McDowell wins US Open: European breaks through

PEBBLE BEACH, California – Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland closed with a 3-over 74 to become the first European in 40 years to capture the US Open.

McDowell seized control after a shocking collapse by Dustin Johnson, then failed to get flustered with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els lined up behind him.

McDowell’s father was waiting to embrace him on the 18th green.

“You’re something, kid,” Kenny McDowell said.

McDowell, 30, wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough to take the initiative and hold on for a one-shot victory over another surprise contender, Gregory Havret of France, who shot 72.

Johnson took a triple bogey on the second hole to lose all of his three-shot lead, and a double bogey on the next hole ended his hopes. Three of the biggest stars of this generation were right there, ready to continue the lineage of great champions at Pebble Beach, only to play far below their expectations.

McDowell made only one birdie – an eight-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole – and his final round was the highest score by a US Open champion since Andy North in 1985.

“I can’t believe I’m standing with this right now,” McDowell said, posing with silver trophy. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming it all my life. Two putts to win the US Open. Can’t believe it happened.”

Woods couldn’t believe it, either.

Poised to end six months of bad publicity over a shattered personal life, he bogeyed five of his first 10 holes and took himself out of contention with a 75.

Els and Mickelson hung around a little longer, and both had their chances, but neither hit the kind of shots that win the US Open.

Els had a brief share of the lead on the front nine but came undone along the coastal holes – including one stretch of bogey-double bogey-bogey – and never quite recovered. His hopes ended when he missed his target with a sand wedge on the par-5 14th and took a bogey, then missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 15th.

He closed with a 73 to finish alone in third.

Mickelson, with another great chance to end a career of disappointment at the US Open, holed a birdie putt from just off the green on the first hole, then didn’t made another birdie the rest of the day. He also shot a 73 and tied for fourth with Woods, missing a chance to supplant Woods at No. 1 in the world.

Woods made only two birdies, but was more troubled by his mistakes.

“I made three mental mistakes,” Woods said. “The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the US Open.”   (AP)