Pinehurst No. 2 is a beast. Honestly, it’s not even a golf course in the traditional sense; it’s more like a psychological experiment designed to see how many times a grown man can watch a ball roll off a green before he loses his mind. If you followed the 2024 US Open leaderboard back in June, you didn't just see scores. You saw a car crash in slow motion. Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy gave us the kind of theater that usually requires a Broadway stage and a much higher ticket price. It was messy. It was loud. And for Rory fans, it was genuinely painful to watch.
The US Open is supposed to be hard, but 2024 felt personal. The United States Golf Association (USGA) set up the course to be a firm, fast, wiregrass-filled nightmare. Looking back at the 2024 US Open leaderboard, the numbers tell a story of survival. Only eight players finished under par. Think about that for a second. These are the best golfers on the planet, and almost the entire field got eaten alive by sandy waste areas and "turtleback" greens that rejected approach shots like a bad organ transplant.
The Bryson DeChambeau Show
Bryson is different now. You probably noticed. Gone is the "Mad Scientist" who looked like he was trying to solve a physics equation while eating six protein shakes a day. The guy who topped the 2024 US Open leaderboard with a 6-under total was a showman. He was a man of the people. Throughout the week at Pinehurst, Bryson wasn't just hitting 350-yard bombs; he was interacting with the fans, signing hats between holes, and playing a brand of "boring" golf that was actually incredibly strategic.
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His final round was a grind. He didn't have his best stuff. He was spraying the ball. But that par save on the 72nd hole? That’s the stuff of legends. After a wayward drive left him behind a root in the native area, he hacked it into a greenside bunker. Then, he hit a 55-yard bunker shot that stopped four feet from the hole. It was the best shot of his life. He knew it. We knew it. The 2024 US Open leaderboard was cemented right then and there.
Rory McIlroy’s 45-Minute Meltdown
We have to talk about it. We have to talk about the two short putts.
Rory McIlroy had the 124th US Open in his hands. On the back nine Sunday, he was 2-up with five holes to play. He was cruising. It looked like the ten-year major drought was finally, mercifully, over. But Pinehurst has a way of finding your deepest insecurities and poking them with a stick. Rory missed a 2-foot, 6-inch par putt on the 16th hole. Then, on the 18th, he missed a 3-footer.
It was shocking.
The image of Rory sitting in the scoring trailer, staring at the TV as Bryson celebrated, is one of the most haunting sports photos of the decade. He didn't stick around for interviews. He didn't offer a quote. He just hopped in a private jet and disappeared for a few weeks. You can't blame him. To see your name at the top of the 2024 US Open leaderboard for three and a half days only to see it slip to second place by a single stroke because of two "gimme" putts is enough to make anyone want to quit the game.
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The Rest of the Top Ten: Who Actually Showed Up?
While everyone focuses on the Bryson vs. Rory heavyweight bout, the rest of the 2024 US Open leaderboard was filled with guys who were just trying to hold on for dear life.
Patrick Cantlay finished T3 at 4-under. He played incredibly steady golf, the kind of quiet, methodical game that usually wins US Opens. But he couldn't find that extra gear on Sunday afternoon. Tony Finau also tied for third, which was great to see after a bit of a slump. Finau’s game is built for tough setups, and he proved that his ball-striking is still elite.
Matthieu Pavon. Remember that name? The Frenchman was the surprise of the week. He stayed in the hunt until the very end, eventually finishing solo fifth at 3-under. He showed a level of grit that a lot of the higher-ranked Americans seemed to lack. It’s rare to see a European player who isn't a superstar handle a USGA setup that well, but Pavon was clinical.
Hideki Matsuyama was also lurking. He finished solo sixth at 2-under. Hideki is basically a permanent fixture on major leaderboards at this point. His short game at Pinehurst was a masterclass. While others were blading chips across the green, Hideki was nipping wedges off the tightest lies imaginable.
The Struggles of Scottie Scheffler
Wait, where was the World No. 1?
If you looked at the 2024 US Open leaderboard expecting to see Scottie Scheffler's name in the top five, you were disappointed. Scottie arrived at Pinehurst as the overwhelming favorite. He had been winning everything. He was playing golf at a level we haven't seen since Tiger in 2000. But Pinehurst broke him.
He finished T41 at 8-over par.
Scottie looked frustrated. He was tossing clubs. He was talking to himself. The greens simply didn't suit his eye, and for the first time in years, his ball-striking wasn't enough to save him. It was a reminder that in golf, the course always wins eventually. Even if you're the best player in the world, if you don't respect the "turtlebacks," you're going to have a bad time.
Why Pinehurst No. 2 Changed the Conversation
This wasn't like the 2023 US Open at LACC where guys were shooting 62. This was a throwback. The USGA took a lot of heat in previous years for making courses too easy or "tricking them out" with long rough. At Pinehurst, they didn't need long rough. They just needed sand, wiregrass, and gravity.
The 2024 US Open leaderboard reflected a return to "identity golf." You had to know who you were as a player. Bryson knew he was a power player who could scramble. Rory knew he was a driver of the golf ball who needed to find his rhythm. The course forced players to make choices on every single shot. Do you fly it to the hole and risk it rolling off the back? Or do you play it 20 yards short and let it run up? Most players chose wrong.
Key Stats from the Leaderboard
- Winner: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
- Runner-up: Rory McIlroy (-5)
- Cut Line: +5 (Some big names missed out, including Tiger Woods, who finished at +7)
- Hardest Hole: The par-4 4th hole played nearly half a stroke over par for the week.
Tiger's performance was a bit of a bummer, honestly. He shot 74-73. He showed flashes of brilliance, but his body just doesn't seem to have 72 holes of championship golf in it anymore, especially on a course that requires as much walking and precise footwork as Pinehurst. Seeing him miss the cut was a reality check for everyone who thought he might have one more miracle run in him.
What We Learned from the 2024 US Open Leaderboard
First off, Bryson DeChambeau is the most interesting man in golf. Love him or hate him, you have to watch him. He’s turned himself into a massive brand, and his win at Pinehurst validated his move to LIV Golf in the eyes of many fans. It proved he can still compete with—and beat—the best the PGA Tour has to offer.
Second, the mental side of golf is still the most important factor. Rory didn't lose because he couldn't hit the shots; he lost because his brain short-circuited for ten minutes. That's the beauty and the horror of the US Open.
Finally, course architecture matters. Pinehurst No. 2 is a masterpiece by Donald Ross, restored by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. It doesn't need 8,000 yards to be difficult. It just needs to challenge a player's nerves. The 2024 US Open leaderboard is a testament to the fact that when you give the best players a fair but brutal test, the cream rises to the top—usually with a lot of sweat and a few tears.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Round
You might not be playing for a US Open trophy, but you can learn a lot from how these guys navigated Pinehurst.
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Stop Aiming at Pins
Look at the 2024 US Open leaderboard. The guys at the top were often aiming 20 feet away from the hole. They were looking for the "fat" part of the green. In your own game, stop pin-seeking. Aim for the center of the green and take your two-putt. You'll shave five strokes off your handicap instantly.
Master the "Texas Wedge"
At Pinehurst, players were putting from 30 yards off the green. Why? Because a bad putt is almost always better than a bad chip. If there’s no long grass between you and the hole, use your putter. It’s the safest club in your bag.
Manage Your Mental Energy
Rory's collapse started long before the 16th hole. You could see the tension building. When you have a bad hole, take a deep breath. Drink some water. Reset. Don't let one bogey turn into a triple-bogey because you're still mad about a missed putt.
Understand the "Wiregrass" Mentality
If you find yourself in a bad spot (like the native areas at Pinehurst), don't try the hero shot. Bryson’s par on 18 was a hero shot, sure, but he’s a pro. For us mortals, if you're behind a tree or in a deep bunker, just get the ball back in play. Take your medicine and move on.
The 2024 US Open was a wild ride. It reminded us why we love this stupid, frustrating, beautiful game. Whether you were cheering for Bryson’s fist pumps or crying over Rory’s putts, it was a week we won't forget anytime soon.