Bryson DeChambeau Wins U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy Finishes an Agonizing Second

The LIV Golf captain shot 1-over 71 Sunday to secure the title while Rory McIlroy saw his chance evaporate late.

Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after holing a par putt on the 18th green to win the U.S. Open. / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

PINEHURST, N.C. — Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open for the second time, holding on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2 while Rory McIlroy fell agonizingly short.

DeChambeau, a captain in the LIV Golf League who won the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, shot a 1-over 71 at Pinehurst No. 2, his worst round of the week but good enough for a one-shot win over McIlroy.

This U.S. Open will be remembered as one that McIlroy let get away, his best chance to end a decade-long major drought.

McIlroy bogeyed three of the final four holes, frittering away a one-shot lead. The first critical miscue was at the 15th hole, where he missed long on the par-3 into the native area and failed to get up and down. But matters would get uglier.

At the 16th hole he missed a par putt from 2 feet, 6 inches. According to stats guru Justin Ray, McIlroy had been 496 of 496 from inside 3 feet on the PGA Tour up until that moment. That dropped him into a tie with DeChambeau, who minutes earlier had missed a short par putt of his own at the 15th.

At the 72nd hole, McIlroy missed the fairway behind a clump of wiregrass, chunked it out to the front of the green and chipped it to 3 feet, 9 inches.

And then he missed the par putt.

A bogey on the 72nd hole for Rory McIlroy. pic.twitter.com/SGSelJlVZ0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 16, 2024

That opened the door for DeChambeau, but he still needed a par of his own at the par-4 closing hole. DeChambeau also missed the fairway and could only punch out, the ball landing in the front bunker.

He then faced a 55-yard bunker shot, which he knocked to just under 4 feet and canned the putt, setting off a celebration.

ANOTHER ONE! 🏆@b_dechambeau has won the 124th U.S. Open Championship! pic.twitter.com/rzxg7eiDMc

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

“I'm so happy I got that shot up and down on 18,” Dechambeau said, laughing. “Oh, man, I didn't want to finish second again.

“That bunker shot was the shot of my life.”

McIlroy quickly left the property, declining interviews and driving away in his courtesy car.

Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay finished in a tie for third, two shots back. Matthieu Pavon finished solo fifth after playing in the final group alongside DeChambeau.

DeChambeau, who finished second to Xander Schauffele at last month's PGA Championship, became the second LIV Golfer to win a major while playing in the league, following Brooks Koepka at the 2023 PGA Championship.