Three Thoughts - 2024 US Open Pinehurst

Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy give us a final round showdown for the ages.

That was the best.

It is tough to say what has been the best golf major Sunday I have ever witnessed for a few reasons. First, I really didn’t start watching these until I was out of college. The first one that I remember “like it was yesterday” was the 1996 Masters with Greg Norman and Nick Faldo. Even then, I think the Masters became mandatory, but perhaps not all four majors were a complete stop-down in my life. So, I am not exactly Dan Jenkins when it comes to putting this in perspective.

Second, it is certainly easy to remember the “most memorable” from a standpoint of notable accomplishments. Whether it was Payne Stewart's Pinehurst win in 1999, countless Tiger Woods moments along the way, including 2008 at Torrey Pines, Phil Mickelson breaking through finally in 2004 or even winning again a few years back at Kiawah Island, or Jordan Spieth holding off Dustin Johnson at Chambers Bay, we all have a list of those amazing moments that we have witnessed.

But this? This was an absolute all-timer. I am not sure I have seen a more memorable day of golf with the main characters such compelling figures in our minds going in and then intersecting on Father’s Day 2024 for this incredible sports theater.

In the end, Bryson DeChambeau is the 2024 US Open Champion of Pinehurst No. 2, with an incredible par on the 18th hole to win with a total of -6 and hold off Rory McIlroy in an afternoon that had moment after moment of incredible sport. This was one for the ages, it seems.

And These are My Three Thoughts:

–We will always remember where we were on that day when Bryson and Rory went back and forth and traded amazing moments of brilliance before one of them broke under the pressures of it all. The only thing missing was a final playoff between the two, which seemed to be assured moments before it vanished. It was truly the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.