Bryson DeChambeau won his second major title as he outlasted Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 to clinch the US Open title, but he suggested there was more at stake than that

Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open with a stunning bunker shot on the 18th hole (

Image: Getty Images)

Bryson DeChambeau has referred to his US Open triumph over Rory McIlroy as much a “battle” between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour as it was a contest between the golfers themselves.

Following McIlroy’s stumble, which saw him drop his third shot in four holes, DeChambeau found an opportunity with just needing a par on the final hole to clinch his second major title. Despite grappling with his driver, he veered left into the rough off the tee but managed to rescue the situation by punching the ball out into the bunker and setting up an all-important up-and-down at Pinehurst to seal the deal.

The 30-year-old executed a masterful stroke from 55 yards to land within four feet of the hole, followed by sinking the putt that sparked jubilant celebrations.

While DeChambeau walked away with the U. S. Open title, contentions could be made that McIlroy let the championship slip through his fingers, bogged down by narrowly missed putts in his concluding holes. With this loss, McIlroy continues his decade-long hiatus from major wins amidst his outspoken views about LIV Golf.

Crushers GC captain DeChambeau acknowledged the intensity of the occasion as representatives of the sport’s leading tours clashed in this high-profile event. “You never want to lose a championship that way,” DeChambeau told Fox News Digital.

“You want to see someone make a putt and do something crazy and cool. But I can tell you, there was a battle between us. It was definitely LIV vs PGA for sure. People can take that in whatever way they want to, but, from my perspective, it’s a good, competitive battle that brings eyeballs to the game.

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Rory McIlroy has spoken out against LIV Golf and been a staunch opponent of the Saudi-backed circuit ( Getty Images)

“It was one of the most viewed major championships in a long time, and I thank Rory for that. I think everybody, the USGA, how that all came together on the 18th at Pinehurst, couldn’t have been a better finishing.”

Securing his second US Open title, DeChambeau spoke about creating history with a phenomenal bunker shot: “The bunker shot is amazing, but there’s a couple shots I hit during the course of that week. The back of No. 8, I hit it over the green twice, and I get up-and-down twice. I win the tournament because of that.

“If I don’t get that up-and-down, I may not win the tournament. It’s actually the culmination of the whole week and how things progressed that led to it being such a memorable week.”