PINEHURST, N.C. – As Bryson DeChambeau hit the shot of his life and claimed his second US Open title Sunday night at Pinehurst No. 2, Lamar Haynes, one of Payne Stewart’s best friends and roommates, he began sobbing in front of a television in Dallas.
It was on this same 18th green that Stewart, in 1999, holed a 15-foot par putt to win his second US Open, and the last of three major championships. Months later, Stewart was one of six people who died after the plane they were traveling in lost cabin pressure before running out of fuel and crashing into a South Dakota field.
Now, it was DeChambeau pumping his fist after his own iconic moment at Pinehurst.
“There’s no doubt that Payne was looking down on using his magic for Bryson,” Haynes said. “…This is the first time I’ve had tears in 25 years.”
DeChambeau stepped onto the 18th tee tied with Rory McIlroy for the lead. He then hit a puck into the left vacant area and hit a tree root. As DeChambeau evaluated his options, McIlroy missed another short putt to putt in and give DeChambeau complete control of his destiny.
“At a certain point, I think, OK, I have to hack it,” said DeChambeau, who advanced his ball 94 yards, albeit into a carry bunker and 54 yards from the hole.
That’s when DeChambeau’s caddy, Greg Bodine, told his boss: “You have this opportunity. I’ve seen much harder shots from you.”
Considering the circumstances, golf history has seen few better shots.
Using a 55-degree wedge, DeChambeau picked his ball perfectly out of the sand and floated beautifully in the air before landing about 20 feet from the hole and dancing to within 4 feet. (DeChambeau later said he would probably get that ball up and down “four or five times out of 100.”)
“I was just trying to land more or less where I landed and run to the right,” DeChambeau said, describing the throw. “I remember Payne’s putt and how it broke there, and I knew it was obviously huge to have ups and downs to win this prestigious championship that will be the highlight of my life.”
After making his save par, DeChambeau’s emotions roared as he raised his fists in the air and threw a few massive punches for the cheering crowd. He then composed himself to let competitor Matthieu Pavon finish his round before continuing the celebration. As he looked at a camera on the green, he took off his cap and pointed to a pin attached to the back.
“That’s Payne, honey!” DeChambeau shouted.
He then pointed to the sky as he walked off the green, a gesture not only to Stewart, who inspired DeChambeau to go to SMU and wear the Hogan cap for many years, but also to his father, Jon DeChambeau, who died two years ago.
“In the back of my mind, my dad pushes me. Payne was in the back of my mind too,” DeChambeau said. “I wanted to do it for them.”
In the interview room about a half hour later, DeChambeau answered questions from reporters with the US Open trophy sitting on the table next to him. Atop the trophy was a navy blue Hogan cap with the logo of DeChambeau’s LIV Golf team, the Crushers.
It was a classy tribute, and appropriate now that DeChambeau will be immortalized in Pinehurst history alongside Stewart, his childhood idol.
“Unbelievable,” Haynes said, his emotions still fresh. “A lot of kids will practice 50-yard bunker shots in the morning.”
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