Bryson DeChambeau wins 2nd U.S. Open as Rory McIlroy falters - ESPN

PINEHURST, N.C. — The 18th hole at Pinehurst No. 2 on Sunday turned LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau into a U.S. Open champion again — and left Rory McIlroy still trying to end his nearly 10-year drought without a major championship victory after arguably the most heartbreaking near-miss of his career.

After watching McIlroy inexplicably miss a short par putt for the second time in three holes on the 18th, DeChambeau hit a difficult punch shot from near a tree root in the native area and into a bunker across the fairway. From 55 yards away, he chipped to about 4 feet and sunk a par putt to finish 6 under — 1 shot better than McIlroy.

«I was going to try and birdie the hole on 18, obviously, if I hit a good drive, but pulled it,» DeChambeau said. «But I knew where Rory was. After my tee shot, I was up there going, 'Man, if he makes par, I don't know how I'm going to beat him.' I just really didn't know. Then I heard the moans. Like a shot of adrenaline got in me. I said, 'OK, you can do this.'»

With DeChambeau and McIlroy tied at 6 under — and McIlroy playing in the group in front of the final one — both players pulled their tee shots into the unpredictable native area near the grandstand on the left of the fairway on No. 18.

McIlroy's ball came to rest behind a large clump of wiregrass about 123 yards from the hole. His only option was to blast the ball through the grass and up the fairway. His approach stopped just short of the green. He chipped to 4 feet and missed the par putt. He made a short bogey putt and could only watch DeChambeau finish.

McIlroy watched DeChambeau's winning putt on TV in the scorer's room. He sped out of the players' parking lot in a courtesy SUV less than 10 minutes later. He didn't