Bryson DeChambeau: ‘Pinehurst win meant my first US Open wasn’t just a fluke’
Published:
Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau looks back on Pinehurst – and ahead to Oakmont.
A battle between two tours. A bunker shot for the ages. A brutal course set-up that heavily penalised any miscues. Just eight players finished under par. A winner in the midst of a reinvention of himself. A heartbreaking collapse from the leader…
The golfing gods couldn’t have scripted the 2024 US Open any better, pitching the best of the PGA Tour against LIV’s finest in what would become a battle for the ages.
After an enthralling ding-dong battle with Rory McIlroy on Sunday, Bryson DeChambeau emerged victorious to the delight of the home supporters, executing the shot of his life on the 18th hole to seal the win by a single stroke.
The American raised the trophy under the dying embers of the Pinehurst sunset, paying tribute to one of his heroes, the late Payne Stewart, who lifted the same trophy on the same patch of turf in 1999. As he prepares to defend his title at Oakmont, we got his memories of the day – and his plans for a big equipment change.
I’m so happy I got that shot up and down on 18. Man, I didn’t want to finish second again – the PGA really stung. I wanted to get this one done, especially at such a special place that means so much to me, my dad, what Payne meant to him, the 1,000th USGA championship. Stack them on top.
That bunker shot was the shot of my life. I’ll forever be thankful that I’ve got longer wedges so I could hit it further, get it up there next to the hole. G-Bo [his caddie, Gregory Bodine] just said, ‘Bryson, just get it up-and-down. That’s all you’ve got to do. You’ve done this plenty of times before. I’ve seen some crazy shots from you from 50 yards out of a bunker.’ I said, ‘You’re right; I need a 55 degree, let’s do it.’
Everybody talks about how technical I am, but I am very strategic, thoughtful, and artistic when it comes to the US Open test. You can’t be perfect out there; a US Open is going to test you left, right, and centre. It’s the most difficult test in the game of golf, and the most resilient players usually shine brightest in those venues. I’ve been able to keep my emotions in check and give myself the best opportunity to perform well in those difficult situations. I feel like I thrive in those situations.
Over the last few years, I’ve learnt plenty about patience. It’ll always be my instinct to go pedal to the metal, because that’s what inspires, what gets me up in the morning. But maturity is about knowing when to say, “Whoa, hold on. What are you doing here? What do you want from this?” I guess I’ve found out where the brake is.
The win at Pinehurst meant my first US Open wasn’t just a fluke. I felt it symbolised that my game is meant to stay, that it’s a force for good and a force to be reckoned with when I’ve got everything flowing. That was the first time that I was able to go into a tournament really enjoying the test that was presented, and I had the equipment that allowed me to perform at my highest level. I just had ultimate comfort that week.
What I’m really looking for now is a golf swing that is just a little bit more consistent and repeatable. And I’m getting close. Really close. What I had at the US Open was pretty darn good. It worked well. But I want to get back to that form. I’m still searching for what I did so well at Greenbrier back in late 2023 when I shot 58. That was the best I’ve ever hit the golf ball. I’m just trying to learn what it was that exactly clicked there.
When I was a kid, I used to throw balls in the worst lies outside of the fairway, and I just learned to hit out of the worst situations to see what I could do. That sparked a lot of creativity. But then I’d go back and work on the mechanics really hard. I had this unique childhood experience in golf of working on quirky, weird things, then also working super hard on the mechanics, trying to be as machinelike as possible. In certain situations where I have no control over what’s going to happen, you’ve got to just figure out how to get it done. That creativity gets sparked.
You’re going to see a different Bryson DeChambeau this year due to the equipment I’m using. We’ve been working on this new driver, and it will be the biggest technological advance since interchangeable shafts. It’s my baby and together with LA Golf, I’ve done loads on the design and it will be huge. It’s complex, but it has to do with the curvature of the driver club face. This is a major improvement and a big step forward. I wanted it to be ready for Augusta, but no, it required patience. It still needs a little more work, but I can’t tell you how excited I am about it. I can’t wait.
-
Bryson DeChambeau reflects on his spectacular 2024 Pinehurst triumph.
