Bryson DeChambeau effect in full force after incredible U.S. Open win bryson,dechambeau,effect,in,full,force,after,incredible,u,s,open,win,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,golf-opinions,liv-golf


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.

PGA Tour U grad joins Ludvig Åberg, ready for hometown pro debut pga,tour,u,grad,joins,ludvig,berg,ready,for,hometown,pro,debut,sbnation,com,golf,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

PGA Tour U grad joins Ludvig Aberg ready for hometown


CROMWELL, Conn. — New England has another PGA Tour pro and his name is Michael Thorbjornsen.

After finishing atop the PGA Tour University rankings, as Ludvig Åberg did in 2023, Thorbjornsen earned his PGA Tour card for the remainder of the 2024 season and all of 2025. But since he hails from Wellesley, Massachusetts, a suburb west of Boston, the Travelers Championship decided to award Thorbjornsen with a sponsor’s exemption, given that this is the only tour event held in New England.

“This is definitely my home, I would say, on the PGA Tour,” Thorbjornsen said in front of the press Wednesday.

“I obviously made my first PGA Tour start here two years ago as an amateur. Love this place. It’s close to home. Love the golf course. Travelers does an amazing job of hosting the players, the caddies, just incredible hospitality and, yeah, I couldn’t ask for a better start.”

Two years ago, before this tournament evolved into a Signature Event, Thorbjornsen finished in solo fourth, four strokes behind winner Xander Schauffele. The former Stanford Cardinal shot all four rounds in the 60s as he sat toward the top of the leaderboard for most of the weekend. That strong performance came one week after the 2022 U.S. Open, where he missed the cut at The Country Club at Brookline—just miles from where he grew up.

He received another invite last year but unfortunately missed the cut. At least a fellow New Englander, Keegan Bradley, emerged victorious.

Michael Thorbjornsen at the 2023 Travelers Championship.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Thorbjornsen will make his professional debut this year, as he believes his prior experiences as an amateur have helped him immensely.

“Growing up as a kid you always want to be playing at that top stage, playing on the PGA Tour,” Thorbjornsen added.

“It’s definitely a little overwhelming at times, but… the past couple of years, I’ve been exposed to more and more of this, so it’s not too much of a shock to the system. I guess I’m getting used to it. It’s okay, I really don’t mind it at all.”

But now that Thorbjornsen has a bigger opportunity and will be in the limelight more often, he has a chance to influence other young players from the New England area. He is honored to have that opportunity.

“Just because you’re from the northeast and it snows for more than half of a year, that’s no excuse. Just keep working hard, guys,” Thorbjornsen said when asked if he had a message to younger players from New England.

“I just want to set a good example for these kids and inspire them to be the best golfers and best human beings they could possibly be because that’s what the guys ahead of me did for me as well. So, hopefully, one day in 10 years, we’ll have some of these kids out here playing and beating me and winning this tournament.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

Tiger Woods’ son Charlie qualifies for U.S. Junior Amateur tiger,woods,son,charlie,qualifies,for,u,s,junior,amateur,sbnation,com,golf,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


After helping his father, Tiger Woods, prep for the 124th U.S. Open, Charlie Woods now has another USGA Championship to get ready for. He has qualified for the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur, which Oakland Hills Country Club in Detroit, Michigan, will host in late July.

The 15-year-old Woods carded a 1-under 71 at the Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, as 86 players vied for four qualifying spots. Woods bested them all, winning medalist honors with the only under-par score of the day.

He made three birdies over his final six holes—an impressive accomplishment on any stretch, let alone after he dropped three shots on the 11th and 12th holes combined.

But now he will have an opportunity to win a U.S. Junior Amateur title, something his father did three years in a row, from 1991 to 1993. Tiger won his first at Bay Hill in Orland and then triumphed at Wollaston Golf Club in Massachusetts before winning again at Waverley Country Club in Oregon in 1993. The now 15-time major champion went on to win three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles after that, meaning he won six straight USGA Championships—an accomplishment likely never to happen again.

Meanwhile, the younger Woods has had an impressive stretch over recent months. In November, he helped his high school team win the Florida High School Golf Championship. Then, a month later, he and his father tied for fifth at the PNC Championship. He recently tried to qualify for the U.S. Open but fell short. Yet, that did not set him back, as he rebounded with an exceptional performance in U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

PGA Tour: Sam Burns on wild U.S. Open, Travelers, and putting tips pga,tour,sam,burns,on,wild,u,s,open,travelers,and,putting,tips,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news

PGA Tour Sam Burns on wild US Open Travelers and


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, U.S. Open

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, Rory McIlroy, 2023 Ryder Cup

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 @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy speaks out; announces next PGA Tour event u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,speaks,out,announces,next,pga,tour,event,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


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 @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. women’s coach Emma Hayes is saying all the right things. Here’s a few of the best so far u,s,women,s,coach,emma,hayes,is,saying,all,the,right,things,here,s,a,few,of,the,best,so,far,sbnation,com,front-page,soccer,united-states-womens-national-team,soccer-sg,all-womens-sports,womens-soccer,usmnt-coverage


Many believe Emma Hayes has what it takes to return the U.S. women’s national team to the No. 1 status in the world it coveted for decades.

Over the last few years, the prominence of the U.S. women’s team has dropped considerably as key players have retired from the world stage and young newcomers are asked to hold the line.

Despite wins in a pair of recent matches, the U.S. dropped to No. 5 in the latest FIFA women’s world rankings. And while it may not appear as though being the fifth best team in the world is that big of a scare, anyone who knows the dominance of the States for the last 40 years as the preeminent team to beat knows that the latest designation certainly came as a surprise.

For the first time, fans got an insider’s look at the philosophy of Hayes through the latest version of Inside the Crest, U.S. Soccer’s mini-documentary series which chronicles the exploits of both the men’s and women’s programs.

Usually, these are not much more than fluff for the program, but the latest offered a direct look at Hayes and a player pool eager to make her roster in advance of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Hayes had several poignant comments to the group but these were the Top 5 quotables from Hayes to the team ahead of their back-to-back tune-up games against Korea Republic.

After the Olympic squad is selected, the group will have two tune up games in July. The first against rival Mexico on July 13 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT, NBC Universo) and Costa Rica on July 16 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, NBC Universo).

— Emma Hayes to the group ahead of their first game, a 4-0 win against Korea Republic. This is now a group that is 7-1-2 overall in 2024, scoring 26 goals and allowing just seven.

Hayes was adamant in a team meeting that she’s not looking to change much but elevate with the group she’s got. And, right now even with the loss of players like Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz and others due to retiring from international duty, Hayes feels she can work what she’s got into one of the world’s best.

This was great as it added a bit of her philosophy on coaching and style and what she expects out of every player. There’s also an acknowledgment off the bat that she and her staff know that it comes down to their preparation as much as the execution. No scapegoating here.

Took this to mean she doesn’t really care about the pressures from the federation. They hired her to do a job and gave her some pretty moldable tools to do it, so what is there to complain about? Results are all that matter and so far, she’s off to a good start.

This quote says it all. Pressure’s off when it comes to worrying about playing for your country. You’re already here. Do your job and enjoy the ride.

U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau wins; 5 takeaways from Pinehurst u,s,open,bryson,dechambeau,wins,takeaways,from,pinehurst,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news,liv-golf

US Open Bryson DeChambeau wins 5 takeaways from Pinehurst usopenbrysondechambeauwinstakeawaysfrompinehurstsbnationcomfront pagegolfus open golfgolf majorsgolf pga tourgolf newsliv golf


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, U.S. Open

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, U.S. Open

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, U.S. Open

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, U.S. Open

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.

U.S. Open

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 @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

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Bryson DeChambeau wins 43 million see full US Open payout


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.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy squeals out of Pinehurst after heartbreak u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,squeals,out,of,pinehurst,after,heartbreak,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


Rory McIlroy left Pinehurst No. 2 as soon as Bryson DeChambeau putted out for a one stroke victory.

Multiple reporters on the ground saw McIlroy bolt right for his courtesy car and leave the golf course as fast as he could. Alan Bastable of Golf.com caught it on video.

McIlroy did not conduct any media interviews, nor did he speak to anyone from NBC Sports.

McIlroy could not stomach his latest major championship heartbreak, with this one hurting more than all the other ones combined.

He looked completely dejected in the scoring room afterward, and understandably so.

The Northern Irishman stood on the tee at the par-3 15th hole at 8-under par, with DeChambeau trailing him by one. But he airmailed the green with a 7-iron, which led to a bogey four. His demise would get worse from there.

On the next hole, McIlroy had a 2-foot-6-inch putt for par and inexplicably missed. His second straight bogey dropped him back to 6-under for the championship and into a tie with DeChambeau with two holes to play.

After making an up-and-down to save par on 17, McIlroy pulled his drive left into the native area on 18, drawing a poor lie with wiregrass right in front of his ball. He then hit his second shot just short of the green, barely escpaing the sand trap that guards the front of the putting surface. McIlroy played his third shot to 3-feet-9-inches behind the hole, and like he did on 16, he missed that putt too.

Just like that, McIlroy dropped three shots over his final four holes as his collapse at the 124th U.S. Open will live on forever.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

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One of the emerging niches in professional golf is fashion. What these PGA Tour and LIV Golf players wear continues to spark intense discussions on social media.

That said, fashion is a subjective topic with no right answer.

The 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 saw mostly traditional vibes from the players, but some took risks. Sergio Garcia did so with his fashion, but none looked great. Meanwhile, Hideki Matsuyama wore stripped polos all four days, and those did not delight the eyes, either.

Not all those risks paid off, but some do.

Nevertheless, after the first two rounds, we gave you a list of five players, but how many of those players made the final cut?

To make this final list, plenty of variables are considered, including fit, coloring, details, and risk level. But the player must compete in all four rounds, too. Those who missed the cut are not eligible.

So, without further ado, check out the five best-dressed golfers from Pinehurst No. 2.

5. Ludvig Åberg

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Ludvig Åberg dropped from second to fifth on this list because he wore navy again on Sunday.

Granted, it was a sharp outfit, but seeing him in a different color would have been great. Give the people some pink or lavender moments, Åberg; your skin tone is perfect for it.

When he brought out the green on Saturday, it was a huge win. That color looks fantastic on his skin tone and is unique. Navy is a great color most of the time, but seeing it repeatedly gets boring.

Ranking: 8/10

4. Min Woo Lee

U.S. Open, Min Woo Lee

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Coming out of nowhere to land in the fourth spot is Min Woo Lee. The Lululemon scripting was on fire this week. He gave four strong looks, but this blue from Thursday and his Sunday outfit were the favorites.

Yes, they are pretty neutral, but the sunglasses and the flow—he has a high level of confidence about him. Lee knows what colors look good on him, and each week, Lululemon makes him look incredible. The only note is for him to branch out with the pants, but other than that, Lee cooked on the golf fashion front.

Ranking: 9/10

3. Collin Morikawa

U.S. Open, Collin Morikawa

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Surprise! Another Adidas athlete on the best-dressed list is Collin Morikawa. From Thursday’s peach vibes to this fantastic green and blue moment, the two-time major winner put together four solid days of outfits.

This blue goes so well with that shade of green, so it was great to see him put on the brighter pants with it. All four days were strong for Morikawa, but Thursday and Sunday were the best moments.

Ranking: 9.5/10

2. Rory McIlroy

U.S. Open, Rory McIlory

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy finished the U.S. Open in heartbreaking fashion, and this loss will likely sting for a while. However, the Northern Irishman looked clean all four days. That light blue on Sunday was a great choice for his skin tone.

The pants were pretty dull, but it is hard not to have him on this list when all four days were tailored correctly, and he did not repeat too much. If he had given us a bright pant on Sunday, that would have elevated him into the No. 1 spot.

Regardless, he gave four great looks that most golfers would enjoy wearing.

Rating: 9.8/10

1. Bryson DeChambeau

U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Bryson DeChambeau is the 124th U.S. Open winner. His incredible up-and-down on 18 will go down in the history books as one of the best shots ever. But his outfits were fantastic as well. The look on Saturday was the best because the pants were a different shade of blue.

DeCahmbeau’s peach floral polo was a good color for those pants, making him look even more tan. The look was clean but just bold enough to be remembered.

U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Then on Sunday, his small stripped polo looked a touch busy on the screen, but seeing the belt and shade of pants, it is hard to give the best-dressed title to anyone else. DeChambeau won the crowds over and showed how fun golf can be, which also came through in his fashion.

His outfits backed up the impressive golf. His color scheme went together each day, and the cohesion was perfect. Even though DeChambeau gave us something different, it all went together.

Rating: 10/10

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.