United States Open | Revenge of the bad boy

Golf is a sport of mistakes. In truth, it is above all one of precision. Even if in reality, the least precise player, on a given day, can triumph. As paradoxical as that may be.

Bryson DeChambeau’s victory at the United States Open on Sunday evening is attributable to a lot of factors, of course. He was the most consistent player during the four rounds of the tournament played at the colossal and complex Pinehurst course. He has also been the most efficient player since the opening of the major tournament season. Then, he found a way to survive during a tricky final round.

But the American’s popular victory also came about because of the brutal crushing of his fiercest pursuer, Rory McIlroy, on the last three holes. The Northern Irishman, seeking his first major title since 2014, was impeccable from the first to the 15th hole. Especially from the 9th to the 13th, where he carded four birdies. On the greens, he put on a real clinic. His average of 1.6 putts should normally have given him the victory. The 20 times he finished in the top 10 at a Grand Slam over the last decade, he escaped victory, most of the time because of his play with a putter in his hand.

On the other hand, everything worked on Sunday. Until the 16th, where he broke. His short putt for par refused to fall, instead sliding to the left. At that point, he fell back into a tie at the top with DeChambeau at -6.

Previously, DeChambeau had also missed a great opportunity in the 15th. McIlroy and him were therefore fighting on equal terms at the end of the race.

Then, on the 18th hole, McIlroy inherited the same fate as on the 16th, missing a putt by less than four feet, to restore the lead to his opponent by one stroke.

As was the case all day, the 30-year-old was rough with his 1-wood. He hit only 5 of 14 fairways. He finished his round ranked 73rd in this category. In the natural pit to the left of the fairway, for his second shot, he had to ignore the immense root stuck to his ball and the leafy tree that tickled the back of his neck. His ball landed in the pit on the right edge of the green.

It was from there, he admitted during the post-tournament ceremony, that he played “the best shot of [his] life”.

Fifty-five yards from the hole, with the lip of the pit reaching eye level, the most imprecise of the players touched the ball with just enough skill to deposit it a few inches from the cup. Giving him an easy par and a second hard-won U.S. Open title, returning a card of 71, to finish the tournament at -6.

There was a time, when he arrived in the pros in 2016, when DeChameau was an unloved player. Over the years, its reputation and image have never improved.

Fans criticized him for playing too slowly. His propensity to calculate everything and want to think outside the box even made him a little pompous and arrogant in the eyes of some.

He also had disagreements and personality conflicts with certain players when he played on the PGA Tour circuit. Finally, he was one of the first to accept the huge offer from the LIV Golf series. In short, DeChambeau certainly would not have won a popularity contest just a few months ago.

However, the American presented a new version of himself at the Masters tournament in April. He appeared more accessible, more appreciable and more sympathetic.

In a sport that has taken social media by storm, the image of golfers has evolved enormously over the past four years. When people started playing golf during the pandemic, online amateur golfers became real stars. DeChambeau also got in on the action. With the 2.1 million subscribers he has on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the two-time major champion is the perfect link between entertainment golf and professional golf.

At Pinehurst, since Thursday, he has been having fun with the crowd. He interacts with her, asks her to encourage him or to keep quiet. Like a priest in front of his faithful. “I’m going to pass the trophy through the crowd, because I want everyone to touch it and feel what it feels like to lift this trophy. It’s thanks to you that I won it,” he told his supporters, many in North Carolina.

But beyond his growing visibility, DeChambeau has also won several admirers thanks to the quality of his game. He finished sixth at the Masters tournament and second at the PGA Championship this season. He was, by far, the best player in major tournaments in 2024.

McIlroy’s last major tournament triumph dates back to the PGA Championship in 2014. It’s obvious, the idol of an entire generation still has the ability to win another. The question is when. We almost got the answer in the final round, but once again, it came close. Too close for it to be a coincidence. The 35-year-old is still dominant and when it counts, he usually shows up.

This second position is his eleventh top 5 and his fourth top 2 since 2014 in a major tournament.

The disappointment will be great for him, obviously. Especially considering what’s at stake. No one needs to recall to what extent McIlroy has defended the PGA Tour since the creation of the Saudi circuit, on which DeChambeau plays.

This ultimate confrontation between these two roosters was also one of honor, pride and ego between the two ambassadors of their respective circuits. It was like a battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Between Batman and the Joker. Or between Rocky and Drago.

No one here will come forward to know which one plays the villain between McIlroy and DeChambeau, you will form your own opinion. One thing is certain, the 124th American Open ended with the popular coronation of a formerly unloved man.