Bryson DeChambeau of the United States celebrates making a par on the 18th green to win during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort. Photo: AFP
Bryson DeChambeau parred the final three holes to complete a 1-over-par 71, and that was enough for a one-shot victory at the US Open in Pinehurst, NC, winning the championship for the second time in five years.
American DeChambeau, who began the day with a three-shot lead, finished at 6-under 274, benefiting from Rory McIlroy's late putting failures at the year's third men's major.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy, who gained the lead on the back side, bogeyed the last hole by missing a par putt from about four feet. Then DeChambeau, playing in the last group, clinched it with a par putt after blasting out of a greenside bunker on his third shot.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after finishing the 18th hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina. Photo: AFP
DeChambeau became the second former Southern Methodist University golfer to win a US Open at Pinehurst No 2, with this title coming 25 years after Payne Stewart's memorable championship.
McIlroy's 69 was tainted by bogeys on three of the last four holes, and he finished as the US Open runner-up for the second year in a row. McIlroy, who won the 2011 US Open, was trying to secure his fifth major championship and his first since 2014.
McIlroy drew even at 6 under with birdies on Nos 9 and 10. McIlroy birdied at No 12 and, in the following group, DeChambeau bogeyed as the Northern Irishman jumped into the lead.
DeChambeau drove the green on the par-4 13th but left an eagle putt short. It was tied again after McIlroy's tee shot at the par-3 No 15 was long and he failed to get up and down.
Bryson DeChambeau looks on while playing the 18th hole during the third round of the 124th US Open at Pinehurst Resort on Saturday 15 June, 2024 in North Carolina. Photo: AFP/ Getty Images - Jared C Tilton
Ten years ago at Pinehurst No 2, McIlroy tied for 23rd at 6 over, but his improvement from that outing won't be much of a consolation.
Tony Finau (67) and Patrick Cantlay (70) tied for third place at 4 under, France's Matthieu Pavon (71) claimed fifth at 3 under and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (70) was sixth at 2 under.
Only eight golfers finished under par for the week.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler never got untracked, shooting 72 in the final round and tying for 41st place at 8 over. Just like the second round, he had no birdies in his final 18-hole tour around the course.
"I feel like I did some good things this week, but overall I definitely need to do some things better," Scheffler said.
Neal Shipley, who posted 72 on Sunday, was the low amateur at 6 over. The 2022 Pennsylvania State Amateur champion, a native of Pittsburgh, played three years of college golf for James Madison before a two-year stint that ended this spring at Ohio State.
New Zealand's Ryan Fox carded a final round 1 over par 71 to finish 12 over and in a tie for 56th, well off the pace.
- Reuters