Dustin Johnson three putts the 18th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay on Sunday, June 21, 2015 in University Place, Wash.
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Spieth has followed his Masters win with a victory in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. “When I look back, obviously the last few holes of this golf course haven’t been kind to me all week,” said McIlroy, who played holes 14 through 18 in 6-over par for the tournament. Johnson shot even-par 70 to finish tied for second with Louis Oosthuizen, who shot 3-under 67, including 29 on the back nine when he birdied six on his final seven holes.
A twisting birdie putt at No. 16 briefly gave Spieth a three-shot lead and prompted a celebration “that was about as animated as I’ve been since maybe throwing a tantrum when I was 13 on the course,” he said with a grin. Johnson missed his eagle putt for the win and then had a four-foot putt at the last to force an 18-hole playoff on Monday but he missed it. He also became the youngest to win two Majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922, and he is the youngest United States open champion since jones won the first of four in 1923 at 21 years, three months. All eyes will be on the kid from Dallas. “Instead of making two birdies on way in I made two bogeys which was disappointing”. “We know the formula and that’s the only impact it’s going to have as far as consecutive ones, that’s just something I think to be proud of after the fact, if I can get the job done tomorrow”.
But there he was again, right back in contention, after Spieth made his own bad mistakes on the 17th hole. Couple of putts, 11 and 12, go in and it’s a different story, I feel different and opportunities come down the line.
PGA Tour stats put the chances of three-putting from 12 feet at roughly one in a hundred. I tried my damndest to get it in the hole. I did everything that I could.
Spieth started the day in a four-way tie for first with Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day, who was battling vertigo on the weekend. “After my start in the first round, I’m very happy for where I am now”.
The U.S. Open would have been his had he made a 12-footer on the final green. Johnny Miller in the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont is the only player to shoot 63 on the final day and win. There have been 26 scores of 63 in major championships, including one by McIlroy in 2010 at the Old Course at St. Andrews. I really don’t. It’s in the result.
NOTES: South African George Coetzee borrowed a driver from Alex Noren, who missed the cut, after the head of his driver snapped off while teeing off on the 10th hole. Johnson had a two-shot lead with nine holes to play.
Though Spieth birdied the par-five 18th to end a wildly fluctuating final round of high drama with a one-under-par 69, he then had to watch as fellow American Johnson, in the last pairing, had a 12-foot eagle putt to win it at the 18th. “He deserves to be holding the trophy just as much as I do”.
“What a special place for Michael”, Spieth said.
While Johnson received plenty of support and comfort from family and fans, it was his partner’s father Wayne ‘Great One’ Gretzky, he said, he would turn to for some perspective.
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