AP photo by Charles Krupa / Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after sinking a par putt on the 18th hole at Winged Foot Golf Club to complete a final round of 67 and a six-stroke win Sunday at the U.S. Open in Mamaroneck, N.Y.MAMARONECK, N.Y. – What was supposed to be a typical U.S. Open produced a most unconventional champion.
Bryson DeChambeau was not the least bit concerned by the narrow fairways or the ankle-deep rough that shape the West Course at Winged Football Golf Club into, historically, the toughest site of all U.S. Opens. With the 40 pounds of mass he has gained since last fall, he wanted to pound it into submission with his driver, even if his errant shots were buried in deep grass.
That’s how he plays the game. And for skeptics who said that type of muscle wouldn’t work in a U.S. Open at Winged Foot, just look at that shiny silver trophy he kissed and the record score he posted Sunday in a six-shot victory – one that was about validating his out-of-the-box approach to the royal and ancient game.
“100%, no doubt,” DeChambeau said. “For me, it’s about the journey of can I execute every shot more repeatable than everybody else. I was able to do that this week. That’s why I won by six.”
Part of this course’s fame is the “Massacre of Winged Foot” in 1974, when the winning score was 7 over.