Bryson DeChambeau is officially a two-time U.S. Open winner after a thrilling one-stroke victory over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 on Sunday. As far as golf tournaments go, this was one of the most exciting tournaments I can remember in recent memory. Both DeChambeau and McIlroy made mistakes down the stretch that showed why Pinehurst No. 2 is a TERRIFIC venue to host the U.S. Open. However, DeChambeau, the captain of the Crushers GC team on the LIV Tour, made an excellent up and down from the sand on the 18th hole to save par and ultimately hold off McIlroy, who missed two putts within five feet on the final few holes to choke away his chance at his second U.S. title.
Below are some thoughts I had following the completion of the 2024 U.S. Open!
But before the thoughts on the tournament, here are some notes about the 2024 U.S. Open…..
Neal Shipley ended the tournament as the low amateur shooting 6-over par. Shipley has now finished as the low amateur in both The Masters and the U.S. Open in 2024.
Only eight players finished under par for the tournament. Three men finished at even par, which means just 11 total players finished even par or better in 2024.
Bryson DeChambeau shot 1-over par on Sunday. It was the only round of the tournament where he shot over par.
The low round on Sunday at the U.S. Open was a 3-under par 67, which was shot by Tony Finau, Sam Burns, and Russell Henley. All three of those men ended up in the Top-10 for the week.
JUSTIN THOMAS NEEDS TO FIGURE IT OUT
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 14: Justin Thomas of the United States looks on from the sixth green during the second round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 14, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
I just don’t know what to say about Justin Thomas anymore. He’s not having a bad year on Tour this year, but his major championship struggles continue. Since winning the 2022 PGA Championship he has played in nine major championships and has missed the cut in five of them. The only major he’s been somewhat relevant in was the PGA Championship last month at Valhalla and even then it was a very quiet T8 finish. It’s so rare to see a two-time major champ and 15-time winner on Tour fall off the way Thomas has. At some point he needs to figure things out. I don’t know what he needs to do (he’s already made a caddie change), but he needs to find a way out of this hole he’s dug himself into.
RICKIE FOWLER WILL NEVER WIN A MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 14: Rickie Fowler of the United States plays an approach shot on the third hole during the second round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 14, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
I love Rickie Fowler. I’ve waited years for the day that I could finally say he was a major champion. It’s time to wave the white flag. I’ve seen what I needed to see….Rickie Fowler will NEVER win a major championship. He was in the driver’s seat at last years U.S. Open and he threw it away on Sunday. He rebounded in 2023 from a terrible 2020-2022 and immediately went back into being a missed cut machine in 2024. It’s time to call time of death on Fowler being a major champ and the time is now.
WILL RORY EVER WIN ANOTHER MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP?
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after finishing the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Following up on a guy that will never win one is a guy that I’m really starting to believe will never win another one. I mean, Rory had this championship in his back pocket and he missed two short putts to throw it away. We’re now closing in on 10 years without a major victory for McIlroy and I’m starting to believe that the 2014 PGA Championship will be his last win in the big events.
I MISS DUSTIN JOHNSON
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 14: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 14, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
I’m not looking to make a LIV vs PGA argument here, but Dustin Johnson seemed like the prototypical LIV guy. He was going to get his payday, play less golf, and enjoy life off the course more. Recently it has felt that way for Johnson when it comes to the major championships. He has now missed the cut in three of his last four majors and his T10 last year at the U.S. Open feels like forever ago. I miss seeing DJ in contention at majors and portraying that stoic attitude in high pressure moments.
LUDVIG ABERG’S TOUGH WEEKEND
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: Ludvig Aberg of Sweden reacts to a tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Ludvig Aberg is going to be here for a while. He’s going to win multiple majors. However, 2024 has been the example of his major inexperience. He faltered on the back nine on Sunday at Augusta and he faltered this weekend at Pinehurst going 73-73. The positive for Aberg is that he’s had himself in contention at some point on the weekend in two of his first three major championships. The young Swede will have his time soon.
WILL TIGER WOODS APPEAR IN ANOTHER U.S. OPEN?
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 14: Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th green during the second round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 14, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Tiger got a special invite into the 2024 U.S. Open and ultimately missed the cut. Is this for him in the U.S. Open? I can’t imagine them giving him another special invite and I don’t know if a 36-hole qualifying day is something he’d be able to do. To me it feels like that’s the last we’ll see of Woods in the U.S. Open.
BRYSON MOVES THE NEEDLE
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
I said it after the PGA Championship and I have to say it again….Bryson DeChambeau moves the needle. The guy brings the energy. He brings the fire. He brings the goofiness. I mean, everything the guy does in his prep is weird and it really is kind of cool. The crowd loved him this week and he loved them back. Not having him on the PGA Tour every week is starting to turn into a bit of a problem. Which leads me to my next point…….
THE BEST PLAYERS NEED TO BE TOGETHER
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 15: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States shakes hands with Ludvig Aberg of Sweden on the 18th hole after they finished the third round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 15, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
I think I’ve said it after every major so far and I know I will have to say it again next month……the golf world NEEDS all the best players playing together again. It’s time to put aside the differences and work something out.
