DeChambeau has figured out what the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are desperate to learn: Treat the fans like they matter, and they’ll return, again and again.
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PINEHURST,N.C.—Therewasamomentonthe18thgreenonSunday,withthegrandstandspackedandtheropelinessixdeep,whenBrysonDeChambeaudidsomethinguncharacteristic:Hequietedthecheers.
DeChambeauhadjustpunchedthesaveofhislifeoutofthesand,nestlingtheballupinsidetheshadowoftheflagstick,needingonlyathree-footputttoclinchtheU.S.Open.Themassivegallerywasfirmlybehindhim,shoutinghisnameandchanting“U-S-A!”ashesizeduphislife-changingputt.
ButthenDeChambeausteppedawayand,likeaquarterbackmotioningforthehomecrowdtoquietdown,madeasettle-downmotionaskingthem—justforasecond—tostayquiet.Fifteensecondslater,hedrainedtheputt,kickingoffaraucouscelebrationthatlastedlongintothenight.DeChambeauunleashedaprimalscream,andlatertookthetrophyonatouraroundthegreen,allowinganyonewithinarm’sreachtotouchitsgleamingsides.
Brysonwasn’tkiddingwhenhesaidhewantedeveryfantotouchthetrophyt
