golf
McIlroy makes a mistake, DeChambeau celebrates: Second victory at US Open
DeChambeau shot a round of 71 to secure his second US Open victory after his previous success in 2020. Photo
© Matt York/AP
Rory McIlroy is one of golf’s biggest stars, but hasn’t won a major since 2014. At the US Open, he was two strokes ahead on the final day – but in the end, someone else was celebrating.
Northern Ireland’s golf star Rory McIlroy lost a two-stroke lead on the last five holes and had to admit defeat once again, finishing one stroke behind. He has been waiting for the fifth major triumph of his career since 2014.
DeChambeau was also far from a clear victory, but he reacted to his mistakes with magical shots. He placed his tee shot on hole 18 in such a way that he had to rescue the ball from a patch of high tufts of grass next to the stands, just a short distance from a tree root – and then found himself in the sand bunker.
“The best shot of my life”
However, he then shone from a good 50 meters and brought the ball almost perfectly to the hole. “That was probably the best shot of my life. That was great. Winning this tournament is the highlight of my life,” said DeChambeau, who earns his money mainly on the LIV tour, which is financed by Saudi Arabia and is therefore controversial.
At his first and so far last victory in 2020, no spectators were allowed to attend due to the corona pandemic. Now DeChambeau sought a connection with the audience, repeatedly called for applause and triggered huge cheers in the stands of the difficult par-70 Pinehurst No.2 course with his converted putt. “I can’t thank you enough for the support, it meant the world to me,” he said in the winner’s interview.
DeChambeau ultimately won with a round of 71. He finished the tournament six strokes under par.
McIlroy fails from close range – twice
McIlroy had already left the scene in defeat. He had not allowed himself to make any mistakes on the green throughout the tournament – but then he failed twice from close range on the final holes. He was still leading by two strokes on the 14th hole and was still one stroke ahead on hole 16 when he missed the hole from less than a meter.
Only because DeChambeau made several small mistakes of his own did McIlroy have any hope of winning until the end. On the final hole, he hit the weeds with his tee shot, but skillfully extricated himself from the predicament, only to miss again from about 80 centimeters away.
How the Germans fared
Stephan Jäger shot a round of 72 on the last day of the tournament. He finished the US Open in a shared 21st place. Things went a little better for former US Open winner Martin Kaymer on day four: one day after his round of 77, he shot a round of 73. He ended up in a shared 64th place, 13 strokes over par.
Ten years ago, Kaymer became the only German to win the US Open on the golf course, securing the second and so far last major title of his career. In 2022, like DeChambeau, he joined the LIV Tour.