Monday, June 17th, 2024 Edition
Bryson DeChambeau outduels Rory McIlroy to win 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2
– by Adam Schupak / Golfweek
Per Adam: “Bryson DeChambeau swept up a pile of sand in his hand and placed it in the U.S. Open trophy for safe keeping. A short time earlier, he’d punched his second shot at the 18th hole into a sandy lie in the North Carolina Sandhills, 55 yards from the hole location where one of his childhood idols, Payne Stewart, had rescued par in dramatic fashion to win the national championship 25 years earlier…”
B&B POV: The 2024 US Open was riveting to watch, especially Sunday. The course, brutally tough and sublime. We all witnessed heart racing (and wrenching) play conducted by the game’s best and most popular players on fabled Pinehurst #2.
The biggest question today across the internet is did Bryson win the tournament or did Rory lose the tournament? Our answer: 75% for Bryson winning and 25% for Rory losing. Bryson’s prodigious length and ability to scramble, especially from 55 yards out from a bunker onto the 18th and final green of the tournament was masterclass. Rory’s miss on 16 was a choke job. 100%. He pulled the putt and hit it too hard. Brutal to watch. His miss on 18 wasn’t any easier to watch, but it was a grueling 4-footer that broke hard right at the hole. Many a pro would have also missed that putt on the low side especially under the immeasurable pressure.
Congrats to Bryson who not only lifted the Big-A Trophy on 18 but also endeared himself to most golf fans across the globe. Maybe now some of us will start to tune into the final round of a LIV event. Maybe.
Photo: John Sodaro / GOLF
Inside the tense moments after Rory McIlroy’s calamitous U.S. Open defeat
– by Alan Bastable / GOLF
Per Alan: “After it was all over — that is, after Bryson DeChambeau had holed a 4-foot putt to win this 124th U.S. Open — Rory McIlroy exited the scoring room beneath the Pinehurst No. 2 clubhouse where he had been watching the closing moments of the championship on the NBC broadcast…”
B&B POV: A Netflix producer and camera were embedded with Rory throughout last week at Pinehurst and bore witness to the absolute highs and lows of a major championship. After learning he had lost the tourney to a jubilant DeChambeau, the streamers lead protagonist—which was supposed to be Rory—made his way to the Champions Locker Room, and in minutes straight to his courtesy car and a short drive to his private plane. The camera was nowhere to be seen. Hell, he may have ripped it out of the hands of the documentarian and Tyrrel Hatton’d it to pieces. We would’ve. Or, would’ve just sat and sobbed. Either way, Netflix captured the loss on the course, but not the loser once he lost. We’ll never know what happened in that locker room. Not if Netflix wants Full Swing to air a 4th season.
Getty Images
WITB Winner’s Bag: Bryson DeChambeau, 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2
– Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Bryson DeChambeau is one-of-a-kind. Equal parts madman, genius, and world-class athlete. Just how one-of-a-kind is he? How do we know he would likely ace a Mensa test? Can a golfer really be a world-class athlete? All great questions. This following sentence addresses each succinctly:
Bryson plays with 3-D printed bulge-faced single length prototype irons (not available to average Joes) which he co-designed that feature the stiffest shafts and thickest grips in all of professional golf.
Even his golf balls are extra special. Bryson was the only player who teed it up with Titleist ProV1x Left Dash balls at Pinehurst. And before he put them into his bag, he floated each ball in Epsom Salt to make sure there were no core imperfections. How about them apples?…
Bryson’s Golf Gear:
DRIVER: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees), with LA Golf Bryson Series shaft
FAIRWAY WOOD: Krank Formula Fire (10, 13 degrees), with LA Golf Bryson Series shaft
IRONS: Avoda prototype (5-PW), with LA Golf Bryson Series shafts
WEDGES: Ping Glide 4.0 (45, 50, 56 and 60 degrees), with LA Golf Bryson Series shafts
PUTTER: SIK Pro C-Series Armlock
BALLS: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Check out our Best Golf Drivers 2024 edition.
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PAYDAY! 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 Prize Money Payouts
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: The purse payout for the 2024 US Open was the 2nd largest for a standalone event of all time. Bryson pocketed a whopping $4.3M for besting Rory, who finished one stroke back. Missing the shorties on 16 and 18 likely cost Rory a cool $2M, who flew home with his “team” heavy-hearted in his custom private jet. The top four finishers all banked at least a million greenbacks. Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay finished T-3 and each won $1.23M, which is roughly the same amount a tour player takes home for winning a non-Signature or major event. It pays to be great at golf.
Getty Images
Winners and Losers, 2024 U.S. Open: Rory’s putts, Bryson’s heroics, more
– Dylan Dethier / GOLF
Dylan and Golf share their Winners and Losers in this article. We share ours below…
Our winners & losers:
- Winner – Fans of Golf
Bryson winning a major, or at the very least contending on Sunday, is exactly what golf needs right now. He’s a good looking, charismatic, long-drive ripping, American golfer who plays best on the biggest of stages. It’s too bad we’ll likely only see him again this season at the Open Championship next week
- Loser – Phil Mickelson
Bryson is the new Phil. Waiving to crowds. Thumbs up all day long to supporters. Soaking in the “USA! USA! USA!” chants. Like Phil, we think his on-course charisma and fan interactions aren’t wholly authentic; but for now, who cares. We’re having fun watching him have fun. And for Phil, let’s just say that like his old buddy Tiger, his odds for contending again in a major are slim. But at least he has two thumbs and still knows where to point them.
- Winner – USGA
With a reputation for sometimes setting up US Open tracks like the ride at the amusement park that breaks down with guests hanging upside down, they made Pinehurst #2 a storyline for only being a magnificent test and not a clown show. Thank you, sirs.
- Loser – Rory’s short-term confidence
This loss surely knocked a year off of Rory’s life, but he’ll rebound and still live to be 95. He just looks the part of a guy who’ll never give up. Don’t bet against him to win at Troon next month.
- Loser – Other networks hoping the US Open would be a bore and no one would tune in
Damn, the US Open didn’t disappoint. It made for fabulous TV. Thank you Bryson. Thank you Rory. Thank you NBC.
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