Bryson Dechambeau: “I hope this win can bridge the gap between a divided game”

What Bryson DeChambeau had to say after winning the 2024 US Open

Addressing the media as the 124th US Open Champion, Bryson DeChambeau spoke of his desire for golf to reunite and his mission to grow the game. Here’s what he had to say.

After an enthralling ding-dong battle with Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No.2 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 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 US Open trophy on the same patch of turf in 1999. Following the trophy presentation, Bryson sat down to reflect on his second major triumph.

On winning

I’m so happy I got that shot up and down on 18 (laughter). Oh, man, I didn’t want to finish second again. PGA really stung. Xander played magnificently. I wanted to get this one done, especially at such a special place that means so much to me, SMU, my dad, what Payne meant to him, the 1000th USGA championship. Stack them on top.

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That bunker shot was the shot of my life. I’ll forever be thankful that I’ve got longer wedges so I can hit it farther, and get it up there next to the hole. I don’t know what to think. It fully hasn’t sunk in yet. I just want everybody to enjoy it, as well. As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the PGA. I really wanted this one.

When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, Nope, I’m not going to let that happen. I have to focus on figuring out how to make this happen. I was a little lucky. Rory didn’t make a couple putts that he could have coming in. I had an amazing up-and-down on the last. I don’t know what else to say. It’s a dream come true.

On Rory McIlroy

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. He’ll win multiple more major championships. There’s no doubt.

I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow. I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was two ahead, I was like, Uh-oh, uh-oh. But luckily things went my way today.

On the future of the game

If I’m to be quite frank, I hope we can figure things out quickly. I hope this can bridge the gap between a divided game. All I want to do is entertain and do my best for the game of golf, execute, and provide some awesome entertainment for the fans. From at least what I can tell, that’s what the fans want, and they deserve that.

You can say what’s happened in the past, you know, you were part of the reason… Let bygones be bygones and go figure it out. Let’s figure out this amazing game that creates so much positivity back to where it belongs.

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On his interaction with the fans

My mission is to continue to expand the game, and grow the game globally, and domestically. YouTube has really helped me accomplish some of that. It’s such an awesome, awesome platform for me to show who I truly am.

Those fans out there really helped push me out there today. Even when stuff wasn’t going well, I was just looking at the screen back there, I have nothing there, no business even trying to go for that. But you know me; I don’t play boring golf. Again, even though I hit it in the bunker, the fans are still chanting my name. It inspired me to get that one up and down.

On his winning equipment

I have the same equipment. Besides my 3-wood, actually I found a Crank 3-wood that works fantastic for me. It helped me hit it on the green in 13 and a couple of other places. I’m actually happy I just got 14 clubs in my bag now, if I’m being honest with you. I’ve been playing with like 12 or 13 for the past year. I didn’t change much, to be honest. I’ve got a highball flight, and I use it to my advantage when I can.

• Pinehurst No.2 hole-by-hole guide

On the emotions of the last four holes

I hit a good putt on 15 and 16. On 17 I hit a good putt, even though it was short. I thought it was faster. 15 really stung. I had an easy putt. I was trying to get for it a little bit, got a little aggressive, and hit it three feet by. That’s something you don’t do on a major championship Sunday. I just consequently misread it, under-read it, and lipped out on the edge. But righted the ship. Hit a great drive. Hit a great second shot in there. My iron play was fantastic today. Thought I made it.

All I was focused on was myself. Every once in a while I could hear “Rory, Rory” chants, for what he was doing, so I knew what he did based on the roars. That was actually kind of fun because it gave me the knowledge of what I had to do. Every time I got over the ball, Just focus. You’ve done this before. You can do it again. In the back of my mind, my dad pushing me. Payne was in the back of my mind, as well. I wanted to do it for them.

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