Bryson DeChambeau held his nerve on the final hole to edge past Rory McIlroy and claim his second United States Open championship at Pinehurst No. 2 on Sunday.

The LIV Golf star took a three-shot lead into the last day but saw McIlroy mount a charge to take a two-shot advantage after birdies on four holes moved the Northern Irishman to eight-under.

Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

However, McIlroy's dreams of a first major in 10 years began to unravel down the stretch. Bogeys at 15, 16 and a crucially missed par putt at the last saw the world No. 3 slip back to five-under.

That opened the door for DeChambeau, who also found trouble off the tee at the 18th but produced a moment of magic to clinch victory. From a bare lie in deep rough, he blasted out before chipping in from 55 yards and rolling in a four-foot par putt to finish on six-under.

"I was going to try and birdie the hole on 18, obviously, if I hit a good drive, but pulled it," DeChambeau said. "But I knew where Rory was. After my tee shot, I was up there going, 'Man, if he makes par, I don't know how I'm going to beat him.' I just really didn't know. Then I heard the moans. Like a shot of adrenaline got in me. I said, 'OK, you can do this.'"

It secured a one-shot victory for the 2020 US Open champion, who becomes just the ninth player to win this championship multiple times.

DeChambeau paid tribute to the late Payne Stewart for his inspiring 1999 win at Pinehurst and called his final hole the "best shot of my life." McIlroy's collapse means he remains without a major since 2014 in a heartbreaking near-miss.

"I was just trying to land it pretty much where I landed it and run it out to the right," DeChambeau said. "I remember Payne's putt and how it broke up there, and I knew that was obviously huge to get up and down to win this prestigious championship that will be the highlight of my life. I still can't believe it. It's unbelievable."

Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay finished tied for third on four-under, while Matthieu Pavon impressed in solo fifth. 

"What's most impressive about Bryson is not that he hits the ball far," Pavon said. "Everybody knows it. But I was amazed by the quality of the short game on 18. He's a hell of a player. He has no weakness, and he's a truly great champion."

But it was Bryson DeChambeau who took the plaudits after a gritty final round saw him retain his US Open title.

"He'll win multiple more major championships, there's no doubt," DeChambeau said. "I think that fire in him is going to continue to grow. I have nothing but respect for how he plays the game of golf because, to be honest, when he was climbing up the leaderboard, he was 2 ahead, I was like, 'Uh-oh, uh-oh.' But luckily things went my way today."

ANOTHER ONE! 🏆@b_dechambeau has won the 124th U.S. Open Championship! pic.twitter.com/rzxg7eiDMc

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

Read more: Bryson DeChambeau Shakes Off Yardage Book Mishap to Card Impressive Round 1 at US Open

Key moments that decided the outcome of the U.S. Open

Rory McIlroy's birdie run from holes 9-13, where he sank difficult putts at 9, 10 and 12 before chipping in for eagle at 13. This gave him a two-shot lead over DeChambeau heading into the final stretch.

McIlroy's bogey at the par-3 15th, where he flew his tee shot over the green and was unable to get up-and-down. This cut DeChambeau's deficit to just one shot.

DeChambeau sinking a clutch 4-footer to save par at 15 and keep the pressure on McIlroy.

McIlroy inexplicably missing a tap-in par putt from just over two feet at the 16th, dropping another shot and relinquishing the lead.

DeChambeau making another nerveless 4-footer to save par and take a share of the lead at 16.

Both players finding trouble off the tee at the brutal par-4 18th hole, especially McIlroy's buried lie in deep rough.

McIlroy leaving himself a testing 4-foot par putt at 18 and missing to sign for a bogey.

DeChambeau's incredible shot out of the rough and pin-seeking bunker shot to set up a pressure 4-foot par putt, which he sunk to win by a shot.

References: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/40366022/bryson-dechambeau-wins-2nd-us-open-edging-rory-mcilroy

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