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Bryson DeChambeau wins US Open, golf world stunned by McIlroy ‘choke job’

Rory McIlroy has thrown away victory at the US Open, which climaxed in excruciating scenes as his 10-year golf drought drags on.

Rory McIlroy misses three-foot putt to win US Open

Bryson DeChambeau has won the US Open after a pulsating final round that saw Rory McIlroy’s 10-year major drought extend in heartbreaking fashion.

McIlroy was in the box seat to win when he birdied the 15th hole, but he missed three-foot putts on the 16th and 18th to throw away victory.

The crowd at North Carolina’s Pinehurst course gasped as his putt for par on 18 lipped out, and a bogey saw him drop to 5-under.

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The mistake opened the door for DeChambeau, who took an eternity to line up a tough approach shot under branches and next to a tree root, before hitting it into the greenhide bunker.

But he hit the shot of his life out of the bunker to set up a par putt, which he sunk to seal his second major.

It’s the 30-year-old American’s second major after he claimed the US Open in 2020.

Meanwhile, McIlroy hasn’t won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship.

Watch Rory McIlroy’s brutal missed putt at the US Open in the video above

Bryson DeChambeau reacts to his winning putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images/AFP.
Bryson DeChambeau reacts to his winning putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images/AFP.
Bryson is back. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP.
Bryson is back. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP.

The gold world was in utter disbelief as McIlroy’s putt lipped out.

Dave Portnoy tweeted: “Absolute choke job by Rory. No other way to say it. Guy hasn’t missed puts like that all year and then pukes all over himself.”

The Fore Play account wrote: “OH MY GOD RORY MCILROY MISSES ANOTHER INSIDE 4 FEET WHAT IS HAPPENING.”

Golf analyst Justin Ray said: “Rory McIlroy was 496-for-496 putting inside 3 feet this season before that miss.”

Rory McIlroy couldn’t believe he missed that putt. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP.
Rory McIlroy couldn’t believe he missed that putt. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP.

Since his last major win, McIlroy has finished in the top five on 10 occasions, including second place at last year’s US Open.

McIlroy said after his near miss last year: “When I do finally win this next major, it’s going to be really, really sweet. I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship.”

But McIlroy will have some serious nightmares reliving what might have been his best chance to win a fifth major.

He was seen looking despondent signing after signing his scorecard and immediately left the golf course before DeChambeau lifted the trophy.

DeChambeau fired a one-over-par 71 to finish on six-under-par 274 while McIlroy shot 69 to stand on 275 after 72 holes.

Phil Mickelson wrote on social media: “Bryson is a STALLION! What a thrilling US Open and amazing performance. Congrats on a great win @b_dechambeau. No one works harder ,deserves it more and is more fun to watch.”

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Raising his arms in triumph, DeChambeau screamed and jumped for joy, then paid tribute to the late Payne Stewart, the 1999 US Open winner at Pinehurst who died only a few months later.

“That’s Payne right there, baby,” DeChambeau said into a television camera, pointing to a pin of Stewart on his cap.

DeChambeau joins Brooks Koepka as the second golfer to win a major since leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.

US Open leaderboard

Bryson DeChambeau — 6-under

Rory McIlroy — 5-under

Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau — 4-under

Matthieu Pavon — 3-under

Hideki Matsuyama — 2-under

Originally published as Bryson DeChambeau wins US Open, golf world stunned by McIlroy ‘choke job’

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/golf/bryson-dechambeau-wins-us-open-golf-world-stunned-my-mcilroy-choke-job/news-story/bc784c604d6ca18d5de570b761ca2ea9