Bryson DeChambeau's LIV Golf decision after he won US Open said a lot about him
Bryson DeChambeau will look to defend his US Open crown at Oakmont Country Club this week and his actions after winning the major in 2024 proved his dedication to the sport
Bryson DeChambeau revealed his true colours last year when he took part in a LIV Golf event just days after clinching the US Open title. DeChambeau will look to seal his third major win and defend his US Open crown at Oakmont Country Club this Thursday.
In 2024, he simultaneously secured the second major and US Open victories of his career at Pinehurst No. 2 following a dramatic final round.
The Californian won by a single shot, capitalising on a late meltdown from Rory McIlroy, who followed back-to-back bogeys from the 15th with another at the par-four last, missing two putts from within four feet over the closing stretch.
DeChambeau, meanwhile, celebrated his victory late into the night, smashing glow-in-the-dark golf balls with his driver in the pitch black and later sipping wine from the iconic trophy at Trump National Golf Club Westchester in New York.
Despite his monumental success, the 31-year-old demonstrated remarkable professionalism and motivation by not resting on his laurels and participating in the LIV Golf Nashville just a few days later. The Crushers captain tied for third place in the 54-hole tournament.
DeChambeau, who signed a reported £100million deal with LIV in June 2022, will this week head to Pennsylvania to defend his title against some of golf's biggest stars.
Recent Masters winner McIlroy will hope to challenge once more, while the world's top-ranked player, Scottie Scheffler, is tipped as the favourite following his triumph at last month's US PGA Championship.
DeChambeau, however, has consistently been a threat in majors, with T10 finishes in five of the last six. 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 plummet from first place to tied for eighth with a round remaining.
He said after the action came to a head on the Sunday: '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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