Bryson DeChambeau wins US Open and his first Major after bashing Winged Foot and rivals to bits in dominant driving show
THE Incredible Hulk simply had too much muscle for Wolverine, as Bryson Dechambeau powered to a six shot US Open victory over Matthew Wolff.
Everyone who questioned DeChambeau’s decision to bulk up by adding three stone of muscle during the golfing shutdown is having to eat humble pie – while he enjoys his daily quota of seven protein shakes.
But there was also plenty of Bruce Banner from the man with the science degree, as DeChambeau painstakingly worked out every shot and angle, and executed his game plan brilliantly.
A brilliant eagle-par-birdie run from the ninth saw DeChambeau - who is revolutionising how the game is played with his bulked up body and colossal drives off the tee - grab this tournament by the throat.
And the man who underwent a drastic body transformation - putting on 20kg of muscle in just nine months with a 6,000 calorie-a-day diet - never let go.
A tearful DeChambeau was able to share his triumph with his family - forced to stay at home in California because of the coronavirus restrictions – thanks to a TV link behind the 18th green.
He said: “This feels so good. I have gone through a body transformation to hit it as far as possible, and set out to crush the status quo. And this proves I was right to do that.”
DeChambeau's three-under 67 made him the only player to post a sub-par score in the final round – the first time that has happened in a Major since Jack Fleck won the US Open 65 years ago.
And he was also the only player to finish below par in the tournament – and his six under total was eleven better than Geoff Ogilvy’s winning score the last time Winged Foot hosted the US Open in 2006.
The bomb and gouge strategy favoured by the top two – smashing it as far as possible, even if it mean finishing in the rough – could have far-reaching implications for the game, with the power hitters growing more and more dominant.
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The US Open used to be about hitting fairways and greens. Not any more.
But there were plenty of delicate touches around the green from the 27 year old DeChambeau, in contrast to the grunt and groan that went into every flat-out tee shot.
He started the final round two shots behind Wolff. But he was level after the fourth, where he nailed a 14 footer for birdie after his playing partner had dropped a shot at the third.
Wolff handed Dechambeau the lead with his second bogey at the fifth, but threatened to make a real fight of it when he followed the new leader in for eagle at the par five ninth to stay just a shot behind heading into the back nine.
But it was Dechambeau who proved much stronger on the back nine, playing it as cool as you like in one under par, while Wolff leaked four shots on the home stretch.
It was always a two horse race, and the writing was on the wall right from the off for Rory McIlroy, who needed a quick start as he set out six shots off the lead.
Instead, he immediately shot himself in the foot, as he four-putted the first for a double bogey six.
The four-time Major champion paid the price for a badly under-cooked second shot from the middle of the fairway, which tumbled back down the slope and finished 85 feet from the flag.
His first putt almost came back to his feet, and his shoulders sagged as he missed a five footer par, recognising it was mission impossible now.
He confirmed that impression with bogeys at four and seven, but there was a glimpse of the old Rory as he hammered a drive 374 yards down the ninth fairway and hit a glorious second to 14 feet – only to miss the putt for eagle.
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DeChambeau canned a forty footer for eagle on that hole, and Wolff matched him from a quarter of that distance, which sums up the lack of X factor in McIlroy’s game at the moment.
He eventually signed for a 75 to finish in a tie for eighth at six over par – which sounds good until you realise he was 12 shots behind the winner.