'Beyond proud': Girlfriend leads tributes to Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau’s girlfriend Sophia Phalen Bertalomi has led the tributes to golf’s newest major winner.
DeChambeau’s unorthodox style received major validation as the power-driving “mad scientist” of the PGA Tour claimed the US Open with a commanding six-stroke victory that silenced the sceptics.
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A beefed-up DeChambeau overwhelmed a venerable golf course in a way that was once as unimaginable as playing a US Open with no spectators.
The physics graduate came in vowing to hit it as far as he could for as long as he could.
Then he went out and did just that, with no apologies to the ankle-deep rough and slick greens that took a piece out of every other player in the field.
Among those to congratulate DeChambeau on Sunday was his girlfriend.
Bertalomi, a 27-year-old Instagram model, posted a photo of DeChambeau on social media and wrote: “Biggest congratulations to this guy!!! Beyond proud of you B!”
DeChambeau and Bertalomi have reportedly been sating since 2018.
She graduated from Chapman University with a degree in Kinesiology and Nutrition in 2014.
After becoming a nursing student and studying pharmacology, the 27-year-old has since released her own swimwear line.
Golf world reacts to DeChambeau victory
Among those to congratulate DeChambeau was Paige Spiranac, who previously criticised the American for his actions on-course.
“It’s fun to give Bryson s*** at times but you have to give him so much credit for sticking to his guns despite all the hate and now he gets to call himself a US Open Champion,” Spiranac wrote on Twitter.
“Well deserved win.”
Spiranac, a former pro golfer turned media personality, slammed DeChambeau earlier this year for an argument with an official.
“The way he acted to that rules official was so uncalled for and I think it just shows where his headspace is at right now, where he thinks that he is literally pioneering the way that golf is being played, and so he is so far and beyond everyone else that he can tell a rules official, who their job is to know the rules inside and out, and for Bryson to say, ‘I don’t believe you, I need a second ruling.’ Who do you think you are?” Spiranac said at the time.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who finished in a share of eighth place, was almost left in a state of disbelief at DeChambeau's win, given his inaccuracy off the tee at a tournament renowned for its thick rough.
“I don't really know what to say because that's just the complete opposite of what you think a US Open champion does,” said McIlroy.
“Look, he's found a way to do it. Whether that's good or bad for the game, I don't know, but it's just - it's not the way I saw this golf course being played or this tournament being played.
“It's kind of hard to really wrap my head around it.
“I think it's brilliant, but I think he's taken advantage of where the game is at the minute.
“Look, again, whether that's good or bad, but it's just the way it is. With the way he approaches it, with the arm-lock putting, with everything, it's just where the game's at right now.
“I'm not saying that's right or wrong. He's just taking advantage of what we have right now.”
DeChambeau may not have embarrassed the host USGA the way it likes to embarrass players at its championships, but the American understands what the stuffed shirts must be thinking.
“He's hitting it forever. That's why he won,” he said.
“I mean, it was a tremendous advantage this week. I kept telling everybody it’s an advantage to hit it farther.”
Indeed, DeChambeau hit only 23 of 56 fairways off the tee, but it hardly mattered.
The ball flew so far that DeChambeau was often left with little more than a pitch out of the rough to the green.
with agencies
