Bryson DeChambeau has been crowned U.S. Open champion for the second time in his career, after seeing off Rory McIlroy in a major championship battle for the ages at Pinehurst No. 2.
DeChambeau headed into the final 18 holes of the tournament with a three-shot lead, having impressed across the opening three rounds in North Carolina. And despite surrendering his lead to the chasing McIlroy during the back nine on Sunday, the Crushers captain did enough to claw his way back.
DeChambeau is off course known for his big-hitting abilities off the tee, but after struggling with his driver throughout, the two-time champion had his impeccable short game to thank during the final 18 holes of the week.
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Ironically for McIlroy this would end up being his downfall, after the Northern Irishman missed two putts from close range would ultimately cost him dearly. DeChambeau was fairly slow-starting out of the blocks, after the overnight leader played his opening nine holes in one-over-par.
McIlroy meanwhile was able to shoot one-under on the way out, to reduce DeChambeau's lead to just one with nine to play. Things then got even better for the Northern Irishman a hole later, as he made a birdie at the par-five 10th hole to draw himself level alongside the American.
DeChambeau however hit back immediately, birdeing the 10th himself just minutes leader to once again put him a shot clear. Unsurprisingly this championship was not done there though, as just three holes later McIlroy was the man on top, and by two.
Bryson DeChambeau is the U.S. Open champion (Getty Images)Having parred the 11th, McIlroy added back-to-back birdies to his card at 12 and 13. In the group behind, DeChambeau could clearly feel the tide turning, and having bogeyed the 12th, the LIV member saw his name drift down the leaderboard with six holes to play.
McIlroy however dangerously left the door open for his rival with a bogey at the 15th, but he was followed by DeChambeau soon after, who saw a putt for par from inside six-feet slide by. The Northern Irishman had been let off the hook, however he missed a short one of his own a hole later.
Remarkably, the former world No. 1 saw a par putt on the 16th from just three-feet miss, and this would be the start of the end for McIlroy. A safe par followed at the 17th, but having put himself in close again to make par and stay at six-under, the four-time major winner saw it brutally miss.
This led to him ending the week at five-under, whilst his rival DeChambeau was stood back on the tee with a one-shot lead. It was far from simple for the man in front though, after he flew a wild tee shot down the left, leaving him awkward second shot out of the Pinehurst rough.
DeChambeau was able to punch an attempt into a front bunker, before playing an all-time U.S. Open shot to within four-feet from the sand trap. DeChambeau left himself a putt to become U.S. Open champion, and rolled it in with confidence to once again write himself into the history books.
For McIlroy it was more heartbreak, whose 10-year wait for a major championship goes on. The Northern Irishman has now finished runner-up at the U.S. Open for a second-straight year.
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