Despite the brilliance of ‘The Scientist’ eventually discovering the secret formula, Bryson DeChambeau’s victory at the 124th US Open – capped by a conclusive round of 71 for a six-under-par 274 and defeating Rory McIlroy by a single stroke – was not without a dose of luck, thanks to his closest competitor’s missteps.
McIlroy, who was on the brink of breaking a decade-long drought in major championships, had the title within his grasp. Yet, he lost his grip, allowing his two-shot advantage to gradually dissolve with just five holes left. His hope for a fifth major title crumbled with three bogeys in his last five holes, which included two missed par putts in the final three holes.
In spite of an electrifying rally that initially seemed destined to lead to victory, McIlroy’s haunting past of failed finishes resurfaced. The final tally of 69 for 275 placed McIlroy second for the second consecutive year.
DeChambeau commenced with a three-shot advantage over McIlroy, Tony Finau, and Matthieu Pavon, but found himself trailing before finally taking the lead.
McIlroy’s heated comeback started around the bend, sparked by four birdies in five holes that began with a 15-foot putt on the ninth and resulted in a first half of 34 strokes. One down from DeChambeau at five under par, McIlroy then found his rhythm, transforming the race into an epic showdown. Unfortunately, the faceoff unfolded in separate groups.
But how thrilling would it have been for them to square off directly?
DeChambeau, however, was informed of the on-going action ahead. The increasingly louder cheers made their way back to ‘The Scientist’.
On the 10th, McIlroy delivered a 26-foot birdie, followed by a 22-foot birdie on the 12th, thus levelling up the lead with the American.
DeChambeau found himself trailing two behind McIlroy when his drive into the waste area led to a bogey on the 12th, while McIlroy, after a bold drive on the foreseeable par four 13th and a subsequent chip that covered five feet, progressed to eight under. The unfolding narrative was riveting. Despite DeChambeau’s three-wood landing squarely in the heart of the 13th, his potential eagle putt fell short, although a consolation birdie allowed him to recoup a score.
McIlroy hit a bump when his first bogey since the fifth emerged. His seven-iron tee shot on the par three 15th spun over the green’s backside into a waste area, a situation not even he could turn around. A missed par putt from a 32-foot chip led him to slip back to seven under, mirroring DeChambeau’s score.
However, fortune swerved in McIlroy’s favour when DeChambeau, who had managed to evade a three-putt throughout the championship, overshot his 15th tee shot by four feet. In a surprising turn of events, he bogeyed, sliding back to six under and leaving McIlroy leading by one stroke.
Yet on the 16th, McIlroy faltered, failing his first shot inside five feet for the tournament, leading to a bogey and levelling the scores. DeChambeau, positioned further down the fairway, braced himself for the impending duel.
McIlroy was the first to buckle under the pressure as his drive found the waste area on the left, leaving him with a difficult wire grass lie. His recovery fell short, leading to another mishit putt and a bogey, which allowed DeChambeau to seize the opportunity despite his own predicament down the left waste region.
In a challenging situation, with his ball a mere inches from a tree root and obstructed by branches, DeChambeau was only able to move the ball forward and into a bunker, just shy of 30 yards from the hole. Nevertheless, he executed a spectacular shot to four feet. His triumphant fist pump into the air was met with cheers from the spectators.
The holder of a B.A.D. mark on his yardage notebook, tucked in his rear pocket, concluded his task by sinking the par putt, thereby clinching victory by a single stroke over McIlroy. This individual hailing from LIV triumphantly came out of the limelight to earn his second US Open title, four years subsequent to his victory at Winged Foot.
Shane Lowry found himself defeated and mentally drained after his challenging experience at the previous week’s Memorial, where he ended with an all-time high of 85, a career high score. But, demonstrating his tenacious spirit a week later, he scored a final round 69 for 284, four above par, ending in a draw for the 19th position. Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin, participating in his initial Major, scored a final 72 for 288, landing him in a draw for the 41st place along with the world’s top-ranked player, Scottie Scheffler.