Well Played
Matthieu Pavon explains why he didn't putt out first, shares amazing reason Bryson DeChambeau thanked him after
David Cannon
Bryson DeChambeau launched into celebration mode after making that final three-footer at Pinehurst No. 2 to win the U.S. Open, but then quickly pleaded with the crowd to quiet down. His playing partner, Matthieu Pavon, still had to finish.
It was a nice gesture by DeChambeau, especially because many fans were curious why Pavon hadn't just putted out first from closer range to clear the stage for him to win his second major. But a few days later, it makes total sense.
Pavon explained the sequence to Barstool's Dan Rapaport, acknowledging that he didn't want to rush such an important putt—he finished solo fifth, one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama—although he overestimated just how important it was.
"In my mind, I felt like if I finish solo fifth I got all the majors for next year," Pavon told Rapaport, who informed him that was not correct. "Not correct, right?"
Still, it made a difference—about $50K—in how much of that record purse Pavon received for his career-best major finish. And he revealed that moments later, DeChambeau acknowledged that he had done the right thing. Both for himself and the tournament.
"He said, 'Thanks (for) not doing it because you would have showed me the line and I think it's not fair for Rory, and I don't want to win it that way,'" Pavon said.
And just like that, the legend of Bryson the sportsman grew. Watch the entire exchange here: