Golf Monthly Open 2024

neil.tappin@futurenet.com The vagaries of the magazine production cycle mean I am sitting down to write my editor’s letter on the Monday after the US Open. Pinehurst No.2 was a stage befitting of such an exciting tournament and Bryson DeChambeau deserves huge praise for the sheer grit and determination that enabled him to capture his second Major title. It was a tournament that will also live long in the memory as a reminder of just how cruel this sport can be. Rory McIlroy, having clearly learned difficult lessons from other Major Championship near-misses, played with power and control, with a deft touch and with the patience of a seasoned professional. He did just about everything required to be the champion. He was respectful of the danger posed by the challenge, but…

Don’t stop believing Richard Bland winning the Senior US PGA at his first attempt should give all golfers hope, old and young. Living in Southampton myself, I have always been proud of having a local golf pro on the tour and have followed his career with interest. As he moved into his 40s, it seemed he was destined never to win a tournament despite being a decent journeyman golfer. Injuries and age played a factor, then out of nowhere he scooped the British Masters, one of the big European Tour prizes. I still remember the outpouring of happiness on that famous day vividly. I’m not a LIV fan but understand his reasons for wanting to secure the finances for his family. To then see him win that senior Major just…

Bryson, congratulations on winning the US Open for the second time. How do you sum that up? I don’t know what to think. It fully hasn’t sunk in yet. I just want everybody to enjoy it, as well. As much as it is heartbreaking for some people, it was heartbreak for me at the US PGA. I really wanted this one. When I turned the corner and saw I was a couple back, I said, ‘Nope, I’m not going to let that happen. I have to focus on figuring out how to win this.’ I was a little lucky. Rory didn’t make a couple putts that he could have coming in. I had an amazing up-and-down on the last. I don’t know what else to say. Talk us through that…

55 Length, in yards, of Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open-clinching bunker shot on the 72nd hole at Pinehurst CUMULATIVE 2024 MAJOR LEADERBOARD AFTER THREE EVENTS HARDEST HOLES AT 2024 MEN’S MAJORS TO DATE $6,993,000 Money earned by Bryson DeChambeau in the first three Majors of 2024 0 Golfers with four rounds under-par at the US Open 337.9 DeChambeau’s average driving distance at Pinehurst RUNNER-UP FINISHES IN MAJORS 55 The number of double-bogeys on the par-3 12th at the US Women’s Open 20 Matthieu Pavon’s world ranking after finishing 5th at the US Open – a career high 36 Players who have earned more than $3m on the PGA Tour this season as of the US Open…

Rory McIlroy has revealed he’ll take a break from the game after what he described as probably the toughest day of his 17-year career. The Northern Irishman bogeyed three of the final four holes at the US Open to lose out to Bryson DeChambeau, before declining to speak to the media and quickly leaving Pinehurst without congratulating the winner. In a statement posted on X, McIlroy began by praising DeChambeau, who he described as a “worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now”. The 35-year-old went on to say: “As I reflect on my week, I’ll rue a few things over the course of the tournament, mostly the two missed putts on 16 and 18 on the final day. But, as I always try to do, I’ll look…

“EITHER BRYSON LETS HIM OFF THE HOOK OR THAT’S GOING TO HAUNT HIM FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE”Nick Faldo reacts to Rory McIlroy’s missed putt on the 18th at Pinehurst No.2 “THE MUG SHOT WILL ALWAYS, I THINK, STICK WITH ME. I’M SURE IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON”Scottie Scheffler responds to the charges being dropped from his arrest prior to the second round of the US PGA “I’D NEVER WISH IT ON ANYBODY. IT JUST HAPPENED TO PLAY OUT THAT WAY. HE’LL WIN MULTIPLE MORE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS”Bryson DeChambeau after his US Open triumph over McIlroy “I FEEL TERRIBLE FOR SEBASTIAN. I DON’T EVEN HAVE WORDS FOR IT, I CAN’T IMAGINE HOW HE FEELS”Linn Grant after overcoming fellow Swede Sebastian Soderberg’s eight-shot lead at the Scandinavian Mixed…