Jason Day’s courageous bid to win the US Open fell by the wayside thanks to a cold putter, as Jordan Spieth took command to win back-to-back majors when Dustin Johnson three-putted the last.
Unbelievable.
At 21, Spieth became the youngest US Open champion in 93 years and the youngest to win the Masters and US Open in the same year since Gene Sarazen in 1922.
But it was a ding-dong battle with an incredible twist – Johnson had an eagle putt to tin, a birdie putt to force an 18-hole play-off, and a three-putt to lose.
Spieth’s birdie at the 16th opened up a three-shot lead over Branden Grace when the South African drove out of bounds, and Dustin Johnson carded three bogeys in four holes from the 10th to the 13th.
But Spieth doubled bogeyed the 17 to be 4-under, Johnson birdied 17 to be 4-under, after Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott had both made bold bids to pinch the title.
Oosthuizen started with three bogeys, but birdied six of the last seven holes for 4-under – Scott fired in a tournament best 6-under 64 to be in the clubhouse at 3-under.
But Spieth had the last say with a birdie at the last for 5-under to win by a shot over Oosthuizen and Johnson.
Suffering the after effects of vertigo, Jason Day was often blinking to stay focused and balanced, while playing many superb shots, only to have his card dented by his cantankerous flat stick.
In the homeward nine a struggling Day just couldn’t stay with Spieth, Johnson, Grace, and the fast finishing Oosthuizen and Scott, despite his courage,
Day shot 68 70 68 74 to be even with the card.
Of the rest of Australians;
Keep an eye on the 21-year-old Cameron Smith with his special talent, carding 70 70 69 68 to be 3-under with Scott.
John Senden was consistent with 72 72 70 68 to be 2-over,
Geoff Ogilvy’s 69 72 75 67 was 3-over.
And Marcus Fraser’s 71 71 77 74 was 13-over.
A dozen US Open champions were in the field: Ernie Els won in 1994 and 1997. The popular South African finished 11-over today. Tiger Woods won in 2000,2002, and 2008, but missed the cut by 10 shots.
Retief Goosen won in 2001 and 2004, but missed the cut by two. Jim Furyk won in 2003, and finished today at 7-over. Geoff Ogilvy won in 2006, and as reported above finished at 3-over.
Angel Cabrera won in 2007, and finished today at 13-over. Lucas Glover won in 2009, but missed the cut by 10 shots. Graeme McDowell won in 2010, but missed the cut by two. Rory McIlroy won in 2011, finishing today at even par after carding six birdies and two late bogeys in his 66,
Webb Simpson won in 2012, finishing 8-over. Justin Rose won in 2013, finishing 5-over, with the defending champion Martin Kaymer missing the cut by just a shot.
Phil Mickelson’s 25th US Open ended at 13-over, having finished second six times – 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2013, the only major that has escaped the leftie.
Interestingly, six amateurs, all American – Brian Campbell, Denny McCarthy, Ollie Schniederjans, Nick Hardy, Beau Hossler, and Jack Maguire – qualified for the weekend on what is proving to be the toughest of courses, breaking the previous record of five when 19-year-old Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Bob Murphy, Ed Tutwiler, and Deane Beman who was to become the USPGA Commissioner, made the cut in 1966.
Billy Casper won that Open by four shots in an 18-hole play-off over Arnold Palmer, with Jack Nicklaus third.
Casper won $26,500, Palmer $14,000, and Nicklaus $9,000.
How times have changed.
Jordan Spieth will bank $1.8 million.
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