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2024 US Open highlights: Bryson DeChambeau survives at Pinehurst to win second career major
For the second time in five years, Bryson DeChambeau is the winner of the U.S. Open.
DeChambeau battled back and forth throughout the afternoon with Rory McIlroy to win his second career major title, this one played at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
DeChambeau shot a 1-over par final round Sunday to finish the tournament at 6-under – one stroke better than McIlroy. This also marks the second major title won by an active LIV Golf member, joining Brooks Koepka's victory at the 2023 PGA Championship.
"I haven’t really let it sink in yet," DeChambeau said during the post-tournament interview with NBC, before he gestured to his support team. "Tonight I want all of you guys, somehow, to touch this trophy, because I want you to experience what this means and what you all mean to me."
McIlroy missed two putts within five feet in the final three holes, including a bogey on No. 18, offering DeChambeau an opening to take the title. DeChambeau, though, struggled to find fairways throughout the afternoon and was forced to make tough shots in scramble situations. None was more impressive than the work he did on the final hole, needing to punch a shot over a tree root and under an overhanging branch.
DeChambeau, 30, won the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, which was played with limited spectators because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
"This will be the highlight of my life," DeChambeau said Sunday during the NBC interview. "I still can’t believe it."
This also becomes yet another devastating major finish for McIlroy, 35, whose last major title was at the 2014 PGA Championship, and who is stuck at four major championship victories.
Here's how the final round of the U.S. Open unfolded Sunday at Pinehurst:
2024 US Open leaderboard
Check out the full leaderboard here
Final hole proves tricky for both McIlroy and DeChambeau
Both Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau entered the final hole of the U.S. Open tied at 6-under par. And, as he did all day, it took an epic up-and-down for DeChambeau to save par and – eventually – win the tournament.
McIlroy’s tee shot sailed well left into the tall grass and his lie was complicated further as it sat behind a shrub. His second caught a lot of the grass, but it landed safely short of the green. He chipped onto the green to set up a very makeable putt within four feet, a putt that he didn’t hit with enough speed, causing it to rim out. He settled for bogey.
DeChambeau, meanwhile, hit an even worse tee shot, also well left of the fairway. His lie was in front of a root and under an overhanging branch. He punched the ball through and it rolled into a greenside bunker. His third shot was masterful, pinning the ball to within four feet. He sunk the putt to save par and win the tournament. McIlroy, whose putter had been his strength all day long, missed two putts within five feet in the final three holes.
U.S. Open playoff format
If two or more players are tied at the end of 72 holes, the U.S. Open will go to a playoff.
Until 2018, the winner was determined by an 18-hole playoff round the day after the tournament's scheduled conclusion. Since then, the USGA has opted for a two-hole aggregate playoff format. If two or more players remain tied after the two additional holes, the outcome would be decided by a sudden death playoff.
McIlroy, DeChambeau record bogeys after short misses
Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy have each hit several difficult shots Sunday. With the U.S. Open title on the line, they each missed some of their easiest.
Needing to sink a four-foot putt to save par on the par-3 No. 15, DeChambeau had his attempt roll around the cup, forcing his first three-putt of his U.S. Open, and his third bogey of the day. That momentarily moved him out of the co-lead with Rory McIlroy, who needed to sink a similarly short putt to convert par on No. 16.
McIlroy's was just two-and-a-half feet, but it rolled around the left side of the cup, leading to his bogey. Both players remained in a co-lead at 6-under.
McIlroy finds wire grass on par-3 15th
Once again, we are tied.
Rory McIlroy's line on his tee shot on the par-3 No. 15 was excellent; it was just hit with the wrong club. McIlroy's shot bounced on the green and then rolled off into a little valley, stopping just shy of wire grass. That complicated his second shot, and he was unable to save par on a 31-foot putt. Though it was just his second bogey of the day, McIlroy moved into a co-lead with Bryson DeChambeau, who converted par on No. 14 to stay at 7-under.
Bryson birdies No. 13, moves to within one
On the hole following his second bogey of the day, Bryson DeChambeau responded with a clean tee shot on No. 13, setting himself up for a makable eagle try that would've instantly erased the two-stroke lead Rory McIlroy had just built.
DeChambeau's putt, however, didn't have the pace it needed and came to a stop just short of the pin, though the read was pure. His birdie moved him to 7-under par, one stroke shy of McIlroy.
Rory surging late, takes two-stroke lead
All day long, Bryson DeChambeau has been rather aggressive off the tee and his mishit shots have forced him to scramble to stay in the lead. On the 12th, it finally caught up to him. DeChambeau was forced to lay up after he landed in the tall grass wide of the fairway. That set up a number of difficult shots that culminated with his second bogey of the day.
Not only did he drop out of the co-lead, but Rory McIlroy also continued the heater he is on, recording his fourth birdie in his past five holes. His birdie on No. 13 was his second in a row and moved him to 8-under par, and 4-under for the round.
And just like that, the co-lead is back on
If this is any indication for what we're in for the rest of the way, the golf will be good.
Rory McIlroy recorded his third birdie in his past four holes, the latest on the par-4 No. 12, to reclaim a co-lead with Bryson DeChambeau at 7-under par. And, as he has done all day Sunday, it was McIlroy's putter that was the highlight. He calmly and confidently drained a 22-foot birdie putt — two holes after he sunk a 27-footer for birdie on No. 10.
Both McIlroy and DeChambeau are three strokes ahead of the next closest player, Patrick Cantlay.
And just like that, the co-lead is gone
Bryson DeChambeau, per the NBC broadcast, heard from the gallery as he headed to the tee box at No. 10 about Rory McIlroy's consecutive birdies to move into a co-lead.
DeChambeau – who entered Sunday with a combined score of 5-under on the back-nine through the first three rounds (best in the field) – recorded his first birdie of his final round as soon as he made the turn.
Again, DeChambeau relied on precise shot-making with his short game to place a pitch shot to within five feet of the pin. He confidently flushed the putt to move to 7-under par and the solo lead.
McIlroy, meanwhile, left his approach shot on the par-4 11th well to the left of the pin, leaving him with a par save. He is in second place at 6-under, with Patrick Cantlay in third at 5-under.
McIlroy makes it consecutive birdies to claim co-lead
We have our first tie atop the leaderboard in the final round.
After making the turn, Rory McIlroy recorded his second consecutive birdie to move to 6-under par and a tie with Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy's birdie came on the par-5 No. 10, on an excellent read on a curving, 27-foot putt. That followed McIlroy's birdie on the par-3 ninth, whose tee shot he landed within 15 feet.
Not to be outdone on No. 10, McIlroy's playing partner, Patrick Cantlay, sunk his own lengthy putt for birdie to move to 5-under par, and stay within one stroke of the lead.
Competition heating up as final group makes the turn
Perhaps Bryson DeChambeau is aware of the leaderboard and saw that Rory McIlroy birdied No. 9 to get to within one stroke. Perhaps he just knows what’s at stake.
Either way, DeChambeau – as he has much of his final round Sunday – had to piece together some remarkable shots to scramble. His tee shot at the eighth sailed well right of the fairway and into the tree line. His second was blasted through the pine straw, though it settled below a ridge on the back side of the green, a very difficult location.
DeChambeau’s third shot was well played and left him with a makeable, 12-foot putt to save par. DeChambeau was fired up and fist-pumped toward the crowd.
Still, even as he holds a one-stroke lead, DeChambeau did not record a single birdie on the front-nine.
Neal Shipley edges Luke Clanton for low amateur
Following up on a strong showing at Augusta, Neal Shipley claimed low amateur honors at the U.S. Open by two strokes over Luke Clanton.
Shipley battled Clanton head-to-head on Sunday, only the second time in the past 40 years that two amateurs have been paired in the same group for a final round of the U.S. Open.
With Shipley up by a shot going into the final hole, Clanton missed the fairway off the tee, but somehow managed to hit his approach shot to five feet. After Shipley converted a routine par to finish the tournament at 6-over, Clanton just missed his birdie putt to tie, then missed a comebacker and had to settle for bogey.
Shipley, who played collegiately at James Madison and as a postgraduate at Ohio State, was also the low amateur at the Masters – a feat accomplished by a select few in golf history, including Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.
Cantlay gets a birdie, within two of lead
Patrick Cantlay very nearly birdied the par-3 No. 6 as he tried to close the lead, but his putt attempt just missed. He would go on to capitalize on the next hole. Cantlay recorded his first birdie of the day, on the seventh, to move into 4-under par and a tie for second place with Rory McIlroy.
They are both chasing Bryson DeChambeau who uncorked an absolute bomb of a drive on No. 7 that cleared a bunker and traveled 341 yards. It left him just 88 yards to the pin, and an excellent chance to build his lead.
DeChambeau drops first stroke of the day
What appeared to be inevitable through the first three holes took place at No. 4.
Bryson DeChambeau recorded his first bogey of the day after a failed up-and-down attempt just rimmed out. DeChambeau had to scramble to set himself up with a very difficult par save. He read the putt quite well, and it appeared to be on line, except that it curved around the cup and sloped away.
The good news for DeChambeau was that Rory McIlroy, who was within striking distance, bogeyed the par-5 fifth to drop to 4-under par.
The bad news for DeChambeau is that his tough start continued on No. 5; his tee shot found thick rough to the right of the fairway and his second shot sailed into a greenside bunker off to the left.
Bryson pars first three through uneven start
Bryson DeChambeau came into the final round at Pinehurst with a three-stroke lead; it's currently down to two after Rory McIlroy (-5) birdied No. 1, but the more concerning thing is that DeChambeau's play to open the final round has been rather uneven.
DeChambeau has seen his driver on No. 2 find the brush on the right side of the fairway, his tee shot on No. 1 land in a divot on the fairway and his putt on No. 3 end up well short. Still, DeChambeau converted par on all three of those holes to stay at 7-under par on the tournament and in the lead.
McIlroy, after birdying his first, converted three straight pars to remain at 5-under.
Leaders tee off with US Open title on the line
Starting the day with a three-shot advantage, Bryson DeChambeau has begun his final round at Pinehurst.
The 2020 U.S. Open champion finds himself in uncharted territory as he has never in his career held the lead entering the final round of a major. He'll be paired with Matthieu Pavon, who's looking to become the first Frenchman to win a major since 1904.
The penultimate group has Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, the 2014 U.S. Open champion and the runner-up last year, matched with American Patrick Cantlay.
McIlroy immediately birdied the opening hole to cut DeChambeau's lead to two strokes.
How to watch Sunday's US Open final round
NBC Sports will televise the final round of the U.S. Open from Pinehurst. Here is Sunday's broadcast schedule:
9 a.m.-noon: USA Network
Noon-7 p.m.: NBC/Peacock
Live streaming coverage of select featured groups is available on USOpen.com and on Peacock.
Rory McIlroy not happy having 'eureka moment' revealed on TV
As Rory McIlroy played the 13th hole of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s No. 2 Course on Saturday, NBC Sports analyst Brad Faxon shared an insight into McIlroy’s game this week that was telling.
Faxon told the story of McIlroy turning to Sean O’Flaherty, his agent, during a flight Sunday evening following the Memorial Tournament and boasting, "Sean, I just figured it out."
But when interviewer Kira Dixon, working on-site for Sky Golf this week, told McIlroy about what Faxon had shared on national TV and asked him to elaborate on what she called his "eureka moment," McIlroy was none too pleased.
"OK?" he said, eyebrows arching. "Umm, it may be true. I don’t know if I want to disclose it right now. I’m not sure why Fax is giving away sort of all my secrets."
Faxon and McIlroy have a unique relationship among players and announcers given that Faxon serves as his putting coach, too.
Hole to watch on Sunday: No. 13
If there's some Sunday afternoon drama at this year's U.S. Open, a potential turning point could be on Pinehurst's short par-4 13th hole.
The USGA has moved the tees up for today's final round, so the hole measures just 316 yards from the tee markers to a very accessible pin placement.
With a slight breeze at their backs, golfers will be tempted to drive the green and give themselves a possible putt for eagle. Daniel Berger did just that, becoming Sunday's first to record an eagle when he hit his drive to within 12 feet of the hole and nailed the putt.
Can anyone go really low in US Open's final round?
Roughly half the field of 74 golfers to make the 36-hole cut have begun their final rounds, and Pinehurst isn't showing a whole lot of mercy. Only 21 players shot rounds under par 70 in Saturday's third round, led by Collin Morikawa's 66 and DeChambeau's 67.
So far on Sunday (as of 11:15 a.m. ET), only eight players are under par for their rounds. Seonghyeon Kim has the best round of the day so far -- a 2-under 68.
The lowest round of the week came on Thursday, when Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy opened with 5-under 65s. Both of those players remain in striking distance, starting the day just three shots behind leader Bryson DeChambeau.
What's the greatest comeback in US Open history?
The greatest 54-hole deficit ever overcome to win a U.S. Open happened in 1960, when Arnold Palmer stormed from seven shots back to win at Cherry Hills Country Club outside Denver. Palmer birdied six of his first seven holes on his way to a 6-under 65 and a two-stroke victory over Jack Nicklaus.
Unless someone can somehow top Palmer, this year's U.S. Open champion will be one of the 11 golfers who begin today's final round at even par or better. In fact, in nine of the last 10 U.S. Opens, the winner has come from one of the top two spots entering the final round.
Sunday's weather forecast for Pinehurst
As it's been all week, the weather forecast for Sunday's final round of the U.S. Open will be for partly sunny skies with hot and humid conditions and a high temperature around 90. Winds will be out of the east at 7 mph, with gusts up to 11 mph.
US Open Sunday tee times for final round
Tee times for the final round of the U.S. Open:
All times Eastern
7:30 a.m.: Seonghyeon Kim, Gunnar Broin (amateur)
7:41 a.m.: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Jackson Suber
7:52 a.m.: Brandon Wu, Austin Eckroat
8:03 a.m.: Francesco Molinari, Ben Kohles
8:14 a.m.: Dean Burmester, Ryan Fox
8:25 a.m.: Sepp Straka, Martin Kaymer
8:36 a.m.: Greyson Sigg, Cameron Young
8:47 a.m.: Nico Echavarria, Brendon Todd
8:58 a.m.: Justin Lower, Sam Bennett
9:09 a.m.: Adam Scott, Brian Campbell
9:25 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Frankie Capan III
9:36 a.m.: Adam Svensson, Harris English
9:47 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Si Woo Kim
9:58 a.m.: Max Greyserman, Sahith Theegala
10:09 a.m.: Daniel Berger, Keegan Bradley
10:20 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Tom McKibbin
10:31 a.m.: Brooks Koepka, Tim Widing
10:42 a.m.: Nicolai Højgaard, Emiliano Grillo
10:53 a.m.: Isaiah Salinda, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
11:04 a.m.: Cameron Smith, Wyndham Clark
11:15 a.m.: J.T. Poston, Tommy Fleetwood
11:31 a.m.: Shane Lowry, Zac Blair
11:42 a.m.: Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk
11:53 a.m.: Denny McCarthy, Min Woo Lee
12:04 p.m.: Neal Shipley (amateur), Luke Clanton (amateur)
12:15 p.m.: Sam Burns, Stephan Jaeger
12:26 p.m.: Brian Harman, Mark Hubbard
12:37 p.m.: David Puig, Thomas Detry
12:48 p.m.: Akshay Bhatia, Russell Henley
12:59 p.m.: Davis Thompson, Xander Schauffele
1:10 p.m.: Sergio Garcia, Taylor Pendrith
1:26 p.m.: Aaron Rai, Tom Kim
1:37 p.m.: Corey Conners, Collin Morikawa
1:48 p.m.: Tony Finau, Tyrrell Hatton
1:59 p.m.: Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama
2:10 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy
2:21 p.m.: Matthieu Pavon, Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau on a major roll
While he hasn't won a major tournament yet this year, Bryson DeChambeau has arguably played better than anyone else has in the three majors to date. He finished tied for sixth in the Masters and runner-up in the PGA Championship before leading the field through 54 holes at the U.S. Open.
And he's been remarkably consistent in doing so. Saturday's round of 3-under 67 was DeChambeau's seventh consecutive round of 69 or lower in major championship play. If he can do it again today, he will tie the all-time record. Rickie Fowler (8 in row during 2014) and Greg Norman (8, 1993) currently share that record.
2024 US Open purse
The U.S. Open had the largest purse of the four men’s major championships in 2023, and that amount has gone up in 2024.
Mike Whan, the CEO of the United States Golf Association, announced Wednesday the purse for the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 will be $21.5 million, a $1.5 million increase from last year. In addition, the winner will take home $4.3 million, up from $4 million in 2023.
The winner of the first U.S. Open in 1895 took home $150.
In addition, every player will make at least $10,000, as players who miss the cut will pocket that amount.
At the Masters, the purse was $20 million with $3.6 going to the winner, Scottie Scheffler. The PGA Championship had a record purse of $18.5 million, with Xander Schauffele taking home $3.33 million.
Spotlight on Pinehurst No. 2
The Donald Ross-designed Pinehurst No. 2 is no ordinary U.S. Open test, and many of the shots and decisions required will be entirely different than those typically employed by tour professionals. The layout is ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 1 public-access course in North Carolina, the No. 3 resort course in the U.S. and the No. 18 Classic course in the U.S.
It’s not just the chipping – or putting – onto No. 2’s notoriously domed greens. As we've seen this week, Open contestants have been forced to deal with acres of sandy scrub, where luck holds great influence on outcome. Additional wiregrass was planted in the sandscapes just off the fairways for this U.S. Open, adding even more intrigue as any ball bounds off the firm but ample fairways.
Another 'frustrating day' for Scottie Scheffler
Moving day didn’t mean much for Scottie Scheffler, who stayed in nearly the same position after posting a 71. The Texan is in an uncharacteristic tie for 42nd at 6 over for the tournament.
"The game of golf is a mental torture chamber at times, especially the U.S. Open," the reigning Masters champion said. "Another frustrating day. Today was a day where I thought I played a lot better than my score."
Scheffler barely made it to the weekend and he hasn’t improved on his position since then, losing more than 5 strokes on the greens this week.
"I’m having a lot of trouble reading these greens. I had a lot of putts today where I felt like I hit it really good. I looked up and they were not going the way I thought they were going to go," he said.
Matthieu Pavon hoping to make his mark
Matthieu Pavon was even with leader Bryson DeChambeau after 10 holes and slipped a bit down the stretch, but still finds himself in a tie for second at 4 under with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, and will be part of the final pairing.
So if he does win, what will Pavon want Americans to know about him?
"Nothing special. I just love golf. That’s the thing. I’m just so happy to compete here in America. It has been a remarkable journey for me. I just love so much competing here, and this is what I like people to know about me. I’m a pretty regular guy, and it’s just awesome to be here," he said. "It’s so much different. The golf courses here feels like − playing the signatures so far, it feels like we play majors every week.
"This golf course, there is nothing even close on the European Tour. Nothing which comes even close. This is really different. I’m not really used to hitting it in the rough and not being capable to go to the green."
Leader Bryson DeChambeau deals with hip issue
Coming to the 10th tee Saturday, Bryson DeChambeau was tied with Matthieu Pavon at 6 under, when his hip started to tighten. Per the rules, the 2020 U.S. Open champ called for physio help and after a session that was caught by overhead cameras, he came back to boom a pair of his best drives and subsequently took command of the tournament.
By day’s end, the session seemed a turning point as the SMU product stretched out to a three-stroke lead, and he’ll now enter Sunday with a second major title well within his grasp.
As for the magic session, DeChambeau said it was fairly routine, and even insisted some renovations to his home could have contributed to the tightness.
"It was tougher to get through on a couple shots. It’s okay. I’ve had it for a long time now. It’s just something that popped up," he said. "I’ve been playing a lot of good golf lately, and working on my house, trying to get my house finished, so I haven’t really had time to rest like I want to. The two weeks I had off after PGA, I was really grinding and focusing on some stuff there. I wasn’t really able to rest. I’ve just been pushing myself a little bit, pushing the horse a bit. Consequently, that’s going to happen.
"But I’ve got a great team around me to help fix some stuff up."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Open highlights: Final leaderboard from Bryson DeChambeau's victory
