The question has never been obvious but equally timely: did Bryson DeChambeau win the 2024 US Open or did Rory McIlroy lose it? To you readers, the arduous sentence. My very modest opinion is written at the bottom of this post.
In the archives of the US Open there is obviously the name of DeChambeau who closed the four days at Pinehurst No. 2 with 6 strokes under par. One shot less than McIlroy, who was three points behind the American at the start. In the news, however, there will be the incredible day of the two protagonists with the Northern Irishman who had the Major in his pocket with three holes to go. The first after ten years of abstinence. Rory dominated the first 14 holes on Sunday, first closing the gap on Bryson and then taking the lead. Then the blackout: after 496 consecutive putts placed within one meter of the hole, the Northern Irishman saw fit to miss the most important one of all. The 497th was 75cm from the 16th hole but he didn’t want to enter. Drama repeated on the 18th hole again on the putt. And in the meantime the LIV player thanked him and returned to get his hands on his second US Open.
Moral of the story: McIlroy began the final five holes with a two-shot lead and came away with three bogeys. Goodbye victory and goodbye desire to talk to the media at the end of the competition.
DeChambeau: “I don’t wish this on anyone
what happened to Rory”
With the Irishman (his sixth consecutive top ten in a US Open) gone, all eyes were on the winner. “Rory is one of the best he’s ever played with,” DeChambeau said. “To be able to battle against such a great golfer is truly special. I wouldn’t wish anyone to lose a Major with a putt on the 18th: luckily, things went my way.”
And again: “I was behind Rory and I could sense how he was playing. I quickly realized I had to speed up when I heard the chants Rory Rory. And those too Use Use or Europe Europe. I knew what I had to do on every hole.”
Behind the two protagonists are the Americans Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay (-4) and the Frenchman Matthieu Pavon (-3).
Francesco Molinari finished in 64th position, with a +1 for the day and a +13 overall. However, he had carved out a place in the history of the US Open with Friday’s hole-in-one.
PS – In my opinion Rory McIlroy lost this Major
