Colourful golf innovator Bryson DeChambeau has paid an emotional tribute to two late and great heroes after pulling off a pulsating U.S Open victory in North Carolina.
Proving much more than big-hitting, DeChambeau fashioned “the shot of my life” out of a bunker to deny superstar Rory McIlroy an elusive first major championship in a decade with an electrifying winning par at the last hole.
“Oh man, can you believe it?,” the American screamed in ecstasy after cashing in on two jaw-dropping missed putts and three late bogeys from McIlroy to claim his second Open title on Sunday.
His up-and-down save was the first of the week from the 18th-hole front bunker and came moments after McIlroy lipped out from inside four feet with a putt that, had it dropped, would have secured the Northern Irishman a least a play-off and chance to win a fifth major – and first since 2014.
After starting the day three strokes behind DeChambeau in a tie for second, McIlroy had skipped two shots clear with a fourth birdie in a five-hole mid-round charge on the par-4 13th.
But the World No.3 cracked under the intense pressure to open the door as DeChambeau, seemingly with ice in his veins, burst through to capture a second major to go with his 2020 U.S Open triumph at Winged Foot.
The drama-charged victory comes a quarter of a century after Payne Stewart died in a plane crash four months after winning a second US Open of his own at Pinehurst in 1999 and the loss of his father John two years ago.
“I want to say Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there,” DeChambeau said.
“Unfortunately my dad passed a couple of years ago and this one is for him and also to Payne Stewart – he was the reason why I went to SMU (Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas).
“I can’t believe that up and down on the last. That was probably the best shot of my life.
“That’s huge to get up and down and win this prestigious championship – that will be the highlight of my life.”
DeChambeau had finished tied for sixth at the Masters and runner-up at last month’s PGA Championship before breaking through to strike another blow for Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed LIV Golf breakaway league.
Making a mockery of the notion that three-round LIV players can’t contend at golf’s biggest events, DeChambeau joins countryman Brooks Koepka as the second major winner in 13 months.
Even bigger, the 30-year-old’s latest success is due reward for his daring creativity in continually challenging golf’s convention and tradition.
Dubbed the “Mad Scientist” for using same-length shafts en route to his maiden major five years ago and boasting a degree in physics, DeChambeau has since traded brawn for brain to annex a second.
The self-styled eccentric needed 11th-hour USGA clearance to play at Augusta National with custom-made, 3D-printed “face-bulging” irons never before used in professional golf.
Yet he rode his so-called “bulge and roll” technology wave all the way to the Masters halfway lead in April.
Two months on and golf’s one-time “Incredible Bulk” is being lauded as a dual major champion after atoning for those pair of painful near misses.
He credits driving the the green on the par-4 13th as the turning point on Sunday.
“I knew I had to make birdie there to give myself a chance as Rory was going on a heater,” DeChambeau said.
“What it means? I haven’t really let it sink in yet.”
Fellow Americans Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay, with final rounds of 67 and 70 respectively, tied for third at four under, two shots behind the winner, with France’s Matthieu Pavon (71) fifth one stroke further back.
Japan’s former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (70) was sixth at two under as only eight golfers finished in red numbers for the week.
Securing a Paris Olympics spot alongside Jason Day, Min Woo Lee (71) was the best-placed Australian at five over and joint-21st.
Adam Scott (69) and Cameron Smith (72) both finished seven over to share 32nd spot, one place above World No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 72 to tie for 41st.
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