Pinehurst No. 2 is supposed to be a graveyard for "bomb and gouge" golfers. It is a place of nuance, turtleback greens, and wiry wiregrass that eats golf balls for breakfast. Yet, in June 2024, the narrative shifted. Bryson DeChambeau didn't just survive; he conquered. He became the US Open championship winner for the second time, and he did it by being exactly who he is: a chaotic, scientific, high-velocity force of nature.
It was loud. It was sweaty. It was tense.
If you watched the final round, you saw a man who has reinvented his image. No longer the "Mad Scientist" who annoyed fans with slow play and rigid geometry, the 2024 version of Bryson was a populist hero. He was fist-pumping, engaging with the crowd, and wearing that iconic flat cap. But beneath the showmanship, there was a surgical destruction of one of the hardest golf courses on the planet.
The Shot That Defined the US Open Championship Winner
Let’s talk about the bunker shot on 18. Honestly, it’s one of the best shots in the history of the championship. Period.
Rory McIlroy had already blinked. After a collapse that will haunt the Northern Irishman’s nightmares—missing two short putts that were, frankly, agonizing to watch—the door was cracked open. DeChambeau pulled his drive into the rough, then hacked it into a greenside bunker. He was 55 yards away. In that sand, with the weight of a second major title on his shoulders, most players are just trying to get it on the green.
He didn't just get it on the green.
He nipped it perfectly. The ball landed soft, trickled down the slope, and settled four feet from the cup. It was the kind of touch people said he didn't have. When the putt dropped, he didn't just celebrate; he exploded. That moment cemented his legacy. He isn't just a guy who hits it 350 yards. He is a guy who can save par from a literal hole in the ground when it matters most.
Why Pinehurst No. 2 Didn't Break Him
Most experts thought the 2024 US Open championship winner would be a tactician like Scottie Scheffler or a short-game wizard like Collin Morikawa. Pinehurst rewards "center-of-the-green" play.
Bryson ignored that. Mostly.
He used a driver that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie—a Krank Formula Fire LD. It's built for long-drive competitors, not necessarily PGA Tour pros. But he’s not a standard pro. He understands the physics of "bulge and roll" better than the guys who build the clubs. By using a face with less loft and a stiffer shaft, he was able to mitigate the "miss" that usually sends high-speed drives into the woods.
He averaged over 320 yards off the tee. On a course where the USGA grew the wiregrass specifically to penalize that kind of aggression, he just hit it over the trouble.
But here is the nuance: he also led the field in "scrambling" during crucial stretches. You can't win a US Open with just a driver. You win it by being tough. You win it by making the gritty 8-footers for par that keep a round from spiraling. Bryson’s putting, using his "arm-lock" technique, was robotic in the best way possible.
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The Rory Factor: A Tale of Two Chokes?
It’s impossible to discuss the US Open championship winner without mentioning the man who didn’t win. Rory McIlroy.
It was heartbreaking. It really was. Rory was two shots up with five holes to play. He looked like he was finally going to end his decade-long major drought. Then, the wheels came off.
- The 16th Hole: A par putt from 2 feet, 6 inches. He missed it.
- The 18th Hole: A par putt from under 4 feet. He missed it again.
People love to call it a "choke." That’s a bit harsh, but in professional sports, results are binary. You either have the trophy or you don’t. Rory’s facial expression after Bryson’s winning putt—that vacant, thousand-yard stare—told the whole story. He left the grounds without speaking to the media. He was gone before the trophy presentation even started.
Some say the pressure of the USGA's setup gets to Rory. Others think it’s a mental block that has formed since 2014. Whatever it is, the contrast between his hesitation and DeChambeau’s "full-send" mentality was the deciding factor. Bryson played with joy; Rory played with the weight of the world.
The LIV Golf Context
Whether you love or hate the LIV Golf move, DeChambeau’s win changed the conversation. He proved that you can play on a different tour, play fewer events, and still be the best in the world when the lights are brightest.
The USGA doesn't care about your tour affiliation. They care about who survives 72 holes of torture.
By winning, Bryson became the first active LIV player to win a major since Brooks Koepka at the 2023 PGA Championship. It validated his career path. He’s essentially become a freelance entertainer who happens to be a world-class athlete. His YouTube channel exploded after the win because he’s figured out something the traditional golf world hasn't: people want to see the person, not just the scorecard.
Lessons from the Leaderboard
Looking back at the stats from the 2024 championship, we see a weird trend. The top ten wasn't just filled with "bombers."
- Patrick Cantlay hung around by being incredibly boring (in a good way).
- Tony Finau showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't quite find the flatstick.
- Matthieu Pavon proved that the French have some serious grit, finishing higher than almost anyone expected.
The common denominator? Mistake management.
Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-70. If you shoot 70-70-70-70, you are almost always in the hunt. Bryson didn't try to go 5-under every day. He took his medicine when he was in the junk. He played for the "fat" part of the green when the pins were tucked near the edges.
What This Means for Future Champions
If you want to be a US Open championship winner, you need a "superpower."
For Tiger, it was iron play and a ruthless mind. For Brooks, it’s total apathy toward pressure. For Bryson, it’s the ability to turn a golf course into a math problem and then solve it with a sledgehammer.
He has proven that the "modern" game—high launch, low spin, extreme ball speed—is the most effective way to play, even on "classic" courses. The USGA keeps trying to "Bryson-proof" courses by making them longer and the rough thicker. He just hits it harder. He’s forced the governing bodies to rethink how they design championship venues.
Practical Takeaways for the Weekend Golfer
You aren't going to swing like Bryson. Please, don't try. You'll blow out your back by the third hole. But you can learn from his 2024 run.
First, commit to your line. Bryson spends an eternity talking to his caddie, Greg Bodine, about wind, air density, and slope. But once he stands over the ball? He’s all in. There’s no doubt. Most amateurs thin their chips or chunk their drives because they are second-guessing themselves mid-swing.
Second, embrace the sand. Bryson’s 18th-hole save was about technique, not power. He opened the face, used the bounce of the wedge, and trusted the sand to throw the ball out. If you're scared of bunkers, you'll never score well on a tough course.
Third, the short game is the equalizer. You can hit it 200 yards or 350 yards; a 4-foot putt counts the same for everyone. Rory lost because of 4-footers. Bryson won because of one.
The Legacy of the 2024 Win
This wasn't just another tournament. It felt like a vibe shift in golf.
We saw a champion who was genuinely happy to be there. We saw a runner-up who was genuinely devastated. We saw a course that demanded everything. The 2024 US Open championship winner didn't just get a trophy and a $4.3 million check; he got a redemption arc.
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From the "villain" of the PGA Tour to the most popular man in the sport, Bryson DeChambeau’s journey is a lesson in authenticity. He stopped trying to be what people wanted and just became the loudest, fastest, most eccentric version of himself. And golf is better for it.
Next Steps for Following the Tour
Keep an eye on the "ball speed" era. The USGA is moving toward a ball roll-back in the coming years, largely because of players like DeChambeau. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, start paying attention to:
- Equipment adjustments: Watch how manufacturers are changing "MOI" (Moment of Inertia) to help off-center hits.
- Course Setup: Future US Open venues like Oakmont (2025) will likely try to find new ways to neutralize the long ball.
- Mental Game: Read "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect" by Dr. Bob Rotella. It’s the playbook for the mental toughness Bryson showed.
The 2024 championship is in the books, but the way it was won will be studied for a long time. It was a masterclass in power, physics, and sheer, stubborn will.