US Open: American Bryson DeChambeau muscles his way to six-shot victory
- The American, known for his scientific approach to golf and a bulked-up driving dominance, leaves 21-year-old countryman Matthew Wolff in his wake
- The 27-year-old tames the feared Winged Foot layout, becoming the first player since 1955 to win with the only sub-par score in the final round
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Bryson DeChambeau captured his first major golf title on Sunday, firing a three-under par 67 to win the 120th US Open and humble a relentless Winged Foot course.
The 27-year-old American, known for his scientific approach to golf and a bulked-up driving dominance, eagled the par-5 ninth from just inside 40 feet and rolled to a six-stroke victory over 21-year-old countryman Matthew Wolff.
DeChambeau hit only 23 fairways for the week but finished 72 holes on six-under par 274 thanks to Sunday’s only sub-par round at the formidable Mamaroneck, New York, layout.
DeChambeau became the first player since 1955 to win with the only sub-par score in the final round, and just the fourth ever to do it, completing a dominating performance.
“On nine is when I first thought, OK, this could be reality,” DeChambeau said of his mindset after an eagle at the par-five ninth.
“I made that eagle, long eagle putt and I shocked myself by making it, too, and I thought to myself, I could do it. And then immediately after, I said, nope, you’ve got to focus on each and every hole.”
Typical deep US Open rough could not stop DeChambeau, whose exercise and protein shakes delivered powerful drives while his calculations and precise readings produced solid shotmaking on a layout that crushed rivals.
South African Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner, was a distant third on 282, one stroke ahead of American Harris English after both fired 73 on Sunday.
American Xander Schauffele, still seeking his first major title, shot 74 and settled for fifth on 284, his fourth top-six finish in four US Open starts.
Wolff led last-duo partner DeChambeau by two strokes when the day began but failed to become the youngest US Open winner since Bobby Jones in 1923 and youngest major winner since Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters.
Wolff, coming off a share of fourth last month in his major debut at the PGA Championship, could not duplicate the feat of 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet in 2013 by winning in his US Open debut.
“I battled hard. Things just didn’t go my way,” said Wolff. “But first US Open, second place is something to be proud of and hold your head up high for.”
DeChambeau, who spent a three-month coronavirus pandemic lay-off building his physique, uses same-length clubs and a chart book for judging putts, bringing some slow-play complaints but also six PGA Tour victories.
Ninth-ranked DeChambeau won in July at Detroit and shared fourth at last month’s PGA, his best major finish until Sunday.
The coronavirus pandemic postponed the US Open from June and led to a spectator ban, although some fans cheered from beyond boundary fences.
World number one Dustin Johnson shot 70 to share sixth with US compatriot Will Zalatoris on 285, never managing a sub-par round.
“Tough golf course,” Johnson said. “I gave myself enough chances, but I just didn’t putt well enough.”
Third-ranked American Justin Thomas finished on 286 to share eighth in a pack with fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy, a four-time major winner who closed with a 75.
“It was really difficult. Wind was up again,” McIlroy said. “Looks like everyone found it pretty tough out there. Just a tough day.”
Spain’s second-ranked Jon Rahm shot 73 to close on 290.
