Bryson wins U.S. Open after Rory falters on final 3 holes

Bryson DeChambeau won his second U.S. Open title in dramatic fashion Sunday at Pinehurst after Rory McIlroy faltered on two short putts in the final three holes.

McIlroy held a one-stroke lead on the 16th green but missed a 30-inch putt for par to drop back into a tie for top spot. The 35-year-old was a perfect 496-for-496 on putts inside three feet before that miss, according to Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group.

McIlroy then lipped out on a three-foot, nine-inch putt for par on the final hole to drop back to 5-under. That final miss happened while DeChambeau was off to the side of the 18th fairway in a tough position behind a tree root. He managed to advance the ball into the bunker short of the green and hit a brilliant bunker shot to four feet.

DeChambeau would make that putt to set off a raucous celebration as he became just the fifth man aged 30 or younger to have two U.S. Open titles since World War II.

DeChambeau joins Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Bobby Jones as the only men to win a U.S. Amateur and multiple U.S. Open titles.

This was McIlroy's closest call at a major since his last win at the PGA Championship in 2014. He entered the final five holes with a two-shot lead but made three bogeys over that stretch to fall out of top spot. It's the second straight day he struggled to close his round, as he played the final four holes in a combined 5-over on Saturday and Sunday.

McIlroy, who declined to meet with media after the finish, became the first man since 1910 to have six straight top-10 showings in the U.S. Open without a victory.

Tony Finau fired the lowest round of the day to grab a tie for third alongside Patrick Cantlay, while Matthieu Pavon finished fifth.