Bryson DeChambeau has dedicated his US Open victory over Rory McIlroy to his late father, Jon.
On Father’s Day in the US, DeChambeau made what will go down as one of the best up-and-downs in major history on the final hole at Pinehurst No.2.
First, he stuck a 50m wedge shot from a bunker to about five feet, and then held his nerve in a way McIlroy could not to sink the putt.
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Jon DeChambeau was alive to see Bryson win his maiden US Open at Winged Foot in 2020, but died in November 2022 after a battle with kidney disease.
Earlier, McIlroy blew a two-stroke lead with five holes to play, and then missed a short putt for par that would have forced a playoff to lose by one shot.
DeChambeau also paid tribute to 1999 US Open winner Payne Stewart, who won the 1999 event at Pinehurst No.2 by sinking a 15-foot putt for par to win by a shot over Phil Mickelson.
Stewart was killed in a plane crash only months later. A bronze statue of him overlooks the 18th green of Pinehurst No.2.
DeChambeau chose to go to the same college as Stewart, and played with a ball marker with a Stewart motif.
https://twitter.com/PhilMickelson/status/1802472294427832672https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rapaport/status/1802471880156131406https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rapaport/status/1802473194265227270
Having started the final round with a three-shot lead, DeChambeau was staring at a two-shot deficit on the 13th tee.
McIlroy had caught fire and made four birdies in a five hole stretch to take the outright lead.
“I knew I had to make birdie to give myself a chance,” DeChambeau said during the presentation.
“Rory was going on a heater, he slipped up a couple on the way coming in and I just kept staying the course, trying to hit as many fairways as I could – even though I didn’t, I was not great with that today – but I got out of trouble really well.”
On the 18th, DeChambeau sprayed his tee shot into the native vegetation that lines the fairways of Pinehurst No.2.
He was forced to punch out sideways, but overcooked it into a bunker. He played a sensational wedge shot from the sand to leave himself a three-foot putt to claim the victory.
He said it was the “best shot of my life”, but admitted it was a case of “hit and hope”.
“I was just trying to land it pretty much exactly where it did, and then running it out to the right,” he explained.
“I remember Payne (Stewart’s) putt and how it broke up there, that was obviously huge to get up and down to win this prestigious championship.
“That will be the highlight of my life. I still can’t believe it. Unbelievable.”
McIlroy made bogeys on 15 and 16, and had the chance to force a playoff with a short putt for par on 18 that he missed.
He cut a dejected figure in the clubhouse as DeChambeau missed the putt. He immediately left the course.
DeChambeau had enjoyed huge support from the North Carolina crowd all week, and invited them to be a part of the afterparty.
“I just can’t thank you enough for all the support this week,” he said.
“You guys have meant the world to me. You’re the best fans in the world, and I can’t thank you enough. What a group of people.”
For McIlroy, it extends a 10-year major drought that goes back to the 2014 PGA Championship.
Min Woo Lee was the best of the Aussies in a tie for 21st. Adam Scott and Cameron Smith were in a nine-way tie for 32nd.