Bryson DeChambeau won a second major title on Sunday, beating Rory McIlroy in a dramatic finale at Pinehurst with the Northern Irishman losing in heartbreaking circumstances
Bryson DeChambeau labelled Rory McIlroy ‘one of the best to ever play’ after beating out the Northern Irishman to win the U.S. Open.
Through 71 holes, McIlroy and DeChambeau were level in a thrilling fourth-round finale to a gripping tournament. But the Northern Irishman posted a brutal close-range bogey at 18, and his third in the final four holes to ensure the wait for an elusive fifth major title goes on.
As DeChambeau celebrated a second career major title, McIlroy rapidly departed the premises. He did not wait around to congratulate DeChambeau or speak to media, but the American ultimately had positive words for McIlroy in the wake of his tragic defeat.
“Rory is one of the best to ever play,” DeChambeau told reporters. “Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special. For him to miss that putt, I’d never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way.”
McIlroy’s agonising wait for a fifth major title goes on. But DeChambeau is convinced the drought will end soon, adding: “He’ll win multiple more major championships. There’s no doubt. I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow.
“I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh.’ But luckily things went my way today.
DeChambeau insisted McIlroy will go on to win multiple major titles as he is a ‘strong-minded individual’. He added: “Rory is going to do it. I’d love to have a lot more battles with him. It would be a lot of fun. But, yeah, Rory’s going to do it at some point.”
McIlroy carded three birdies in four holes through the turn to seize the lead while DeChambeau struggled off the tee. However, errors seeped into his game in the pivotal moments, and DeChambeau produced one of the greatest clutch shots in major history to win his second title four years on from victory at Winged Foot.
DeChambeau also offered some advice for McIlroy given he had to wait four years for his second major title win: “For me, it was knowing how good my game is, how great of a place it’s in, and just continuing to execute knowing the statistics would eventually fall my way. Still hope. Golf, it’s a game of luck. There’s a lot of luck that has to happen and go your way out there.”
