US Open champ Bryson DeChambeau backs Rory McIlroy to recover from latest major blow-up
"For him to miss that putt, I'd never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way"
Bryson DeChambeau predicts a haunted-looking Rory McIlroy will recover from his latest major disaster to break his long drought.
DeChambeau, the newly-crowned US Open champion, sympathised with his rival over his crucial missed final par putt at Pinehurst - and hopes to have more battles with him on the biggest stages as he called for unity between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, where he now plays.
The 30-year-old capitalised to take advantage of McIlroy's nerve-shredded implosion over the closing three holes, when the Holywood star missed two putts inside three feet - his first misses from that length this year.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy blew US Open with excruciating end to 496-putt streak at worst possible time
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy criminally went back on his own word and it cost him US Open
Overnight leader DeChambeau found himself in a dramatic duel with McIlroy over the course of the thrilling final round and as both players' succumbed to nerves on the back nine. McIlroy made four birdies in five holes and was seemingly marching back into the major winners' enclosure - until the wheels came off and he dropped three shots over his closing four holes.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, steeled himself after falling two shots behind McIlroy. A magnificent 55 yard bunker shot on 18 set up a short par putt that was enough to claim a famous one-shot victory over McIlroy.
Speaking later, DeChambeau admitted that he was focusing hard on McIlroy's progress as holes began to run out. The Ulsterman was in the group ahead and so the Californian could keep tabs on his main rival he was faring.
"Yeah, pretty much trying to see where he was almost on every hole from 13 on in. I even saw on 10 where he made birdie," said DeChambeau. "I'm like, 'Oh, man, he's gunning, he's going for it'. So I had to put my foot on the pedal and push down pretty hard, as well. So it definitely pushed me. Seeing him ahead allowed me to focus a little bit more.
"I had to know what I had to get done in that iron shot I hit on 17. I was trying to birdie that hole. I was going to try and birdie the hole on 18, obviously, if I hit a good drive, but pulled it. 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'.
"So I was listening the whole entire time. Even when they were chanting 'Rory' after he made birdie on 13, I knew I had to drive the green. I knew I had to make birdie on that hole. It was going to be tough. My driving wasn't fantastic today. I got to go fix that, work on that. Man, I played some good golf even with the chanting. There was a lot of, 'Go USA', 'go Europe'. It was quite a fun battle between us today."
DeChambeau says he was fired up to avoid the same fate that befell him at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla last month, when he lost to Xander Schauffele by just one shot.
"I'm sure it will fuel Rory's fire even more," he stated. He's a strong-minded individual. For me, it was knowing how good my game is, how great of a place it's in, and just continuing to execute knowing the statistics would eventually fall my way. Still hope. Golf, it's a game of luck. There's a lot of luck that has to happen and go your way out there.
"I knew if I could give my 100% effort on every single shot, I'd give myself a good chance this week - just like I did at the PGA, just like I did at the Masters."
DeChambeau outlined the difficulties he experienced after the 2022 Masters when he suffered a broken hand that required surgery - and feared he would not be able to play at the top level again. He said those dark times gave him more perspective about the game and he has backed McIlroy to bounce back once again after this disappointment.
The 35-year-old looked crestfallen in the recorder's hut as he watched DeChambeau sink that final par putt to claim the victory. McIlroy immediately left the venue as the American began his exuberant celebrations and he will somehow have to pick himself up again ahead of The Open Championship at Troon in a month's time.
"Yeah, Rory is one of the best to ever play," DeChambeau said. "Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special. For him to miss that putt, I'd never wish it on anybody. It just happened to play out that way. He'll win multiple more major championships. There's no doubt. I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow.
"I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard and he was two ahead, I was like, 'Uh-oh, uh-oh'. But luckily things went my way today.
"Rory is going to do it. I'd love to have a lot more battles with him. It would be a lot of fun. But, yeah, Rory's going to do it at some point."
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
