Bryson DeChambeau is hoping to defend his U.S. Open title this week after winning the major in both 2020 and 2024, though the LIV Golf star faces stiff opposition
Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open in June 2024(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Bryson DeChambeau showed his true colors last year by playing in a LIV Golf event just days after being crowned the U.S. Open champion.
DeChambeau this Thursday will look to secure his third major triumph and defend his U.S. Open title at Oakmont Country Club. In 2024, he simultaneously banked his second major and U.S. Open victory of his career at Pinehurst No. 2 after a nail-biting final round.
The Californian claimed a one-shot victory after capitalizing on a late collapse from Rory McIlroy, where the latter followed back-to-back bogeys from the 15th with another at the par-four last, missing two putts from inside four feet over the closing stretch.
DeChambeau was unfazed, however, celebrating his triumph late into the night by crushing glow-in-the-dark golf balls with his driver in the pitch-black and later drinking wine from the iconic trophy at Trump National Golf Club Westchester in New York.
Despite his huge success, the 31-year-old showed impressive professionalism and motivation levels by not resting on his laurels and competing at LIV Golf Nashville just a few days later. The Crushers captain ended up tying for third at the 54-hole tournament.
DeChambeau, who joined LIV in a deal reportedly north of $125 million in June 2022, will this week take to Pennsylvania to defend his title against some of the biggest names in golf.
Recently-crowned Masters champion McIlroy will again be in contention while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the favorite after his U.S. PGA Championship success last month.
Bryson DeChambeau played in another tournament just days after his dramatic victory(Image: Getty Images)
DeChambeau, however, has finished inside T10 in five of the last six majors. He finished five strokes behind Scheffler in T2 at the PGA Championship but was left disappointed after letting his chances slip on the Green Mile at Quail Hollow, which saw him drop from first place to tied for eighth with a round left.
He said after the conclusion of Sunday’s action: “I’m baffled right now. Just felt like things just didn’t go my way this week. I drove it really well.
“I drove it as good as I can, as of right now, I gave myself a good chance. I just felt like a couple breaks went a different way. There were times where I feel like I pressed.
“Green Mile did it to me yesterday and kind of did it to me again today. And that’s golf, man. I’ve got to be more precise and fix what I can fix to make myself more consistent and get up there, the likes of what Scottie is doing right now.”
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