Englishman Lee Westwood is fed up with the current schism surrounding professional golf, as the PGA Tour tries to strike a deal with LIV Golf’s beneficiary, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Westwood wants the best players to play side-by-side in every tournament, not just in the majors.
“No matter what the level of golf is, I think if the best players at every level don’t come together and play, there’s only one loser, and that’s the fans watching,” Westwood said Tuesday ahead of his U.S. Senior Open debut.
“We need to somehow figure a way to get the best players playing against each other more often.”
One consequence of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide is that the four majors have become even more prominent. Unlike regular tour events, LIV Golf players can tee it up at The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. That means fans get to see the top players compete side-by-side only four times per year.
LIV has also seen success in recent majors, as four of the last eight major champions currently play on the Saudi-backed circuit. Look no further than Bryson DeChambeau, who won the most recent major at Pinehurst No. 2.
“When you look at the U.S. Open two weeks ago or the Masters or the PGA Championship, people are happy to see Bryson [DeChambeau] or Cam [Smith] or Jon Rahm coming and playing in those big events,” Westwood said.
Lee Westwood at LIV Golf Nashville.Photo by Bryan Lynn/Getty Images
“It’s basically getting all the best players together in one tournament to compete against each other, and that’s what you want at the highest level. You want all the best players there.”
This week’s Senior U.S. Open features two LIV Golf players: Richard Bland, who won last month’s Senior PGA Championship, and Westwood.
Westwood earned a place in this week’s U.S. Senior Open because he has played on a recent Ryder Cup team. He represented Team Europe at Whistling Straits in 2021, earning a single point. The Americans trounced the Europeans that year, 19-to-9.
Less than one year later, Westwood joined LIV Golf, where he has not had much success. Yet, Westwood will tee it up with plenty of confidence at Newport Country Club this week, thanks to his recent performance at LIV Golf Nashville, where he tied for third—the best result of his LIV Golf career.
“I started to swing well, and my whole game was coming together when I played at LIV Houston three weeks ago. Then I went home and did a little bit of work on it. I probably haven’t been working as hard on my game as I would have liked to, but I put in a bit more work in the week off,” Westwood explained.
“Putted well last week. I sharpened my short game up because I’ve been playing more, and my game is in a really good place. Played well on the final day, which was good. I haven’t been finishing tournaments off, so having fun for the last four holes, and finishing that tournament off strongly has given me a lot of confidence going into this week.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Ernie Els has won the U.S. Open twice and a pair of Claret Jugs, so this week’s U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club should suit his game nicely.
Els compared Newport to Royal Troon, the site of this year’s Open Championship, as Newport, like Troon, sits right on the coast, meaning the elements have a great impact on the course. The wind will gust off the Atlantic, creating havoc at times. But that will also require players to keep the ball low and run it into the greens, much like what golf fans see in Scotland every summer for The Open.
“The way you’re going to have to play the course is very much links style, and the course is designed that way,” Els assessed on Tuesday.
“It’s a golf course where you can play the ball on the ground, unlike last year and normal U.S. Opens, where we play the ball in the air. It’s going to be a different taste this week. The wind is going to play a huge factor. Greens are very up, and there’s a lot of slope on them. So that wind, when it comes, it’s going to be difficult around the greens.
“There’s a bit of room for us off the tee, which is nice. As somebody that’s played in the wind, somebody that’s used to British Open type of golf, you’re going to have to hit those little 4-iron shots that will run 20, 30, 40 yards. Those who are comfortable playing in the wind will probably do well this week.”
Ernie Els plays his tee shot on the 13th hole during a practice round ahead of the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club.Photo by Kathryn Riley/USGA
Of the five senior majors, the only one Els has not recorded a top-10 finish in is the U.S. Senior Open. Yet, he has posted top 20 finishes in the last three iterations, with his best finish being a T-12 at SentryWorld Golf Course in Wisconsin last year.
He has not yet triumphed in a senior major but has come close. Earlier this year, Els tied for third at the Regions Tradition. The South African then finished six strokes back of Richard Bland at the Senior PGA Championship, tying for sixth.
But he has picked up a pair of victories on the PGA Tour Champions since then, winning the Principal Charity Classic and the American Family Insurance Championship in back-to-back weeks in early June.
“I’ve been playing decent golf. Just started driving the golf ball better, so giving myself more opportunity out of the short grass to attack some of the flags,” Els said of his recent stretch.
“I made some good putts in the wins, and even when I didn’t win, I’ve been putting quite steadily. Just things are a little bit more in shape. My overall game is in better shape.”
Considering his game is rounding into form at the right time and that Els loves the layout of this course, do not be surprised if ‘The Big Easy’ prevails for his first senior major title at Newport Country Club this week.
At the very least, he should contend as long as he can control his golf ball in the wind. But he has proven to have done so before, so there’s no reason to believe he will not again this week.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
The U.S. Senior Open takes center stage this week as Bernhard Langer will look to defend his title at the historic Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island.
But in two years’ time, another man will meet the eligibility criteria to play, which should intimidate everyone on the PGA Tour Champions. That would be Tiger Woods, the 15-time major winner who has also won nine United States Golf Association (USGA) titles.
Woods won three U.S. Junior Amateurs and three U.S. Amateurs during a six-year stretch from 1991 to 1996. He then went on to win three U.S. Open titles, with his first coming at Pebble Beach in 2000 and his last coming at Torrey Pines in 2008. He won his other one at Bethpage Black in 2002.
But as Adam Schupak of Golfweek penned on Monday, a U.S. Senior Open title would put Woods in rare territory. No player has ever won the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and U.S. Senior Open during their career. If Woods were to go on and win a U.S. Senior Open, he would become the most decorated USGA Champion of all time with 10 USGA championships. Woods and Bobby Jones currently possess the all-time record with nine apiece.
“He’d love to win that Grand Slam and get some of the other senior majors on his CV,” Padraig Harrington told Shupak.
Tiger Woods lines up a putt during the 2024 U.S. Open.Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
“I saw him at the [PNC Championship] and we were just crossing paths and he laughed at me. I won’t say exactly what he said but the gist of it was he can’t wait to get out and beat me.”
Surely, Woods will want to possess those records all on his own. He loves the competition and wants to be recognized as the greatest golfer ever.
But the PGA Tour Champions also allows its competitors to take a cart, which would help Woods immensely. He has struggled to navigate 72 holes in major championships, but having assistance via a cart would eradicate many of those hardships. Yet, the senior majors require players to apply for and receive a cart via the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
“Taking a cart changes everything for him,” Geoff Ogilvy added to Schupak.
“Interest both from fans and sponsors is going to be through the roof. I think there’s a good chance that Champions Tour ratings can top the PGA Tour when he decides to play. And what else is he going to?”
Woods will definitely play a role in his son Charlie’s budding golf career, as the younger Woods recently qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur later this summer. Outside of that, the 82-time PGA Tour winner can reinvigorate his competitive spirits and boost the Champions Tour by playing. He should go through with it.
And when he does, the golfing world will love it.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Tyrrell Hatton’s six-shot victory at LIV Golf Nashville symbolized a breakthrough in more ways than one.
Not only did he win his maiden title on the Saudi-backed circuit, but he also won a professional golf tournament for the first time in more than three years. Hatton’s last victory came on the DP World Tour in January 2021, when he won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by four strokes.
But it’s not as if the Englishman has sailed into the abyss since then. He has made the cut in 11 straight majors and posted seven top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2023. He even tied for ninth at Augusta National a couple of months after joining LIV Golf.
Hatton has played solid golf over the past few years, which explains why he still ranks among the top 25 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). But now he eyes another breakthrough: a major championship victory.
Tyrrell Hatton at the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
And with the Open Championship set to be held at Royal Troon next month, Hatton’s game suits that course on the Scottish coast perfectly. In fact, at the 2016 Open, when Royal Troon saw Henrik Stenson fend off Phil Mickelson in one of the greatest final rounds ever, a 24-year-old Hatton tied for fifth. Golf fans did not know much about Hatton then, but he did shoot four rounds of even par or better that week.
“I’ve done well on links courses in the past,” Hatton said after his final round 3-under 68 at Royal Troon in July 2016.
“I think my best performances are on links courses. So I’ve played a lot of links as an amateur, and I’ve just taken that sort of into the province.”
Interestingly, Hatton has not posted a better finish at The Open since then, although he did tie for sixth in 2019 at Royal Portrush. He tied for 20th a year ago at Royal Liverpool and finished in a tie for 11th at St. Andrews the year before.
But now the Englishman will return to Royal Troon as a player to keep an eye on, a much different circumstance than where he stood in 2016, when he arrived as the 68th ranked player in the OWGR. Golf fans know all about Hatton in 2024, not only for his fiery and passionate demeanor but also for his terrific ball-striking and nifty short game—attributes required for Open Championship success.
It seems as if Hatton is due for a major championship breakthrough. Even though we are still three weeks away from having serious discussions about who could win at Royal Troon, Hatton will have to be in that conversation, especially now that he has learned how to win again.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
CROMWELL, Conn. — The World No. 1 looked like the best player on the planet again at the Travelers Championship on Thursday.
Scottie Scheffler, fresh off a surprising T-41 at the U.S. Open, carded a 5-under 65 during the first round of the final Signature Event of the season. He had control of his swing once again and holed plenty of putts, much like he did during his five wins.
“I feel like I hit it nice,” Scheffler assessed.
“Found some swings, or found some stuff in my swing at the beginning of the week, and definitely feel like I’m swinging a lot better than I did last week.”
Scottie Scheffler plays the 3rd hole during the first round of the 2024 Travelers Championship.Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
Scheffler did not record a single under-par round at Pinehurst No. 2, a week he called “frustrating.” Thursday’s 65 in Connecticut is his first-under-par score since the third round of the Memorial Tournament when he shot a 1-under 71.
“I struggled to see the break on the greens last week. I had a hard time finding the right line,” Scheffler explained.
“I felt like I hit a lot of good putts that came off the way I wanted to, and I looked up, but they were just not even really close to going in at times. So that can always be a bit frustrating, but it’s nice to get here on some familiar surfaces and hit some good putts and see some balls go in.”
Scheffler gained two strokes on the greens on Thursday, ranking 9th in the field. Meanwhile, Scheffler lost 1.51 strokes to the field last week with his putter, which was good for 70th of 74 players who made the cut.
Of course, Scheffler switched to a mallet putter ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he then won. Since that change, Scheffler has added four more victories, and his putting has improved immensely since the beginning of the season.
Wooooo boy what a shot from Scottie here at 13. Went on to make eagle here, and has a stretch of birdie holes upcoming.
Look no further than early Thursday, when the top-ranked player in the world poured in three straight birdies over his first four holes. He made a 19-footer at the par-4 2nd, a 13-footer at the 3rd, and then, at the challenging par-4 4th, Scheffler drained a birdie try from 16 feet. He also made an eagle on the par-5 13th, thanks to a spectacular approach from 256 yards out that landed eight feet away.
“I hit two really great shots in there to give myself a look,” Scheffler said of the 13th.
“Then I got a nice read off Max [Homa’s] putt and was able to knock that in.”
Scheffler added another birdie at the par-4 14th, which got him to 5-under for the day. He failed to capitalize on a good tee shot at the drivable par-4 15th, finishing with four straight pars.
The reigning Masters champion struggled to save par last week in North Carolina, but now he has no issues making par this week. That should intimidate the rest of the field, as Scheffler looks back to being the best after an off week at the U.S. Open.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open win is still the most talked-about golf news story despite LIV Golf Nashville and the PGA Tour’s final Signature Event this week.
In the 24 hours after DeChambeau’s win, Google searches about him went up by 250 percent, and he gained over 150,000 new followers across all his social media platforms.
The Bryson DeChambeau effect is in full force, but the professional golfer is taking it in stride.
“I’ve got to say I’m humbled by all of it,” DeChambeau said ahead of the LIV Nashville event. “I never would have thought that from a year and a half ago, things would be where they’re at right now. Gosh, I’m trying to hold it in right now. The support has been overwhelming. It’s with complete thanks and gratitude.”
His YouTube channel now has 750k subscribers. Two days ago, DeChambeau posted highlights from his historic win, which have already amassed 614,000 views, 26,000 likes, and 3,515 comments.
On Twitter, he has 410,240 followers. In the last few days, he posted photos with Grant Horvat and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle with the trophy. Kittle even got to drink out of the trophy with DeChambeau.
His Instagram has also grown since his victory. It is the social channel that has the most followers at 1.4 million.
He also posted a reel of his favorite shots on there less than 24 hours after it went live, and it already has 1.5 million views, 117,434 likes, and 1,100 comments.
The video of him hitting that incredible bunker shot to three feet, which he dubbed “the best moment of my life,” has four million views, 285,330 likes, and almost 3,000 comments.
He is taking over golf through a different lens, and the fans appear to like it.
“It was a risk a year and a half ago, but I knew it was a way for me to get my voice out there and inspire a younger generation,” he said.
DeChambeau saw what enormous YouTube star Mr. Beast did with his channel and added his own spin. Mr. Beast now has over 200 million followers as an entertainer who does all kinds of things on YouTube.
“I said, why can’t an athlete do something like that? Why is that not possible? He’s inspiring millions of people,” DeChambeau said.
“It was in 2021 that we produced our first video. It was a week-on-tour video, and it got a million views. We went out there filming and then pumping it on YouTube. No paid ads, no media spins or anything like that. It just happened. Everybody loved it.”
After that first video, DeChambeau saw the potential and how much it could change golf. His goal is to grow the game, and he found his way.
“How do I do it all the time and create great content that people want to see so people can not only be entertained but see who I truly am,” DeChambeau said.
“What’s nice is when I’m playing these challenges, it keeps me in that creative mindset. It keeps me focused on playing golf. Even though I’m filming, I’m still practicing and working. It’s a symbiotic relationship I have with YouTube that allows me to be the best and give my best to the fans.”
Growth like that on social media is not unheard of, but what DeChambeau has accomplished is huge for golf content creators. They see what he does, and it shows them how possible it is.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
Fresh off a solid performance at the U.S. Open, Sam Burns arrives at the Travelers Championship feeling strong about his game, as it is trending in the right direction.
Burns opened the RBC Canadian Open with a 7-under 63 and ultimately tied for 10th. He then tied for 15th at the Memorial, as a 3-over 75 during the second round kept him from threatening Scheffler and others towards the top of the leaderboard. Then, last week at Pinehurst No. 2, Burns closed with a final round 3-under 67, which gave him a back-door top-10 finish.
Yet, the former LSU Tiger did not have that consistency in the weeks prior. Burns missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship and did not have his best stuff at Harbour Town. But during that stretch, he and his wife Caroline welcomed a baby boy named Bear on April 22—the same day Scottie Scheffler won the RBC Heritage, which ended with a Monday finish.
His now 8-week-old has kept him busy, and being a new father is never easy. Yet, his son has given him a boost of momentum over the past three weeks.
Now he is back in New England for his fourth tournament in a row, hoping to secure his first PGA Tour title since the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Sam Burns at the 2023 U.S. Open.Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
SB Nation caught up with Burns to talk about his life and his game ahead of this week’s Travelers Championship—the final Signature Event of the season.
One-on-one with Ryder Cup star Sam Burns:
(Editor’s Note: This conversation has been lightly edited and modified for readability and clarity.)
Playing Through: First question for you: how is your son Bear doing?
Sam Burns: He is great; it’s gone by quickly. He is eight weeks old already, but it’s been nice having him out on the road during the last couple of weeks. They’re here again this week, so it’s been really fun.
PT: Nice! That’s great to hear. You and Scottie Scheffler are obviously really good friends, and you have a similar timeline with your children, too.
Burns: Yeah, we’re actually staying in a house together this week. Did so last week at Pinehurst, and then we got home one day after a round last week, and we’re sitting there holding the babies, and we looked at each other and said, “Wow, life has really changed quickly.”
PT: Being on the road as much as you are, how tough is it to be a new father and still try to compete at the highest level?
Burns: I think when you get out here and get to the golf course, it’s truly like any other job. You are focused on what you are trying to do. You obviously miss being at home with them, but at the end of the day, I have a job to do this week. Been coming out here last few days and just prepare the best I can, then when I get home, its time to change diapers and hold the little one. It’s a little bit different than what I used to do, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
PT: What’s the state of your game right now? You played well at the U.S. Open, how are you feeling?
Burns: Yeah, it was nice to play well there on Sunday. I had been playing well there all week, but anytime you can go bogey-free at a U.S. Open is always a nice thing. My game is feeling better. I’ve played well the last three weeks, and I am excited to tee it up this week.
PT: What clicked for you during that final round 3-under 67?
Burns: I putted well. As the golf course continued to get tougher, I think it was important to figure out where you could leave it around the greens. That was the key thing for us, especially on Sunday. It was difficult to get the ball on the greens, so where you ended up and dealing with what you had in front of you was really important. And we were able to do a really good job of that and manage that.
PT: Did you get a chance to watch the crazy finish?
Burns: By the time I got home, I probably saw the last four holes. Yeah, it was pretty wild to see. Excited for Bryson. He obviously played really well all week. But also tough for Rory. For Rory to finish that way, as a competitor and as a player, you don’t wish that upon anybody. But I know he obviously took it pretty tough—as he should of. But he will bounce back.
Sam Burns putts on the 1st green during the third round of the 2024 U.S. Open.Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
PT: Speaking of Rory McIlroy, he announced that he will next play at the Genesis Scottish Open. Are you going to play before that somewhere?
Burns: No, I’m actually going to take three weeks off after the Travelers, which will be great. (Burns will next play at The Open at Royal Troon, which begins Jul. 18.)
PT: This golf course, at least from my understanding, is a ball-strikers course. You have to be precise. It’s not a bomber’s course, and you must have your short game. So what do you make of TPC River Highlands?
Burns: I think with a couple of the changes that they made—the first time I saw them was on Tuesday—so I think the changes were good. They made the holes better. On 12, they took away being able to hit to the bottom of the fairway, which puts the bunkers more in play. Yeah I think the changes they made were good changes. They made the green on 11 a little bit smaller. So yeah you have to be precise with your irons. You also have to drive it well to set yourself up, but it’s all about getting good looks on the greens.
PT: Commissioner Jay Monahan announced that the Travelers Championship will be another Signature Event in 2025.
Burns: Awesome!
PT: From what we have heard from players, this is one of the favorite stops on tour, correct?
Burns: For sure. I love coming up here every year. Last year, I unfortunately had to miss it for a buddy’s wedding. But I always love coming up here. The fans are incredible, the community supports this event like no other. I also love going to eat some pizza at Sally’s in New Haven. We went there last night, it was awesome. But yes, this is always one of my favorites to come to.
PT: And then the Ryder Cup last year, how cool of an experience was that?
Burns: It was incredible. I wish the result would have been different, but an incredible experience. Going to play in Italy was extremely fun.
Sam Burns squared off against Rory McIlroy in Sunday Singles at the 2023 Ryder Cup.Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America via Getty Images
PT: Is there a lesson or takeaway from Marco Simone that you had and have applied to this year?
Burns: A little bit. I think playing over there is a lot different. I played a President’s Cup in the U.S., but that was a lot different—especially with how it feels. Over there, you expect everyone to root against you and that’s exactly what we felt. But it was really fun.
PT: You are such a great putter. Do you have any advice for amateur players on the putting greens?
Burns: A lot of times, from what I see with amateurs and putting, you know, in the Pro-Ams, they are always asking me to read putts for them and give them a line. But I am thinking, ‘You know I have seen you hit the last three putts, if I read this putt for you, it’s not going to help because you are either going to hit six feet short or six feet long.’ So the biggest thing is the speed. You see a lot of amateurs three and four-putt, mostly due to speed control. I think if you can take even five or 10 minutes before your round or after your round, and spend time hitting 20 footers, that will help. You want to try and get to within that three-foot circle. The make percentage from 20 feet is already pretty low. You see, guys try to make these 20-footers, and they ram it 10 feet past the hole, and they have a slippery putt coming back. You may get lucky one time, but you are losing strokes more often than not. When you hit it that hard, the hole becomes that much smaller, too. So speed control is big and amateurs should focus on that more than anything.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Almost 24 hours after Rory McIlroy collapsed at the U.S. Open, he took to social media to distill his thoughts.
“Yesterday was a tough day, probably the toughest I’ve had in my nearly 17 years as a professional golfer. 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,” McIlroy posted to his social media account.
“As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the 2 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.”
McIlroy will skip this week’s Travelers Championship, the final Signature Event of the 2024 season. He will also not play in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the John Deere Classic in the subsequent weeks—the final two events before the PGA Tour heads to Scotland.
Golf fans will see him next at the Genesis Scottish Open, scheduled to begin on Thursday, Jul. 11. McIlroy won that event last year in thrilling fashion, making a birdie on the final hole to eclipse Robert MacIntyre by one.
McIlroy has also had a lot going on in his personal life. He was spotted in Florida on Monday with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Poppy, just one week after the couple called off their divorce. The New York Post first reported the news of their sighting.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
Bryson DeChambeau is now a two-time U.S. Open champion, clinching the title at Pinehurst No. 2 four years after he did so at Winged Foot in New York. He did not have his best stuff on Sunday, but he found a way to get the job done, thanks partly to Rory McIlroy, who made three bogies over his final four holes to lose by one.
With his win, DeChambeau enters rare territory, joining Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only players to have ever won a U.S. Amateur and multiple U.S. Open titles—pretty good company to join. On the flip side, McIlroy’s major drought continues, as his downfall on Sunday was perhaps the most heartbreaking moment of his illustrious career.
Here are five takeaways from the sandhills of North Carolina:
1. An all-time classic U.S. Open
The 124th U.S. Open will go down in the history books as one of the best ever. We had two of the best players in the world—Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy—duking it out on a challenging golf course on the back nine, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.
You can not ask for anything more at a major championship. Every shot was a must-watch, from DeChambeau’s third shot on the 10th all the way to his heroic sand save on the 18th hole. Rory McIlroy produced magical moments, too, until his putter went ice cold on the 16th and 18th holes, which shocked the world and left everyone in disbelief.
But this is a tournament people will remember for a long time.
Bryson DeChambeau during the post-round ceremony.Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images
In the post-round press conference, Kevin Van Valkenburg of No Laying Up said to DeChambeau, “It doesn’t feel like too much hyperbole to feel like this is one of the great U.S. Opens in history.”
Before Van Valkenburg could finish his question, DeChambeau chimed in, saying, “Wow,” doing so in disbelief after a rollercoaster day that could have gone either way.
DeChambeau then said that he felt “thankful” to have been a part of it. But in all seriousness, the golfing world should count their blessings to have witnessed such a great championship amid so much division within the sport.
2. Bryson DeChambeau—second best in the world?
Bryson DeChambeau has played better across the three major championships than any other player, including Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler won The Masters, The Players, and three other Signature Events this season. But in the tournaments where he has played alongside DeChambeau, the LIV Golf star got the better of him twice.
DeChambeau tied for 6th at Augusta National and then finished solo second to Xander Schauffele at Valhalla. Now, he is the U.S. Open champion, triumphing on a course where Scheffler sorely struggled for four straight days.
Scheffler is still the top-ranked player in the world, but at this point, DeChambeau should slide in as the number two.
Bryson DeChambeau raises his arms after winning.Photo by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour via Getty Images
He has proven himself on the biggest stages this season, demonstrating a skillset that stretches beyond his ability to hit 350-yard drives. His short game was incredible all week; he made putts when needed, except on the par-3 15th on Sunday. DeChambeau stepped up and hit the shots when he had to, with no bigger one coming on the 18th hole, where he got up and down from the bunker 55 yards short of the green.
Best of all, golf fans have embraced DeChambeau. They used to view him as a pariah; now, he’s arguably the sport’s biggest star.
3. Rory McIlroy’s collapse worse than Mickelson’s in ‘06, Dustin Johnson’s in ‘15
I’m not so sure Rory McIlroy can ever recover from what transpired down the stretch on Sunday.
Let’s start with the tee shot on the par-3 15th, a hole that he bogeyed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. At that point, McIlroy sat at 8-under par, with firm control of the tournament. He had just made birdies on the 9th, 10th, 12th, and 13th holes to pull ahead and into the solo lead.
But on this very hole, McIlroy knew that any shot long was dead. So, from 205 yards out, McIlroy pulled a 7-iron. He then hit a lower draw than normal, trying to pound one into the center of the green. But since McIlroy hits a draw, and a right-to-left ball flight does not land softly, his shot bounced hard on the firm surface and rolled off the back of this ‘Turtleback’ green. It settled up against wiregrass, assuring a bogey.
Rory McIlroy walks up the 15th hole.Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
So, why in the world did he attempt to rocket a hard, low 7-iron, instead of a high fade, perhaps with a 6-iron? Even if he came up short, he could have saved par to that hole location. But as soon as he went over, the collapse was on.
Then came the difficult par-4 16th.
McIlroy hammered a drive, played a smart second shot, and a par looked all but assured—until he missed his par attempt from 2-feet-9-inches. That miss shocked the world, as it marked McIlroy’s first miss from inside three feet all season, per Justin Ray.
Suddenly, McIlroy sat at 6-under, with DeChambeau tied right behind him. Two more pars would likely force a playoff, and a birdie on either 17 or 18 would win, thus snapping the drought.
He missed his tee shot left into the bunker on 17 but managed to save par. Then, on 18, McIlroy pounded a drive again, but it missed the fairway left and nestled up against the wiregrass. Why McIlroy did not opt to hit a 3-wood here is another pressing question in his decision-making.
Anyhow, he scurried his second shot from the native area to about 20 yards short of the pin, right in front of the green. He then hit a solid chip, but it carried a bit too much pace, settling 3-feet-6-inches above the hole. That set the stage for a slippery, downhill slider that nobody would want to have in a U.S. Open.
McIlroy missed that, too, signing for a 1-under 69 and finishing the U.S. Open at 5-under overall. DeChambeau, of course, made his miraculous par behind him, thus winning the title and leaving McIlroy sick to his stomach.
Rory McIlroy reacts after missing his putt on 18.Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
But why does this collapse rank higher than Phil Mickelson’s mishap on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot in 2006 and higher than Dustin Johnson’s three-putt gaffe at Chambers Bay in 2015?
Both Mickelson and Johnson faced the music after their respective collapses.
McIlroy did not.
Mickelson, after blowing it on 18 and handing the title to Geoff Ogilvy, famously said, “I’m in shock, I can’t believe I’ve just done that. I’m such an idiot.”
Johnson, meanwhile, received 11 questions from the media in 2015, each of them primarily focused on what transpired on the 18th green, where he gifted the championship to Jordan Spieth.
“Disappointed,” Johnson said on that fateful Father’s Day in the Pacific Northwest.
“I had all the chances in the world. I’m really proud of the way I hit the ball. Proud of the way I handled myself all day.”
Do you know how many questions McIlroy fielded on Sunday?
Zero.
Instead of talking to the press, or to anyone from NBC Sports for that matter, McIlroy bolted to his car before DeChambeau even accepted the trophy. His private plane was in the air by 7:30 p.m. ET, roughly 40 minutes after he missed on 18, and he landed in South Florida an hour and 14 minutes later, per Radar Atlas.
Phil Mickelson after the end of the 2006 U.S. Open.Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
I understand that facing scrutiny in the age of social media and 24/7 news coverage is demanding and difficult, especially in moments of heartbreak and agony. I also know that he has a lot going on in his personal life. But McIlroy makes millions of dollars to play golf. Hundreds of people also cover the sport, making nowhere close to what McIlroy earns. It’s their job to share McIlroy’s perspective with millions around the world in an effort to grow the game and provide a viewpoint on one of the biggest events in the sport.
It’s also McIlroy’s duty to explain what happened.
Do you think Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills wanted to meet the media after he missed the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XV? No. But he did. Norwood answered every single question—just like Mickelson and Johnson.
That’s what professional athletes do. McIlroy fell short of that, and because he blew off the media and failed to explain himself, his collapse tops those seen in 2006 and 2015.
McIlroy knows that too—hence his decision to get out of dodge.
4. Props to Pinehurst No. 2
Take a bow, Pinehurst No. 2.
You delivered a marvelous, thrilling championship that entertained everyone for an entire week.
We saw diabolical shots, ‘Ping-Pong’ games, putts off greens, surreal chip-ins, unthinkable holes-in-one, and an all-world finish that we will remember forever.
The strategy required on this golf course is also second to none, as this Donald Ross masterpiece made players think more about angles than anything else.
The 4th fairway at Pinehurst No. 2 during the 2024 U.S. Open.Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA Tour via Getty Images
The greens, as crazy as they are, starred like an Oscar-winning actor.
The native wiregrass that lined every fairway, with 75 different plants scattered about, left everyone wondering what would happen next on every single shot that went there.
The layout of the course is also a thing of beauty. Tricky par-3s befuddle the player towards the end of each nine, while the 5th and 10th holes—both par-5s—provided rare birdie opportunities earlier on.
All in all, the course delivered, but there is one thing that Pinehurst No. 2 can do for when this championship returns in 2029: make the wiregrass more abundant and more penal. Plenty of players had clean shots from there all week. The U.S. Open prides itself on being golf’s most demanding test, so why not add more of a challenge to the waste area? It will only entertain everyone else even more.
5. An ode to Johnson Wagner, Golf Channel’s biggest star
After the championship concluded, Johnson Wagner of the Golf Channel decided to re-create the shot Bryson DeChambeau hit on 18.
Mind you, Wagner has become a golf celebrity in recent months simply because of these short segments on live television.
Since The Players Championship in March, Wagner, on ‘Live From,’ has: hummed balls into the side of a hill, roped a punch shot off a tree, climbed into the woods to asses a Xander Schauffele ruling, twice got the yips on air, and then, this week, he walked through why Tony Finau and Ludvig Åberg collapsed on the 13th hole.
But nothing could top what he did on Sunday.
After rocketing an attempt over the green, DeChambeau pulled up to the spot where he played his now-famous shot and embraced Wagner. Then, DeChambeau told Wagner to hit another one, with the champion as a witness. He also provided some insight on how to play the shot.
With a 50-degree wedge in hand, Wagner hit a perfect chunk and run. His ball landed on the green and rolled towards the cup, just as DeChambeau’s did in regulation.
But Wagner’s ball stopped even closer than DeChambeau’s, which elicited a massive celebration from the now-reigning U.S. Open champion and Golf Channel’s newest, and now, biggest star.
Even Scott Van Pelt of ESPN referred to Johnson as such, an honor worthy of tremendous recognition. So bravo, Johnson, for closing out a memorable week at Pinehurst No. 2 in style.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThroughfor more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
After two top 10s at the Masters and PGA Championship, Bryson DeChambeau came out on top at the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
The LIV Golf captain held off Rory McIlroy, thanks to a phenomenal bunker shot he had on the 18th. His par save on the last gave DeChambeau the win by one, as he took home his second U.S. Open title since 2020.
His bank account will see $4.3 million added to it because of his win.
Funny enough, DeChambeau’s remarkable par save on 18 reminded many of his hero, Payne Stewart, who holed an 18-footer to win in 1999. Granted, DeChambeau’s par attempt was a little shorter than Stewart’s, but it was a special moment for the former SMU golfer.
In his three major championship starts this season, DeChambeau has won a total of $6,993,000. His tie for 6th at the Masters awarded him with $695,000. He then took home $1,998,000 for placing second at the PGA Championship and won $4,300,000 this week at the U.S. Open.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
McIlory’s solo second place did earn him $2,322,000, bringing his season total to $10,034,665, which puts him third behind Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler.
Ludvig Åberg tied for 12th with Sergio Garcia and added $409,279 to his bank account. The Swedish phenom now sits fifth on the PGA Tour money list for the 2024 season, as he has earned a total of $7,686,998 to date.
Let’s check out how much each player made this week at Pinehurst.
U.S. Open Prize Money Payout:
1: Bryson DeChambeau: $4,300,000 2: Rory McIlroy: $2,322,000 T3: Tony Finau: $1,229,051 T3: Patrick Cantlay: $1,229,051 5: Matthieu Pavon: $843,765 6: Hideki Matsuyama: $748,154 T7: Russell Henley: $639,289 T7: Xander Schauffele: $639,289 T9: Sam Burns: $502,391 T9: Davis Thompson: $502,391 T9: Corey Conners: $502,391 T12: Sergio Garcia: $409,279 T12: Ludvig Åberg: $409,279 T14: Thomas Detry: $351,581 T14: Collin Morikawa: $351,581 T16: Tommy Fleetwood: $299,218 T16: Akshay Bhatia: $299,218 T16: Taylor Pendrith: $299,218 T19: Shane Lowry: $255,759 T19: Aaron Rai: $255,759 T21: Max Greyserman: $203,607 T21: Daniel Berger: $203,607 T21: Min Woo Lee: $203,607 T21: Stephan Jaeger: $203,607 T21: Brian Harman: $203,607 T26: Brooks Koepka: $153,281 T26: Zac Blair: $153,281 T26: Chris Kirk: $153,281 T26: Neal Shipley (a): $0 T26: Tom Kim: $153,281 T26: Tyrrell Hatton: $153,281 T32: Adam Scott: $126,901 T32: Si Woo Kim: $126,901 T32: Sahith Theegala: $126,901 T32: Keegan Bradley: $126,901 T32: Isaiah Salinda: $126,901 T32: Christiaan Bezuidenhout: $126,901 T32: Cameron Smith: $126,901 T32: J.T. Poston: $126,901 T32: Denny McCarthy:$126,901 T41: Frankie Capan III: $72,305 T41: Harris English: $72,305 T41: Jordan Spieth: $72,305 T41: Scottie Scheffler: $72,305 T41: Tom McKibbin: $72,305 T41: Tim Widing: $72,305 T41: Emiliano Grillo: $72,305 T41: Billy Horschel:$72,305 T41: Luke Clanton (a): $0 T50: Justin Lower: $51,065 T50: Matt Kuchar: $51,065 T50: Nicolai Højgaard: $51,065 T50: Mark Hubbard: $51,065 54: Nico Echavarria: $47,370 55: David Puig: $46,501 T56: S.H. Kim: $44,546 T56: Ben Kohles: $44,546 T56: Ryan Fox: $44,546 T56: Sepp Straka: $44,546 T56: Greyson Sigg: $44,546 T56: Brian Campbell: $44,546 T56: Adam Svensson: $44,546 T56: Wyndham Clark: $44,546 T64: Matthew Fitzpatrick: $42,155 T64: Francesco Molinari: $42,155 T64: Martin Kaymer: $42,155 T67: Cameron Young: $41,286 T67: Brendon Todd: $41,286 69: Dean Burmester: $40,417 T70: Gunner Broin (a): $0 T70: Brandon Wu: $39,548 72: Sam Bennett: $39,548 73: Jackson Suber:$39,113
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
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