Bryson DeChambeau may have missed out on the green jacket at Augusta, but he’s now got something permanent to remember his greatest triumph. The 2023 U.S. Open champion was at Pinehurst No. 2 Monday for the unveiling of a plaque commemorating his clutch bunker shot during last year’s victory. This comes just a day after he shot a final-round 75 at the Masters, finishing in a tie for fifth.
The plaque sits right next to the bunker where DeChambeau hit what he called “the shot of my life” — a spectacular sand save to 4 feet that sealed his one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy. It’s a fitting tribute to one of the most dramatic moments in recent U.S. Open history.
While DeChambeau was celebrating his past glory, the USGA announced they’ve accepted a record 10,202 entries for this year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, scheduled for June 12-15. It’s just the fourth time the championship has drawn more than 10,000 applications, narrowly surpassing last year’s record of 10,187 entries for Los Angeles Country Club.
DeChambeau won’t have to worry about qualifying — he’s one of 50 players already exempt from the grueling two-stage process. U.S. Open champions receive a 10-year exemption, so he’s set through 2033.
For everyone else, the road to Oakmont begins this week. Local qualifying runs from Wednesday through May 19 at 110 courses across 43 states, plus Canada and Mexico. Final qualifying kicks off May 19 with sites in England, Japan and Texas, with most players attempting to qualify on June 2 after the Memorial Tournament.
The field includes quite an age range. The youngest entrant is 13-year-old Beck Patrick, while at the other end of the spectrum, 73-year-old Mac O’Grady is taking his shot — 35 years after his last U.S. Open appearance in 1989.
