole. The perfect spot to be.
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WHAT A SHOT. Bryson doesn't muck around and hits it to within five feet.
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It sits well in the bunker though. No tree root or tree branch to worry about. But it's still about 55 yards away. Not your standard greenside bunker approach.
18th hole
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He puts it in the bunker. Wow.
A tough spot and the ball went low and into the frontside bunker. He'll need an up-and-down for par or we'll have a playoff.
18th hole
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DeChambeau lines up his second. He's got tree root near his ball, and stand to his left. And his ball sitting under a tree branch. Not great. 147 yards away. Needs a par to win his second major.
Rory now second
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Three late bogeys for Rory. Two short misses. He was -8 and had a two shot lead. Bryson now leads by one. His ball is sitting under a branch though. Not sure he can get a full swing.
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He misses! Rory misses the par putt.
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That's his best finish at a major. Now Rory...
18th hole
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Cantlay can't make birdie and finishes at -4.
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So Rory with a testing four-footer to stay at six-under. Bryson in the native left. Tough angle but he's got a decent lie.
18th hole
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Great chip by Rory. He'll have four feet for par - downhill breaking to the right mind you.
18th hole
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Bryson on the tee. Heading left. Well left.
18th hole
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Rory falls short of the green. Bit of a miss-hit. Looks like that's all he could get. He's got the whole green in front of him - a good spot for an up-and-down for par.
17th hole
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No birdie for Bryson. Dies at the end.
17th hole
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A huge birdie chance coming for Bryson. For the solo lead.
Meanwhile, Rory's ball doesn't look in a great spot in the native.
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So, Bryson with a long but makeable birdie. Rory in trouble with his second at the last. He has 123 yards to the hole. So if he can make contact the green is in play.
17th hole
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Bryson on the tee. A great shot and he has a birdie chance for the lead on his own. 17 feet for birdie.
18th hole
Rory on the 18th tee. Starts left and stays there. He's also in the native a bit further down from Cantlay. Oh no Rory.
17th hole
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Matthieu Pavon on the tee first. Par three. Rolls to the back right.
Up ahead at the 18th tee, Cantlay tees off first and it goes left into the native. Tough spot.
17th hole
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Rory McIlroy makes his par. He has one to play.
Last time we had a playoff at the US Open was Tiger vs Rocco Mediate in 2008. It's a two-hole aggregate.
16th hole
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Bryson taps in for par. Two to play.
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DeChambeau's birdie just...just goes by the hole.
Rory gets onto the green. Leaves five feet for par.
Leader watch
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So Bryson has 22 feet for birdie at 16. Rory in the greenside bunker at the par three 17.
Clubhouse leader
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Tony Finau is in at -4 after a final round 67.
17th hole
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Rory lands in the bunker.
17th hole
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Cantlay and McIlroy head to the par three. Cantlay's ball rolls off the back.
16th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau from 174 yards out. Looks good. It's pretty good. He's on the green and will have about 22 feet uphill for birdie.
Two holes to play for Rory
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Are we going to have a playoff?
Bogey for Rory
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Now Rory three-putts! Back-to-back bogeys for McIlroy.
16th hole
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Patrick Cantlay makes bogey and drops back to -4. It's between Rory and Bryson.
16th hole
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Rory McIlroy for a two-shot lead...just goes by the hole.
16th hole
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On the tee is DeChambeau. This one goes left but gets a decent bounce out of trouble.
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Rory on the green and has 24 feet for birdie and a two-shot lead.
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It rolled in and out. Rory now leads by one as he approaches his second into the 16th.
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And DeChambeau misses the par as well. Oh dear. He gives up the lead!
15th hole
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DeChambeau's birdie try goes by the hole.
16th tee
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Rory on the tee at 16. He likes it. Starts walking after that. Down the middle, little to the right. He has 189 yards to the pin.
15th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau hits the green at the par three. 25 feet for birdie and the sole lead.
Three to play for Rory and Cantlay
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16th Par 4 (540 yards)
17th Par 3 (220 yards)
18th Par 4 (449 yards)
15th hole
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Patrick Cantlay waited an age for his birdie putt and in the end it rolls by the hole. He remains at -5.
15th hole
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Bogey for Rory. And he drops back to -7. Shares the lead with Bryson.
14th hole
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Bryson ends up with par and remains one back...for now
15th hole
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Rory lines up his chip. Having to hit up onto a high green. Tough spot. He lands it on but faces a long par putt to keep the solo lead. He's left with 31 feet.
15th hole
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A great approach by Cantlay at the par three and he has 16 feet for birdie.
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Bryson DeChambeau lands the green with his second and has a long birdie putt.
Meanwhile, Rory at the par three 15th goes over the back and into the waste area. That will be a hard chip to make. Only one par save from that area today.
14th hole
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Rory makes par. And keeps the one-shot lead.
14th hole
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McIlroy with his chip. Gets it within five feet.
14th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau on the tee at 14. Another one in the native. Goes with driver but it goes left instead of his miss right which he's had all day. He'll be relying on yet another lucky lie.
14th hole
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Rory McIlroy's approach lands left of the green. He's left with a chip of around 50 feet for an up-and-down par.
Birdie for Bryson
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Eagle just falls short. He taps in for birdie and is now one back from Rory.
14th hole
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Rory finds his ball. Good break. It's on the pine needles. 201 yards from the hole. He has a view of the green.
A hole back, Bryson sets up his eagle attempt.
Rory's decade major drought
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McIlroy is looking for his fifth major win, something he's been seeking since 2015. His last victory was the Open Championship in 2014.
He was second at the US Open last year, second at the Masters in 2022, and third at the Open in 2022. He's been top five nine times since his last major win.
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DeChambeau's eagle attempt will be from 28 feet.
It's not over yet
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Bryson has an eagle putt, and Rory's drive at 14 goes into the crowd on the left.
13th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau drives the green! He has an eagle look.
13th hole
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Now up steps Rory. He makes it. Rory leads by two
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Birdie for Cantlay. He's back to -5.
Bryson DeChambeau for par...
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He misses. And he gives up the lead!
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Bryson 21 feet for par at 12.
Rory 5 feet for birdie at 13.
12th hole
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Bryson onto the 12 with his third. Has 21 feet for par. Meanwhile Rory lining up a birdie putt.
Could see Rory have the solo lead in a minute.
13th hole
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Rory's drive flew the green rolled over the back, bounced off a fence and rolled back towards the green. A great spot to be. Up-and-down for birdie.
Cantlay now lands short of the green but it rolls off the back and finishes near Rory's ball. Two different shots but the same result.
13th hole
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Rory and Cantlay head to the 13th tee. It's a reachable par four if you have the guts to go for it. Big decision for Rory.
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Bogey for Patrick Cantlay and he's now three back.
12th hole
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You can guess where Bryson DeChambeau's drive has gone? Into the native again. Four in a row he's missed the fairway.
12th hole
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Rory McIlroy eyes birdie chance. Can he get another from 20 feet? It drops. Three birdies in four holes and he joins the lead again!
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Bryson DeChambeau makes par and retains the lead. Seven to play.
12th hole
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Rory with his approach from 142 and left with 22 feet for birdie.
11th hole
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Another strong effort from the bunker for Bryson. Seven feet for par though.
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So Bryson with a one-shot lead but is in the greenside bunker needing another up-and-down.
11th hole
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DeChambeau in a tough spot with his second at 11. Sends it left and into the bunker.
12th hole
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On the tee, McIlroy down the middle again and leaves 142 yards to the hole. Cantlay also in fairway. He has 158 yards.
Seven to play
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It looks a three-horse race between Bryson DeChambeau -7, Rory McIlroy -6 and Patrick Cantlay -5.
DeChambeau looking for his second US Open win (2020), Rory also aiming for a second US Open (2011) and his fifth major. Cantlay yet to win a major title.
11th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau makes birdie and then sends another drive into the native area.
Up ahead Rory and Cantlay both make par.
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Nice to see Bryson sign the hat of a fan while heading to the 11th tee.
Bryson DeChambeau one clear
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His first birdie for the day.
11th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau makes birdie and has solo lead again.
11th hole
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Rory with his approach at 11. In a good spot but he can't get the late draw and stays right of the hole. 35 feet for birdie. Cantlay has 27 feet.
10th hole
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Bryson DeChambeau with a chip with his third and he answers back. Puts it within five feet for a birdie chance.
11th hole
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Rory stripes one down the middle at 11, a par four. Drive of 365 yards, left with 134 in. Cantlay also down the middle, 336 yards.
Cantlay birdies as well
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Rory showed in the line and Cantlay knocks it down. Wow. Huge birdie putts. Cantlay at -5.
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From 26 feet!
10th hole
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Rory with a huge birdie. He's tied for the lead!
10th hole
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McIlroy finds the green but has 26 feet for birdie.
Back at the tee, Bryson also finds the native area just like Rory and Cantlay. 40 years further up the fairway though.
9th hole
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DeChambeau with the long birdie attempt but bobbles midway down and moves right. Tap-in for par and he'll stay at -6.