DeChambeau's Glass is Half Full with Runner-Up at Quail Hollow

Bryson DeChambeau has brought PGA Championship galleries to their feet with his exuberance and his undeniable game in back-to-back years. Sunday at Quail Hollow, fan’s consistent energy followed him as he played an up-and-down 1-under 70 on Sunday at Quail Hollow. The performance earned him joint runner-up with Davis Riley and Harris English at 6-under, five shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler. DeChambeau left his second major of the year wanting more, after being in the final pairing with Rory McIlroy in the Masters in April and finishing T-5.

“I felt like I had the game to win this week, and golf course suited me pretty well, missed a few putts coming down the stretch and got a little unlucky in this great game of golf,” DeChambeau said. “It kind of is what it is. I'm sure you heard me out there really baffled quite a bit. It was a good fight, good battle, take a lot from it. It's just burning a bigger fire in my belly.”

DeChambeau held the solo lead for a short time on Saturday through 16 holes, before Scheffler tore through the Green Mile to build a three-stroke lead. The long-bombing American had another opportunity to reclaim the lead on Sunday as Scheffler came back to field on his front nine. The 31-year-old DeChambeau got to within a couple shots of the Scheffler-Rahm co-lead on the back nine, and he birdied the drivable par-4 14th and par-5 15th. DeChambeau entered Quail Hollow’s treacherous three-hole closing stretch at 7-under, unable to close the gap with Scheffler.

After going through two major Sundays where he’s had chances to win this spring, the two-time major champion was asked if the glass would be viewed as half full or empty for having two strong finishes but not earning a win.

“I'd say it was a bit of both. Definitely had an opportunity to beat Rory and definitely had an opportunity to give Scottie a run this week,” DeChambeau said. “Even though I was leading after 16 holes on the third round, but man, I just didn't get it done. I've got to learn how to be a little more precise with the wind, not let the wind affect the ball as much. It's a tough task to do because I laid it so high and the ball just kind of moves it in the air. I've got to figure that out. I've got some tricks up my sleeve that I'm going to be working on and hopefully bring for the U.S. Open, but I've got to get some equipment here soon.”

DeChambeau got off to a slow start this week with an even-par 71 on Thursday, trailing the lead at that point by seven strokes. However, the California native seemed to play his way into contention fairly consistently into the weekend, but after his round on Sunday he was a little frustrated that he’d driven the ball so well this week, but just couldn’t quite convert. DeChambeau was first among the 156 player fields in SG/off the tee for the week at Quail Hollow.

“Just felt like things just didn't go my way this week,” DeChambeau said. “Drove it really well. I drove it as good as I can, as of right now, I gave myself a good chance. I just felt like a couple breaks went a different way. There were times where I feel like I pressed. Green Mile did it to me yesterday and kind of did it to me again today, and that's golf, man. I've got to be more precise and fix what I can fix to make myself more consistent and get up there, the likes what have Scottie is doing right now.”