For the second time in his career, Bryson DeChambeau has won the US Open after defeating Rory Mcllroy. However, despite his victory, the golfer shared that he is frustrated because he will not be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Since he did not receive ranking points for his LIV Golf events, DeChambeau was unable to qualify for the U.S. team despite finishing one shot ahead of McIlroy at the U.S. Open.
Sharing the sad news, the athlete remarked: “Hopefully, one day, this game of golf will get figured out and come back together, and I will be able to play (in the Olympics)… I’m playing great golf, I’m excited, but ultimately yeah, am I frustrated and disappointed? Sure, you could absolutely say that. But I made the choices that I made and there’s consequences to that and I respect it.”
LIV Golf’s withdrawal for world ranking points
LIV Golf announced in March that it formally withdrew its application to have players receive world ranking points from its tournaments. The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system rejected its bid for ranking points due to concerns about the Saudi Arabia-backed circuit’s format.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi financiers have been in talks about a possible deal for some time now. With this, DeChambeau is optimistic that the two competing leagues will soon reach an understanding.
“Hopefully, sooner rather than later, we figure that out so this great game of golf we can get past all of that and move forward and show how awesome this sport actually is around the world,” DeChambeau stated.
After battling to make the 36-hole cut at this week’s U.S. Open, LIV Golf star David Puig has secured his spot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Puig understood prior to the competition that he would have to compete extensively over the weekend in order to represent his home country at the Olympics matches scheduled in August, and he succeeded in doing so after the first two rounds in North Carolina. He filled the open Spanish position by exhibiting his capabilities and skills, joining fellow Spaniard and LIV member Jon Rahm.
Given that Puig has played professionally for the LIV set-up, which has not yet received official World Golf Ranking approval, his qualification for the Olympics in Paris later this year is all the more impressive.
How did Puig qualify?
The top two players from each country on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) list make up the 60-man field for the Olympics. Puig has succeeded in playing his way to Paris by striking a balance between his LIV playing responsibilities and several trips on the Asian Tour.
The athlete has won twice in Singapore and Malaysia last year. Furthermore, he qualified for this week’s U.S. Open, gaining victory in the 36-hole qualifying earlier this month. Therefore, he had the opportunity to secure his Olympic spot.
After earning a tie for third at LIV Houston, the 22-year-old secured his best-ever finish on the LIV circuit and talked about the possibility of banking his Olympic spot.
Puig said: “There are two Spaniards trying to catch me because everything is pretty tight… Obviously I wish them luck, but yeah, I think the deadline is right after the U.S. Open, so I have a little chance there in case they get past me this week in Sweden [on the DP World Tour] where they’re playing. Yeah, it would be great to play alongside Jon at the Olympics. It would be a dream come true for sure.”
The PGA of America has announced that players who compete on the Saudi-backed breakaway LIV Golf tour will be eligible to play for the US Ryder Cup team. Moreover, the PGA Championship will also be open to LIV players.
In order to be eligible for the Ryder Cup, golfers must be members of the PGA of America, and the organization has recently added LIV to its roster of “approved tours”, granting those players membership.
The organization stated: “Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the US team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete.”
It is to be noted that last year, Brooks Koepka of LIV was a wildcard selection for the US team in the biennial competition versus Europe, but only due to a grace period that was in force after golf’s separation.
Next September, in New York’s Bethpage Black, the Ryder Cup tournament between the United States and Europe will take place.
On having an agreement
A “framework agreement” for a merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which supports LIV, was unveiled by the PGA and Europe’s DP World Tour last year. However, negotiations for men’s golf’s fracture are still going on.
LIV athletes can earn a spot on the European squad, but they must have participated in four tournaments hosted by the organization and maintained their DP World Tour membership. Playing on the LIV tour without a waiver from the European circuit could result in fines; but, if such sanctions are settled, they will still be allowed to compete.
The American Bryson DeChambeau took a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay going into the final round of the US Open after a thrilling third day at Pinehurst, North Carolina.
One of only a dozen players from the rebel LIV Golf Series in the field, the 2020 US Open champion DeChambeau was paired in the final group with overnight leader Ludvig Aberg but outplayed the Swede, shooting a spectacular three-under-par 67 to improve to seven under.
Despite needing physiotherapy for hip problems, DeChambeau looked relaxed, chatting with fans.
McIlroy, in the hunt for his first major title in a decade, ended the day tied for second place.
The four-time major champion is four under after a patient one-under 69.
The American Cantlay, who led after round one alongside McIlroy, hit a birdie on his penultimate hole to rejoin the Northern Irishman and French debutant Matthieu Pavon at four under par.
DeChambeau thanks fans
Bryson DeChambeau, who finished second at last month’s US PGA Championship, revelled in the cheers and encouragement he received from his fans.
“It was amazing – I can’t thank them enough,” DeCheambeau said. “It was a blessing. Man, they riled me up.
“It just gives me a spike in my adrenaline and allows me to focus more on delivering for the fans, for myself and for my family. It just inspires me.”
McIlroy, the 2011 US Open champion , also had a good day.
“I’m pretty much in the same position that I was last year going into the final day and hopefully I produce the golf that’s needed to go one better,” he added, referring to his US Open runner-up finish in 2023.
In the final round, McIlroy will play with Cantlay.
Several of the overnight contenders dropped back. Xander Schauffle, the new US PGA champion who started the day at one under, opened with back-to-back bogeys.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler ended a career-long streak of 26 holes without a birdie when he picked up a shot on the eighth hole and another on the 11th, but he remained 10 shots off the lead.
“Another frustrating day,” Scheffler said. “The game of golf is a mental torture chamber at times, especially the US Open.”
At Pinehurst No. 2, Bryson DeChambeau emerged victorious from the US Open for the second time, extending Rory Mcllroy’s agonizing ten-year wait for a fifth major championship by at least one more round.
One of just twelve players from the rebel LIV Golf series in the 156-player field, the 30-year-old American frittered away a three-shot overnight lead before mounting a dramatic comeback from two strokes behind. He held his composure in a match of intense psychological competition that left McIlroy regretting a string of unforced errors in the closing minutes.
Over the final three holes, McIlroy missed two easy putts from inside three feet, including one from 26 inches for par on the 72nd, which left DeChambeau with just a four-stroke requirement to win the championship.
With his win, DeChambeau declared: “I still can’t believe that up-and-down… Probably the best shot of my life.”
In the history of the US Open, he became the fifth player, aged 30 or under, to win the tournament multiple times. He now stands with Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, and Brooks Koepka as members of these elite athletes.
Highlights of the game
Despite early misfortune and several poor breaks, DeChambeau recovered to save pars from drives that found a fairway divot on the first and a bunker on the second. After a bogey on the fourth, his advantage dropped to one, but McIlroy immediately regained the lead when, in the aftermath of what seemed to be a highlight-reel approach wedge shot that trailed all the way down the hill and into the native sandy region, he was fortunate to save bogey.
The clouds that provided cover from the 90F (32C) temperatures broke by the time McIlroy made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 9th hole, moving him into sole possession of second place at five under and one shot behind DeChambeau’s lead. The leaders continued playing despite the changes in weather conditions.
On the 10th hole, McIlroy eventually tied the score when DeChambeau curled in his biggest putt of the week from 27 feet for a second consecutive birdie, sending the crowd around the green into a commotion. With a well-placed pitch near following a mishit fairway shot and a birdie putt, DeChambeau surged ahead on the tenth hole, On the 11th green, McIlroy lined up a birdie putt and heard the applause from behind him. However, he missed by inches and was still one stroke behind the leader.
Shortly after DeChambeau made a stunning par save on the 11th hole, McIlroy made another difficult putt to reach seven-under and reclaim the lead on the 12th. Mcllroy struck a shot off the 13th tee that sailed into the pine straw to the right of the fairway. On number 13, DeChambeau came dangerously close to missing an eagle putt while taking his time clearing a drive into the natural area. He then cleared for birdie to go within striking distance of the lead. The leaders were tied at seven under par when McIlroy made a stroke on the 16th hole.
On the 72nd hole, McIlroy chipped and ran to within three feet after hitting a driver into the bushes. After that, he had to make a putt from 26 inches to maintain his lead, but he missed two more during the final three holes, thus giving the title to DeChambeau, who had to make a par from a debatable lie to win it all. DeChambeau hit it four yards from the pin.
The entire match was thrilling. At the end, DeChambeau remarked: “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.”
Rory Mcllroy denied rumors that he was considering a transfer to LIV Golf and declared his intention to play on the PGA Tour for the remainder of his career. Sources said Mcllroy was close to making the $850 million transfer to LIV. However, the Northern Ireland player and four-time major winner quickly denied the allegations.
He expressed: “I honestly don’t know how these things get started… I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me,”
Rory Mcllroy – No to LIV
In the context of continuing talks with the PGA Tour over a merger, McIlroy, who has been more understanding with LIV professionals in recent months, reaffirmed that he had no resentment against golfers who have joined the circuit.
“One of the things I think I’ve realized over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions on whatever they think is best for themselves… Who are we to judge them for that? But personally, for me my future is here on the PGA Tour and it’s never been any different,” Mcllroy admitted.
“I’m here today and playing a PGA Tour next week and I’ll play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career,” he added.
Since its founding, LIV has signed a number of golf’s finest players. The most recent high-profile addition to the roster was Spanish player Jon Rahm, who switched teams in December of last year in a deal reportedly for $500 million.
