“That was huge—to get up and down and win this prestigious championship—that will be the highlight of my life,” were Bryson DeChambeau’s words after winning the U.S. Open in an epic battle against Rory McIlroy, a victory that left him over the moon not just with the pride of winning, but also with the hefty prize purse of $4.3m (£3.4m), almost a $2m increase from his 2020 win.
McIlroy had pushed DeChambeau to the limit, overturning a three-shot overnight deficit to lead by two strokes with five holes to play. However, he ultimately fell short after missing crucial par putts within four feet at the 16th and 18th holes. A heartbreaking end to a thrilling contest. Well, it seems like the golf world is still not over the victory. As spectators are still raving about it and even comparing it to the GOAT.
In the latest podcast episode of Drop Zone on Spotify, the hosts are raving about Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open win at Pinehurst. They even ranked it above Tiger Woods’s epic Masters comeback in 2019. The 2019 Masters saw the last win by golf legend Tiger Woods. He secured his fifth Masters title with a thrilling victory, sparking raucous celebrations around the 18th green. Woods finished with a two-under-par 70 to win on 13 under. This left Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, and Brooks Koepka tied at second place at 12 under par. But it seems that it just isn’t enough to overshadow DeChambeau’s Pinehurst glory.
“I think my thought was, it was the best golf tournament or best golf competition I had ever been to,” one host enthusiastically shared. They recall the thrilling experience of watching DeChambeau battle it out on a challenging course, where “The variance of scores on individual holes gets widened and flattened.” They added, “You can have lots of sevens and lots of threes. That is the most fascinating version of TV viewing golf.”
The hosts attribute the excitement of DeChambeau’s win to the perfect storm of factors. That includes the course conditions, the competition, and DeChambeau’s personal journey. “Like, you know, Tiger’s 2019 Masters win was so special, but… this was like heavy hitters all week long and on a heavy-hitting golf course that was in its most perfect condition… And then you had the guy trying to end a decade of major championship non-wins… And then you have the guy who is coming back from essentially his deepest depth, his deepest, deepest valleys, if you will, mentally, physically, and Bryson, everything about it was perfect.”
USA Today via Reuters
They even draw parallels to a recent video they created, highlighting the unpredictable nature of golf. Wherein, ‘the bounces that go your way and don’t go your way’ can make all the difference, as seen in Rory McIlory‘s unlucky drive on the 18th hole. Even after winning the tournament against arguably one of the best golfers out there, DeChambeau kept his sportsmanship intact.
Bryson DeChambeau on Rory McIlroy’s Pinehurst woes: “I would never wish it on anybody.”
“Rory is one of the best to ever play,” DeChambeau humbly stated after he took home the trophy at last year’s U.S. Open. “Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special.” He even showed empathy towards McIlroy’s heartbreaking miss on the 18th hole, saying, “For him to miss that putt [on 18], I’d never wish it on anybody. Luckily, things went my way.” DeChambeau’s humble words were a testament to the respect he has for his fellow competitors and the bond that exists among golfers at the highest level.
The thrilling finale saw McIlroy’s impressive lead slip away as he missed crucial putts on the 16th and 18th holes. DeChambeau capitalized on the opportunity with some remarkable scrambling. Despite finding little trouble on the 18th, DeChambeau managed to splash out of the bunker and sink a clutch putt to seal his victory. The crowd erupted in cheers as DeChambeau celebrated wildly, taking in the adoration of the fans. In stark contrast, a dejected McIlroy quietly departed, unable to muster the words to share his thoughts on the heartbreaking defeat. The dramatic turn of events had left everyone in awe, and DeChambeau’s victory would be remembered as one of the most thrilling in recent golf history.
