DeChambeau prevails in dramatic final round battle to win U.S. Open

DeChambeau didn’t have his best day following a dominant third-round performance. But he came up with clutch shots time and time again, capping off the win at Pinehurst No. 2 with a dramatic finish on No. 18.

Tied with McIlroy through 17 holes, the pair seemed destined for a playoff. But, McIlroy bogeyed the par-four 18 after watching a four-foot putt roll in and out of the cup, opening the door for DeChambeau.

DeChambeau missed the fairway for the 13th time on 18, and his second shot landed in the deep bunker in front of the green. Needing to par the hole for the win, the 30-year-old hit perhaps the shot of the tournament, laying a 50-yard chip just feet away from the pin.

After closing his eyes and taking a deep, contemplating breath, DeChambeau sank a two-foot putt to win the 2024 U.S. Open while McIlroy watched helplessly from the clubhouse. 

As for McIlroy, this year’s U.S. Open may haunt him for quite some time. 

He looked dangerous midway through the final round, birdieing four of five holes to gain a two-shot advantage (-8) through 13 holes. But, he seemingly crumbled under the pressure, bogeying three of the next five holes, ceding control to DeChambeau. 

Conversely, DeChambeau had more bogeys (three) than birdies (two) on Sunday. But he stepped up when it mattered most, while McIlroy simply didn’t. 

It’s the second major championship for DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Open in 2020.