DeChambeau uses brawn to blitz field
GOLF
MAMARONECK, New York: A bulkedup Bryson DeChambeau bashed his way to a sixshot US Open victory yesterday, silencing any lingering questions as to whether his brawny game could translate to the major stage.
World No 9 DeChambeau (27), who began the day two shots behind US Open newcomer Matthew Wolff, clinched his first major title with a mix of jawdropping drives and clutch putts, shooting a virtually flawless 3under 67 to reach 6under for the tournament.
‘‘I did it. I did it. As difficult as this golf course was presented, I played it beautifully,’’ DeChambeau said of Winged Foot, one of the hardest layouts the United States Golf Association has to offer.
Wolff, appearing in only his second major, was one shot behind DeChambeau at the turn but fell apart over a back nine to shoot a 75 that included two bogeys and a doublebogey.
A fearless DeChambeau, whose final round included an eagle, two birdies and a bogey, attacked at every chance and, for his efforts, was the only player to break par in the final round as he cruised to a maiden major at his 16th attempt.
The 27yearold, who reemerged from the PGA Tour’s threemonth Covid19 suspension in midJune packing serious muscle and hitting a startling distance off the tee, attacked Winged Foot all week like few other golfers can.
So confident in his approach, DeChambeau unleashed his driver on practically every par4 and par5 hole as he figured the birdie chances would outweigh the risk that Winged Foot’s nasty rough creates.
‘‘I hope that inspires people to say, ‘hey, look, maybe there is a different way to do it’,’’ DeChambeau said.
‘‘Not everybody has to do it my way. I’m not saying that. I’m just saying in general that there are different ways to do things.’’
DeChambeau grabbed the solo lead after five holes, hit a perfectlypaced 12.2m eagle putt at the ninth to maintain a oneshot cushion in a tournament that came down to a twohorse race between him and Wolff as they made the turn.
Yet the 21yearold Wolff, who was bidding to become the first player to win the US Open on his tournament debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913, bogeyed the 10th and 14th holes before a doublebogey at 16.
‘‘I battled hard. Things just didn’t go my way,’’ Wolff said.
‘‘But first US Open, second place is something to be proud of and hold your head up high for.’’
Former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, of South Africa, birdied the last to fire 73 to finish alone in third, a distant eight shots back of DeChambeau and one shot clear of Harris
English, who ended up shooting 73 after making a doublebogey at the first where he lost his tee shot.
Xander Schauffele looked ready to make a backnine charge after making the turn fresh off backtoback birdies but the world No 7 made five consecutive bogeys from the 13th and finished in fifth place after firing 74.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who finished in a share of eighth place after a 75 yesterday, was almost left in a state of disbelief at DeChambeau’s win given his inaccuracy off the tee at a tournament renowned for its thick rough.
‘‘I don’t really know what to say because that’s just the complete opposite of what you think a US Open champion does,’’ McIlroy said.
‘‘Look, he’s found a way to do it. Whether that’s good or bad for the game, I don’t know, but it’s just — it’s not the way I saw this golf course being played or this tournament being played. It’s kind of hard to really wrap my head around it.’’ — Reuters