When the fourth round of the 112th US Open
started today everyone thought that the winner would come from one of Jim
Furyk, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood, with some other big names ready to
make a charge. 14-time major champion Tiger Woods was six over after his first
six holes to immediately drop out of the running while McDowell, Westwood and
Furyk all started steadily.
Despite being six shots back after five holes played, last
year’s PGA Tour money list runner-up Webb Simpson hit three consecutive birdies
to move firmly into contention. Other contenders started to slip away from the lead
including English world number three Westwood who lost a ball in a tree after
an errant tee shot. Other players came into it, but dropped out of it. Young
American Michael Thompson posted an excellent 67 to hold the clubhouse lead at
two over par and missed a good chance at 17 to get to plus one.
42-year-old South African Ernie Els moved to +1 thanks to an
eagle at seven before slipping back to plus two one hole later. Jim Furyk got
himself out of trouble at the 12th hole with a monster 30ft par putt
while McDowell drained a similar length putt for birdie to move just one shot
off the lead. Els dropped out of the running with bogeys at 16 and 18 to finish
on +4 when he could have gone so much lower.
The pendulum swung towards Simpson when Furyk hit an ugly
quick hook into the trees off the 16th tee. Simpson then proceeded
to finish with a brilliant up and down from the thick rough to the right of the
18th green to finish with a two under par 68 and +1 overall.
42-year-old Furyk could not reach the green in regulation at the 70th
hole and had to settle for a bogey, leaving him needing at least one birdie
from the last two holes while McDowell needed either two birdies or an eagle at
17.
Sitting in the clubhouse the leader was clearly pleased just
to have finished: “I’ve probably prayed more in those last few holes than I
have ever done in my life but I’m pleased to get in with a 68.”
Furyk’s second shot at the 17th, also a par five,
came up well short in a bunker as he decided to take a four iron when a metal
club may have been the better option. All this time Webb Simpson had to sit in
the clubhouse with his family and wait to see if his effort was going to be
enough. Furyk’s birdie putt came up short but McDowell drained his attempt.
This meant that the Portrush man and the unconventional American both walked
down the last in need of a birdie in order to force a play-off. Both players
found the first cut of rough as Simpson was left to chew on his nails for a
little longer.
McDowell hit an excellent second shot into the 72nd
hole to leave himself around 15ft downhill to take part in a play-off. However
Furyk’s ball buried into a green-side bunker to end his title hopes. McDowell
missed his putt narrowly below the hole to give 26-year-old American Webb
Simpson his first major title.
When asked if he was nervous waiting for McDowell and Furyk
to finish Simpson replied: “It was nerve-racking. Graeme and Jim have both won
majors before and when Graeme had that 25 footer at the last I expected it to
hit the hole or at least go very close.”
An excellent win for Simpson caps un unbelievable rise from
200 in the world rankings at the end of the 2010 season which has included two
other PGA Tour wins. Another rousing golf tournament has ended with a ninth
consecutive new major winner and the third American victor in a row. Now all
the players will go away and begin their preparations for the 141st
British Open that takes place in less than a month’s time.
