PINEHURST, N.C. — There was a moment on the 18th green on Sunday, with the grandstands packed and the rope lines six deep, when Bryson DeChambeau did something uncharacteristic: He quieted the cheers.
DeChambeau had just punched the save of his life out of the sand, nestling the ball up inside the shadow of the flagstick, needing only a three-foot putt to clinch the U.S. Open. The massive gallery was firmly behind him, shouting his name and chanting “U-S-A!” as he sized up his life-changing putt.
But then DeChambeau stepped away and, like a quarterback motioning for the home crowd to quiet down, made a settle-down motion asking them — just for a second — to stay quiet.