Just 24 hours after his fourth round collapse at The Masters – Bryson DeChambeau recreated his famous bunker shot that got one over rival Rory McIlroy.
The LIV Golf star was just two strokes behind the Northern Irishman heading into Sunday at Augusta National as the pair battled for their first green jacket.
DeChambeau had been looking to once again pip his playing partner to another Major – just as he did when he scooped his second US Open title last year by one shot.
However, the American finished with a three-over 75 to leave him seven over for the tournament.
Back-to-back bogeys on the second and third hole were followed by a double bogey and two more bogeys on the back nine that left him in tied-fifth spot.
In the end, the California native finished four strokes behind Masters champion McIlroy, who himself struggled for consistency in the last 18 holes.
McIlroy had been in danger of another spectacular collapse following a five over par back nine, before he beat Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose in a sudden death play-off.
While it was McIlroy who had his heart broken by DeChambeu at the US Open after bogeying two of his last three holes, it was the latter this time who was left in despair.
Just a day after his Masters woe, DeChambeau, who revealed McIlroy didn’t speak to him once during the final round, was at Pinehurst Resort to commemorate his stunning victory over the 35-year-old at the US Open.
Back in North Carolina, DeChambeau was joined by hundreds of locals where he placed a plaque next to the greenside bunker on the 18th that was the scene of his famous 54-yard shot.
Written on it were his quote that called it his ‘best shot of my life’, along with the words: “Bryson DeChambeau blasted a 55-degree wedge from this bunker to 4 feet, setting up his winning put in the 124th U.S. Open Championship.”
And to the delight of the crowd, DeChambeau then gave them what they came to see once again – a recreation of his stunning shot again.
In June 2024, DeChambeau’s bunker approach left him four yards shy of the hole, which he duly putted to win his second Major.
Though he couldn’t achieve his heroics this time around from his three approaches on Monday in videos that have been doing the rounds online.
On each occasion, his wedges came up short, with his best shot nestling on the front of the green.
It led the power drive specialist to quip: “The greens were firmer when I played.”
But he was left delighted at being honoured by the plaque, giving it a kiss before placing it into the ground.
He said: “I don’t got a statue. But it’s certainly an honour to have a plaque out here by the 50-yard fairway bunker shot.
“I can’t believe it, to be honest. The USGA doing this for me is an incredible honour, one that hopefully will inspire many in the future.”
And while he acknowledged his woe at missing out on the green jacket, he took pride in remembering one of his greatest achievements.
DeChambeau remarked: “It’s so ironic, too, cause I just lost the Masters.
“But in golf and in life, you lose a lot more than you win.
“It’s important to celebrate the moments where you win.
“It’s really cool being able to come back from losing the Masters – one of the biggest rounds of my life – to remembering one of the most important rounds of my life.
“It’s only just the beginning.”
For DeChambeau, he will now be eyeing up glory in the PGA Championshop that starts next month – a tournament he finished as runner-up in last year.
