Bryson DeChambeau picks up unique piece of memorabilia from Pinehurst after his U.S. Open win
It's common practice for golfers who win Majors, like Bryson DeChambeau just did at the U.S. Open, to take home something other than the trophy. Many take the flag from the hole or some other piece of the course, but DeChambeau opted for some sand.
The tournament came down to the 18th hole and provided intense drama. DeChambeau needed to make par on the hole to win, but he found himself in a precarious situation after his tee shot.
DeChambeau followed it up by landing in a greenside bunker, which is never an ideal spot. Needing to score within two strokes for the win, the LIV Golf star played what he called the best shot of his life to get out of the bunker and within touching distance of the cup.
All it took was a short putt for par to cement his one-stroke victory over a dejected Rory McIlroy. That was the winning shot, but the true victory came from the bunker. Hence, DeChambeau decided to take home some of the sand from that very bunker as a souvenir.
DeChambeau collected the sand in the trophy he had worked so hard to win. Before it could be engraved with his name, he poured the sand into another cup so he could keep and cherish it forever.
The golfer came into the final round with a three-stroke lead, but missteps along the way allowed McIlroy to come back and even take the lead. However, DeChambeau recovered, and thanks to the iconic bunker shot, he earned his second U.S. Open victory.
DeChambeau acknowledges McIlroy after tight victory
Had it not been for the heroics of Bryson DeChambeau or for Rory McIlroy's stunning collapse on the 18th hole, the U.S. Open would have made it into a playoff. DeChambeau's par save after McIlroy's near-miss bogey prevented that.
DeChambeau ended up on the right side of the result, but after the final round, he acknowledged his rival, Mcllroy. Here's what he said: (Via ESPN)
"Rory is one of the best to ever play. 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."
Matthieu Pavon, who had two Eagles at the U.S. Open, turned the praise back to the champion, though:
"What's most impressive about Bryson is not that he hits the ball far. Everybody knows it. But I was amazed by the quality of the short game on 18. He's a hell of a player. He has no weakness, and he's a truly great champion."
The U.S. Open evolved into a clash of titans between two of the best in the sport at the moment. The battle between the two greats will be cherished by fans for time immemorial.