DeChambeau’s ecstasy and Rory McIlroy’s tragedy at the US Open | Kinds of sports

Bryson DeChambeau’s ecstasy became Rory McIlroy’s tragedy. The American won his second major this Sunday, his second US Open after winning in 2020, with a heartbreaking finish at Pinehurst in North Carolina. DeChambeau was -6 on the final hole after the opponent he faced off against on a thrilling fourth day bogeyed. The Northern Irishman (-5) missed out on glory by caressing the trophy with his hands and led the classification until the end of the strokes. On the brink of redemption, McIlroy signed three scarecrow the last four holes (15, 16 and 18) are missing a pair blows very short, barely one and a half meters, and not only saw the opportunity to kiss the cup disappear, but also ended the drought in large ones, which has been going on for 10 years now.

DeChambeau’s shoutout was also a celebration of LIV, the Saudi League that has one of its best maps in North America and is undoubtedly the one that has produced the best results in the majors since golf split in two. This is the LIV player’s second bingo at a Grand Slam stop, following Brooks Koepka’s success at last year’s PGA Championship. During the Civil War, any battle won is good, and even more so when the loser is someone wearing the symbol of McIlroy, one of the most powerful flags in America. It’s been a year since both sides announced a peace deal to bury their weapons, but months have passed and nothing has been signed, the stars are still divided into two sides, and every major party is the scene of a power struggle.

It was a beautiful battle against McIlroy, full of changes of direction. DeChambeau started Sunday with a three-stroke lead, the Northern Irishman returned, the American responded and the latest setbacks were a result of tensions over what was at stake. There was a lot of drama in these events. blows lost to McIlroy when it seemed all that was left was to push her. DeChambeau landed under a tree on the 18th hole as Rory sank. From this trap he made his best way into the bunker and there he hit a great shot to tie the pair and his second US Open at the age of 30. The prize is the largest check in the history of a major: $4.3 million.

Heaven must wait for McIlroy. He never stopped being a great player and a charismatic leader, but at 35, his fifth great still hasn’t arrived. He was crowned at the US Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012, and then again at the PGA and British Open in 2014. in 2022 and 2023, which is the closest it has come to laurel greening so far. This year he was 22nd at the Augusta Masters (the only major he is missing), 12th at the PGA and second at the US Open. Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau were third at -4.

Sergio Garcia finished 12th at +1, his best finish at a major since winning the green jacket at the 2017 Augusta Masters. Since then, he has missed 15 Grand Slam tournaments without achieving a single victory in the Saudi League, although he touched them in several tiebreakers. The Castellón native became the first European golfer to compete in 20 US Opens. The miracle of regularity.

David Puig suffered his worst day of the week with +8 in the round and +11 overall, although the mission was accomplished: to pass the qualifying stage and therefore qualify for the Paris Olympics by defeating Jorge in the Campillo race.

World number one in line, Scotty Scheffler, had an unrecognizable bye at this US Open, where he had never produced the stunning version he showed at this start to the season, with a win included in the Augusta Masters. The American finished four rounds over par (strokes of 71, 74, 71 and 72 for a par 70 at Pinehurst) and came home with a score of +8. And this Sunday, as on Friday in the second round, not a single bird on the card.

US Open qualifying.

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