Bryson DeChambeau dedicated his thrilling US Open triumph to the late Payne Stewart and revealed an iconic putt from the legend helped him secure the trophy.
DeChambeau beat four-time major winner Rory McIlroy to emerge victorious at Pinehurst as he became the 23rd individual to win multiple US Open titles.
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Immediately after he holed the winning putt, DeChambeau took off his hat and held his ball marker to the camera, which depicted a silhouette of Stewart celebrating his iconic putt at Pinehurst when he won the same tournament 25 years ago.
“That’s Payne right there, baby,” DeChambeau said.
Paying tribute to Stewart was the theme for DeChambeau throughout this year’s US Open, with the LIV star dangling an ivy cap — the style of hat Stewart wore — on his golf bag.
DeChambeau continued the praise for Stewart in his interview immediately after winning.
After wishing the crowd a happy Father’s Day, DeChambeau honoured his late dad by stating his latest US Open triumph was “for him” as well as Stewart, who tragically passed away at 42 in a plane crash in 1999.
“Also to Payne Stewart,” DeChambeau said.
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“He was the reason I went to SMU (Southern Methodist University), he’s the reason why I wore the cap.”
Footage of DeChambeau’s incredible shot out of the bunker and onto the green on the 18th hole was then displayed on a screen.
When asked what DeChambeau’s plan was when working out how to get out from the bunker, the 30-year-old revealed it was the memory of Stewart’s putt all those years ago that helped him know where to hit the ball.
“Hit and hope,” DeChambeau joked.
“No, I was trying to land it pretty much where I landed it and run it out to the right.
“I remembered Payne’s putt and how it broke up there. I knew that was obviously huge to get up and down to win this prestigious championship.
“It will be the highlight of my life. I still can’t believe it. It’s unbelievable.”