DeChambeau Anticipates More Thrilling Golf Duels With McIlroy

Bryson DeChambeau is anticipating more final-round encounters with Rory McIlroy following his second U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst on Sunday. DeChambeau entered the final round in North Carolina with a three-shot lead but soon found himself trailing the Northern Irishman by two strokes three holes into the back nine.

A birdie at the 13th hole helped DeChambeau regain his composure, while McIlroy made bogeys on three of the last four holes, including a crucial miss on the 18th, which handed DeChambeau the win. McIlroy's quest for a fifth major title continues, having last won at the 2014 PGA Championship.

DeChambeau praised McIlroy, calling him one of the best to play the game and expressed eagerness for future competitions. "Rory is one of the best to ever play," DeChambeau said. "Being able to fight against a great like that is pretty special. I'd love to have a lot more battles with him."

He added, "I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf... to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, I was like, 'Uh-oh', but luckily things went my way today. For him to miss that putt [on the 18th], I'd never wish it on anybody. I'm sure it will fuel Rory's fire even more. He's a strong-minded individual. He'll win multiple more major championships, there's no doubt."

Make it two pic.twitter.com/nus3ZfEJfv

— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) June 16, 2024

McIlroy's missed putt at the 18th opened an opportunity for DeChambeau, but a wayward drive left him under a tree, forcing him to punch out to a greenside bunker for a tense finish. However, DeChambeau managed to place the ball within four feet of the hole, describing it as the shot of his life.

"That bunker shot was the shot of my life," DeChambeau reflected. "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. It was like a shot of adrenaline got in me. I said, 'Okay, you can do this'. I'm so happy I got that shot up-and-down."