From the US Open fifth hole at Oakmont, Dustin Johnson was under intense pressure of a possible penalty shot when the ball moved after he addressed it.
Why the powers-that-be didn’t make an immediate decision defies description, when for most of the final day there was little between the overnight leader Shane Lowry and the persistent Johnson.
But to Johnson’s credit he retained his composure, and in tandem with his immense power it was enough for a comfortable win. It’s a pity he can’t putt, or he would have won by seven shots.
When the one-shot penalty was imposed 15 minutes after Johnson had birdied the 72nd hole, Johnson didn’t give a rats – the US Open was his by three shots, and deservedly so.
Lowry became the first since the late great Payne Sewart to lose a US Open leading by four shots after 54 holes.
Lee Janzen shot 68 in 1998 to win, Stewart 74 to finish second.
Two golfers in genuine contention today – Andrew Landry and Lee Westwood – disappeared without a trace early.
Landry carded five bogeys and a double on the front nine to shoot 78; Westwood six bogeys and a double on his way to 80, playing with Dustin Johnson.
At the start of play today, there were only six in the red:
7-under – Shane Lowry.
3-under – Andrew Landry, Dustin Johnson.
2-under – Lee Westwood, Daniel Summerhays.
1-under – Branden Grace.
There had been a dramatic change on the leaderboard after the last group finished six holes:
5-under – Lowry with two bogeys.
4-under – Johnson with a birdie.
2-under – Scott Piercy after eight holes with two birdies.
2-under – Sergio Garcia after eight with three birdies and a bogey.
1-under – Jim Furyk after 15 with four birdies.
1-under – Grace after seven with a birdie and a bogey.
The drama increased when Lowry birdied the 12th and Johnson his second birdie for the American to take the lead alone.
5-under – Johnson playing the 13th with two birdies.
4-under – Lowry after 12 with four bogeys and a birdie.
3-under – Piercy after 13 with three birdies.
3-under – Garcia fter 13 with four birdies and a bogey.
2-under – Grace after 13 with a birdie-bogey.
1-under – Furyk done with 66, including five birdies and a bogey.
1-under – Jason Day after 14 with an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys.
The 14th brought Johnson and Lowry back to the field when both had bogeys. In the end, it was all Johnson.
The final US Open leaderboard;
4-under – Dustin Johnson 67 69 71 69
1-under – Shane Lowry 68 70 65 76
1-under – Jim Furyk 71 68 74 66
1-under – Scott Piercy 68 70 72 69
Even – Sergio Garcia 68 70 72 70
Even – Branden Grace 73 70 66 71.
There were a dozen US Open champions in the field.
1-under – Jim Furyk, the 2003 champion, was the low marker.
6-over – Graeme McDowell (2010).
9-over – Jordan Spieth (2015), Martin Kaymer (2014), and Angel Cabrera (2007),
Missed cut – Justin Rose (2013), Webb Simpson (2013), Rory McIlroy (2012), Lucas Glover (2009), Geoff Ogilvy (2006), Retief Goosen (2001 and 2004), with Ernie Els (1994 and 1997).
Australians:
2-over – Jason Day with two eagles, 10 birdies, 12 bogeys, and two doubles.
6-over – Adam Scott with 10 birdies, 14 bogeys, and a double.
6-over – Marc Leishman with 13 birdies, 15 bogeys, and two doubles.
15-over – Cameron Smith with 10 birdies, 19 bogeys, and three doubles.
Missed cut – Geoff Ogilvy, Aron Price, and Steve Bowditch.
Outrageous from the Aussie at the Byron Nelson tournament!
An “unshakeable” Scottie Scheffler has claimed his second Masters green jacket in three years, carding a four-under-par 68 to finish four shots clear of…
A day after setting a tournament record in the Masters, Tiger Woods has suffered an unwanted milestone at Augusta National. Woods insisted he could…
Tiger Woods is on the prowl for a sixth green jacket after penning another glorious chapter in his storied career with a record-breaking 24th…
Bryson DeChambeau has laid some demons to rest with a stunning back-nine birdie barrage to seize the first-round lead at the weather-hit Masters. The…
A year after being persona non grata at Augusta National, Australian golf legend Greg Norman is back at the Masters, declaring "the boss is…
