If one day, God forbid, you find yourself in a life or death situation and depend on a bunker shot, don’t think twice, dial the phone number of Bryson DeChambeau (-6), the brand new champion of the US Open 2024 on the No.2 course at Pinehurst. It’s the second he’s won in his career after an agonising battle against Rory McIlroy (-5).
DeChambeau is a genius of numbers and science. Perhaps that’s why, being fundamentally empirical, needing to touch to believe, he moves like a fish in water in the sand, with his feet firmly on the ground. He proved it on the 18th hole.
It was a life or death shot after missing to the right off the tee and being left with just enough margin, under the low canopy of a tree, with the only possible option of hitting the ball forward and making it roll until it reached the short trap on the left of the 18th green. Win or playoff. Glory or tiebreak. It was a very difficult shot, fifty metres, one of the most complicated shots in golf.
His shot had the precision of a surgeon and the composure and wisdom of an emergency doctor. It had to be done, no matter what. And he did it. He left the ball less than a metre away, uphill. Done. US Open in the pocket with a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy. He now has two on the shelf next to the 2020 one at Winged Foot. Two US Opens from the same player, although in two different bodies, the inflated and the healthy. We prefer the latter.
But before the glory of the bunker shot, a lot happened. More pain than joy. Pure Roryland. McIlroy had the US Open in the bag, his first Major in ten years. The course was shouting it and even savouring it: “Rory, Rory, Rory…”. He was two shots ahead with three holes to go after a fabulous charge from the Northern Irishman. His best version. Great putt of just over four metres on the 9th, one more of seven and a half on the 10th, a third of six on the 12th and a superb shot on the 13th to leave the birdie made. Four in five holes. Just when the Majors are decided. And meanwhile, DeChambeau, suffering, coming and going, saving pars, showing grit, making a birdie here and there, but bleeding… Or so it seemed.
It’s just that killer instinct that Rory lacks. He’s lacked it all his career. He had it in his hand. However, he opened the door to Bryson with a missed putt on the 16th of less than a metre. True, DeChambeau had also missed it on the 15th, equally very short, but the American was chasing and in need, while for Rory it was time to close the door and put five locks on the US Open.
He missed the putt on the 16th. Drama. And he finished with another missed putt, even shorter on the 18th. More drama. History will probably remember the 18th, the last one, but the most important was the 16th. If he had made it, he wouldn’t have had so much pressure on the 18th. Besides, that last putt was tricky, downhill and with a drop. He had to take it outside the hole on the left or hit it hard and gamble. Rory didn’t dare the board, he opted for the drop and it slipped away from him. Dramatic. Another story for the black legend of Roryland. We’ll see how he recovers from this, although there are so many, you’d almost have to bet he’ll be back to win at Royal Troon. Time will tell.
The reality is that, despite the mistakes, from one and the other, it has been a fabulous battle of titans. Long live Pinehurst and long live this version of the US Open. It has been the best Major of the year for excitement and the course and its preparation are largely to blame. In the end, only eight players finished under par, more than ever at this venue, but it has been a fabulous tournament, without the need to create an artificial monster, making it difficult, but leaving room for the birdie. Yes, definitely, long live Pinehurst and long live this version of the US Open.
