22 June 2024 , 02:41
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Fresh from his US Open triumph, Bryson DeChambeau was greeted with rapturous applause at LIV Golf Nashville on Friday.
Yet the two-time major winner confessed to feeling less than his best after a week of celebrations. Last Sunday saw DeChambeau clinch the US Open title, narrowly defeating Rory McIlroy by one stroke after the latter missed a crucial three-yard putt.
The Nashville crowd ensured DeChambeau basked in adoration, propelling him to a four-under-par finish with a first-round 67. Overwhelmed by the support post-victory, DeChambeau expressed his gratitude. "I'm a zombie right now," he said.
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"I'm a dead man walking I feel like. It's quite an honor to be out here and have so much support it's fantastic. This is what LIV is all about, what we've tried to do for a long time and continuing to gain momentum. I'm just proud to be a part of it."
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DeChambeau is hot on the heels of the frontrunners in the debut Nashville event, tied for fourth place and trailing leader Abraham Ancer who leads at seven-under. Tyrrell Hatton holds second place at 6-under, with John Catlin in third at 5-under. Despite being only one stroke off the pace through 15 holes, DeChambeau finished the round at par while others in the field advanced their scores.
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DeChambeau was the fan favourite as LIV was hosted in Nashville for the first time (Getty Images)DeChambeau is a staunch supporter of the LIV series since joining the controversial Saudi-backed circuit and delivered a crushing blow to McIlroy's major ambitions at Pinehurst No. 2. McIlroy, who has been on a decade-long quest for another major title, was left gutted after finishing runner-up, his mistake on the final day denying him a shot at a play-off.
The next day, McIlroy shared his heartache in a candid statement. "Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I've had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer," McIlroy wrote. "Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that.
"As I reflect on my week, I'll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I'll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives.
"As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have. The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I've shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.
"I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland."