The American Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open, the first Grand Slam of his career at 27, Sunday in Mamaroneck (New York) where he brilliantly tamed Winged Foot, one of the toughest courses in the world.
He succeeds Gary Woodland and becomes the third player after legendary Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods to be crowned in this Major after also winning the University Championships (NCAA) and the US Open amateur (in 2015).
As two and a half months ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, his sixth victory so far on the PGA Tour, the 9th player in the world edged the leader of the day, Matthew Wolff, only 21, by six moves, while he was two behind at the start of this fourth and final lap.
Known for his scientific approach to his sport - "I try to understand the biomechanics of my body", he said in 2018 -, often equipped with a compass with his logbook, hard worker, but also very regularly pointed out for his slow game, he took advantage of the forced interruption of the season because of the coronavirus for three months to follow a high-protein diet that made him gain 20 kg.
Major statement.
@B_DeChambeauwins the @USOpenGolfby SIX.
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- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2020
This obviously allowed him to gain power on his drives, notably reaching the phenomenal distance of 387 meters at the Memorial in mid-July!
He also had the misfortune of breaking his driver in half by trying to lean on the cane just after a hit, at the last USPGA where he finished tied for 4th with ... Wolff.
So these two didn't really leave each other this summer, but DeChambeau was stronger than his opponent on this slightly windswept Sunday day.
And it is not so much thanks to his muscles, as his precision in second approach or with the putt, that he owes his success.
So, when Wolff made three bogeys on the first 8 holes, he birdied at 4, before a formidable pass at 9 on which both managed an eagle.
On the return, DeChambeau, whose best result in a US Open (in five starts) was then a 15th place (at Oakmont in 2016) further increased his lead with another birdie at 11, taking advantage of two new bogeys and a double-bogey at 16 of his main, to be the only one of all the last competitors to finish under the par (with four cards under or in the par: 69, 68, 70 and 67).
What an answer from @ Matthew_Wolff5.
Buckle up.
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- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 20, 2020
Despite very hard and therefore very fast greens, more devilish flag positions than ever, not to mention a wind still present this Sunday at Winged Foot (New York), Romain Langasque, the only Frenchman to have crossed the cut on Friday evening, has signed a final card of 73 (+3) with two birdies against five bogeys.
The Azuréen touched in this last round 7 fairways out of 14 (against 1 in 14 during the 3rd round) for 61% of greens taken in regulation.
His final score of 293 (+13) sends him to 34th place at +13 (293).
This is his best result in Major!