While Rory McIlroy's dramatic US Open implosion seems all too familiar to his fans, winner Bryson DeChambeau has revealed exactly what he did to catch the Holywood Native as they headed down the back nine at Pinehurst.
For a few fine minutes late on Sunday evening it looked like Rory McIlroy was on the verge of ending his major drought and once again claiming the US Open, when he capitalised on a flailing Bryson DeChambeau and fired himself two shots into the lead.
However, in an all too familiar story, disaster struck and McIlroy missed crucial putts on both the 16th and the 18th that would ultimately cost him, with DeChambeau taking full advantage of his implosion and claiming the tournament by a single stroke.
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DeChambeau pinpoints moment he went hunting Rory McIlroy
Paying tribute to McIlroy on one of the US's top sports podcasts; The Pat McAfee Show, Bryson DeChambeau pinpointed the key turning point in his race to catch McIlroy as the 13th hole.
With Rory a group ahead and having just extended his lead to 2 shots with a birdie on the 13th, there was no doubt that the tide was turning. However, in what was a high-risk high-reward shot, DeChambeau fired a fairway wood onto the green to move back within one, before McIlroy faltered at the 15th to leave them level.
When I heard the crowd roar (after I drove the green) I knew it was gonna be on the green, but I had to do it Rory went up two and I was like 'oh my god', I've gotta get it back somehow. This is a problem because Rory's one of the best to play the sport ever and he's not usually gonna give it up that easily...He missed a couple coming in, and I just stayed the course and was steady eddie the last three holes.
Asked about how Rory can get past what was by his own admission his hardest day in professional golf, DeChambeau was clearly empathetic to his struggle, but savouring the idea of another major battle with the Northern Irish golfer.
Everyone has their own coping mechanisms...I try to be like Dori, I just forget...I literally just don't even to try think about it... That's the way I hope Rory is, he's a great golfer, I'd love to have more battles with him, love to duke it out, excited for the British Open next month.
(Check out Bryson's comments from 11:00 here)
While it wasn't the result Irish fans would've been hoping for, there could be little argument that Sunday's two-horse battle engulfed the golfing world and was undoubtedly the best finish to a major all season, possibly even since the infamous Liv split.
Like DeChambeau, golf fans the world over will be hoping he and McIlroy have many more duels in the years to come - if they all unfold like Sunday.
SEE ALSO: Official: Shane Lowry And Rory McIlroy To Reunite For Team Ireland At Paris 2024 Olympics
