Matthieu Pavon may not have captured a first major championship but he won new champion Bryson DeChambeau’s approval.
That’s what is being reported by our friends at the Golf Channel in what DeChambeau told Pavon in scoring on Sunday evening at Pinehurst No. 2, just moments after DeChambeau had rolled in a par putt from 3 feet and change on the 18th green to win the U.S. Open – and Pavon had followed DeChambeau by cleaning up his 3-footer for par to secure a best-ever majors finish of fifth.
Matthieu Pavon and double US Open winning Bryson DeChambeau – Image USGA
When Pavon marked his ball instead of putting out to set the stage for DeChambeau, many spectators starting booing Pavon. That prompted DeChambeau to quiet the crowd before going through his routine.
Pavon told Barstool’s Dan Rapaport that he thought he needed to make par to secure spots in all of next year’s majors. That wasn’t the case, though Pavon did save himself an extra $50,000 by making the putt.
DeChambeau celebrated after sinking his putt and then settled down momentarily for Pavon to finish.
Pavon would soon apologize to DeChambeau, saying, “Bryson, I’m really sorry, dude. I should’ve probably finished it.”
Incredible week, loved every second!
Thanks to the crowd for making me experience such an amazing atmosphere!
Congrats to Bryson for winning the trophy! He is a very gentle guy and a true champion.
Really impressed by the tremendous quality of his short game.
We will be back ✌— Matthieu Pavon (@matthieupavon) June 17, 2024
DeChambeau, though, was having none of it, explaining to Pavon that an apology was unnecessary.
As Pavon recalled, “He said, ‘Dude, you’ve done the right thing. It’s important for you. … Thanks [for] not doing it because you would have showed me the line, and I think it’s not fair for Rory [McIlroy], and I don’t want to win it that way.’”
Pavon’s fifth place finish was easily his best finish in seven major appearances and comes this same year he made his Masters debut in finishing T12th.
