US Open Golf 2024: Final Predictions for Top Prize Money

Bryson DeChambeau is 18 holes away from winning his second major championship.

DeChambeau broke loose from the pack on Saturday to hold a three-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy, Matthieu Pavon and Patrick Cantlay.

The 2020 US Open winner played the most consistent golf at Pinehurst No. 2, and at least after three rounds, he looks like the most worthy 2024 US Open champion.

Anything can happen in Sunday's final round to take the title away from DeChambeau. He just needs to look at Pinehurst's own US Open history to how things can go south fast. Retief Goosen went from the lead to outside the top 10 on Sunday in 2005.

McIlroy might be the golfer best suited to chase down DeChambeau because he knows what it takes to win a major title, even though it's been a decade since his last major triumph.

One certainty about Sunday's final round is Pinehurst will continue to play tough. Only seven players carded an under-par round on Saturday. More carnage could be the horizon on Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau Finishes Off Second Major Title

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 15: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States looks over a putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 15, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

DeChambeau's final three holes on Saturday proved he has what it takes to win another major.

The 2020 US Open champion gave two shots back to the course with a double bogey at No. 16. That could have been the start of DeChambeau's unraveling.

Instead, he bounced back immediately with a birdie at No. 17 and a par at No. 18 to extend his lead to three strokes.

A two-stroke lead with mistakes at the end of the round could have damaged DeChambeau's confidence and opened up an opportunity for his closest challengers to chase him down immediately on Sunday.

The poise displayed to rebound from Saturday's biggest mistake showed DeChambeau is locked and in the best shape to capture the US Open crown at Pinehurst.

DeChambeau is the only player in the field with two rounds of 67 and he is the lone golfer with three rounds in the 60s.

He has played Pinehurst as well as anyone and Sunday's round should feature more of the same from the 30-year-old.

Rory McIlroy Mounts Biggest Challenge to DeChambeau

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 15: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after making a birdie on the 16th hole during the third round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 15, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy was a few shots away from being in Sunday's final pairing with DeChambeau.

That could have turned the 2024 US Open into an epic tournament with two of the game's best golfers going head-to-head.

Instead, McIlroy is in the second-to-last group and Matthieu Pavon will play alongside DeChambeau. McIlroy's Saturday ended poorly with bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes.

McIlroy can still pose the biggest challenge to DeChambeau, though, as he was one of the few golfers to reach the six-under mark on Saturday.

He produced three birdies, one bogey and 10 pars in his first 14 holes. A similar start on Sunday will put McIlroy squarely in competition with DeChambeau.

Of course, he has to finish the job on the final four holes, but if he can do that, McIlroy will at least have a shot to end his decade-long major drought.

Pavon and Patrick Cantlay each could mount a fight as well, but they combined for one birdie after the eighth hole on Saturday. Even-par golf will place them in the top five, but it may not be enough to keep up with DeChambeau.

Less Than Five Players Finish Under Par

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 15: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States shakes hands with his caddie Gregory Bodine on the 18th hole after finishing the third round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 15, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Pinehurst wreaked havoc on most of the field on Saturday.

Entering Sunday, eight players have under-par scores for the tournament. Three others are at even-par.

The scoring is in line with what the past two US Opens played at Pinehurst No. 2 produced. Three players, including winner Martin Kaymer at nine-under, finished with under-par scores in 2014. Michael Campbell won with an even-par final score in 2005.

DeChambeau, Collin Morikawa and Aaron Rai were the only players to card a multi-stroke under-par Saturday round. There were 18 scores of 76 or worse in the third round.

More carnage around the greens is expected on Sunday, which in turn, could narrow the number of under-par golfers even more.

There is a good chance that a few of the golfers at one-and-two-under drop shots and finish at even-par or worse. That would clear the way for less than five players to finish with under-par scores for the entire tournament, which is around Pinehurst's standard.