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Spieth claims second leg of golf's Grand Slam
Johnson suffers more major championship heartache
Rory roars at US Open but comes up short
Spieth claims second leg of golf's Grand Slam
TACOMA, 22 Jun 2015 (AFP) - Jordan Spieth continued his breakout season, following up a historic Masters triumph by emerging from a crowded leaderboard in the final round Sunday to claim his first US Open crown.
The 21-year-old Texan's stunning one-stroke victory over fellow American Dustin Johnson and South African Louis Oosthuizen at Chambers Bay golf course gets Spieth halfway home to an unprecedented calendar-year Grand Slam.
Spieth fired a closing one-under 69 for a five-under 275 total, denying a first time major win for Johnson, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat after he three-putted on 18, including a missed four-footer to force a playoff.
"I didn't expect the next one [major championship] to come this soon," said Spieth, who made some clutch putts down the stretch. "I am still amazed that I won."
The world number two Spieth is fast becoming the posterboy for American golf over the fading Tiger Woods, as he became the first player to capture the Masters and US Open in the same year since Woods did it in 2002.
Spieth is the youngest champion of the US Open since the legendary Bobby Jones in 1923 and the youngest player to win two career majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922.
Spieth used all the tricks in his bag, but the biggest ace up his sleeve Sunday was his caddie Michael Greller who started his career at Chambers Bay.
"I think it will sink in a little quicker than the Masters given it has already happened, but boy, what a team effort," he said. "I didn't have my best stuff but we were able to get it done. Michael knew this course better than anybody playing this week. "
Johnson shot a 70 for a four-under 276 total to finish in a tie for second with Oosthuizen, who had a sizzling 67.
Three players were tied for fourth - Australians Adam Scott (64) and Cameron Smith (68) and South African Branden Grace (71).
Australia's Jason Day courageously battled vertigo through the final three rounds, to shoot a closing 74 and finish at even-par 280, five strokes back of Spieth.
For the first time since 1973, four players headed into the final round with a share of the lead, comprising Spieth, Day, Johnson and Grace.
The long-hitting Johnson appeared to be ready to conquer the Chambers Bay course and claim a first major championship that many believe he was long overdue for after having come close in all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Playing in the final pairing, Johnson reached the par-five 18 green in two and had a 12-foot eagle putt to win.
He missed his eagle and then had a four-foot putt at the last to force an 18-hole playoff on Monday but missed that one as well.
"Disappointed. I played really well, I didn't make any putts today," Johnson said. "I did everything I could. I tried my damndest to get in the hole. I just couldn't do it."
Much criticised over the week by many players for its fiery fairways and bumpy greens, the links-type Chambers Bay course was again set to be a monster challenge at 7,384 yards. And conditions were perfect Sunday as they had been throughout the week.
The biggest mover of the day Sunday was world number one Rory McIlroy, who shot a four-under 66.
McIlroy, who won the two majors prior to the two of Spieth, started the day eight shots off the pace and at one point on the back nine got to within two of the leader.
"I played a great front nine," McIlroy said. "Instead of making two birdies on way in I made two bogeys which was disappointing."
Day instantly became the crowd favourite after a frightening vertigo attack near the end of his second round that caused him to collapse in front of the ninth hole grandstand.
He was still suffering in the final round, but soldiered on to remain in contention and finish with three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.
"I hit 13 greens and just didn't capitalize on all the stuff I had," Day said. "I am just glad I got in on the weekend."
The 27-year-old Grace battled Spieth down the stretch but the South African slumped badly on the 16th hole, finishing with a double bogey to Spieth's birdie for a crucial three-shot swing.
Johnson suffers more major championship heartache
TACOMA, 22 Jun 2015 (AFP) - Dustin Johnson suffered another heavy dose of heartache Sunday after he was denied his first major championship victory when he missed two putts on the final hole of the 115th US Open.
The 30-year-old Johnson three-putted on the last hole of the final round at Chambers Bay, spoiling his chances of getting into an 18-hole potential Monday playoff with Jordan Spieth.
The long-hitting Johnson, who many believe is overdue for a major title, fired an even-par 70 to finish at four-under 276, one stroke behind fellow American and now two-time major winner Spieth. He finished in a tie for second with South African Louis Oosthuizen.
"Disappointed. I played really well I just didn't make any putts today," said Johnson, who is ranked seventh in the world. "I did everything I could. I tried my damndest to get in the hole. I just couldn't do it."
Playing in the final pairing, Johnson reached the par-five 18 green in two and had a 12-foot eagle putt to take his first major title.
He missed his eagle and then had a four-foot putt to force an 18-hole playoff on Monday but missed that one as well.
Johnson's short putt didn't break how he'd hoped as it ran just wide of the hole.
"Whatever the putt did on the last hole, I don't know. I might have pulled it a little bit. But still to me it looked like it bounced left. It is tough. It's very difficult."
Johnson tried to put a brave face on a frustrating end to his round.
"I had a chance to win again a major on a Sunday," he said. "This is why I play golf. I've got a chance to win the US Open on the last hole. It just didn't work out.
"I am disappointed that I three putted the last hole. Other than that it was a damn good week."
Johnson led the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach through 54 holes before finishing eighth.
Johnson's final round frustrations at Chambers Bay brought back memories of another Sunday snafu over four years ago at a similar links-style PGA Championship in Whistling Straits when he missed a spot in a playoff and a possible major crown.
Officials ruled Johnson illegally grounded his club in what was deemed to be a bunker before his second shot leading to a two-stroke penalty. That wiped out any chance he had of joining Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson in the potential playoff.
- Personal issues -Johnson has been playing well since taking a six month break last year to work through some personal issues.
Golf Magazine reported at the time that Johnson had been suspended from the PGA Tour for six months after testing positive for cocaine, which the PGA Tour denied, saying it was a voluntary leave.
Johnson returned in good shape, winning the World Golf Championship event in Florida in March. He had has seven top-10 finishes in majors and was tied for fourth at last year's US Open.
He was hoping to wash away some of the disappointment Sunday by spending the rest of Father's Day with his infant son.
He and his partner Pauline Gretzky -- the oldest daughter of Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky -- had a son in January.
"My trophy at the end of the day is holding my little man," he said. "I couldn't be more proud of myself and my family. Now matter what I am going to keep my head high."
Rory roars at US Open but comes up short
TACOMA, 22 Jun 2015 (AFP) - Rory McIlroy was left regretting a cold putter as his hopes of a second US Open win came up agonisingly short at Chambers Bay on Sunday.
The world number one started the day eight shots adrift of the leading quartet and seemingly out of the championship picture.
But in a superb display of shot-making, the 26-year-old Northern Irishman rattled in six birdies in 13 holes, the last of which was a monster 70-foot putt.
At that stage he was just two shots shy of the lead, with some birdieable holes ahead. Suddenly he looked capable of winning and also becoming the first man to score 62 in a major.
But a three-putt on the par-three 15th took the wind out of his sails and two holes later another dropped shot effectively ended his challenge.
He eventually settled for a 66 to stand at even par for the tournament.
No fifth major for McIlroy then, but he said there were plenty of positives to be taken from his week in the US Pacific Northwest.
"When I look back, obviously the last few holes of this golf course haven't been kind to me all week. And when I look back at this tournament that's where I'll rue some missed opportunities," he said.
"I feel like it's sort of one that got away, especially the way I putted this week. I don't think I've ever hit the ball as well in a major championship."
It's the second major in a row that McIlroy has left himself with too much to do in the final round following his charge up the leaderboard to place fourth at the Masters in April.
That is something he said he will work hard on over the next few weeks ahead of the British Open at St Andrews in mid-July.
"Of course I take a lot of positives out of this," he said.
"The long game is really in good shape. I've never hit the ball as good in a major championship for four rounds.
"I was really dialled in all week and confident with that. And if I can just get the putting a little bit better and roll a few more in and get a little bit of confidence with that going, I see nothing but positive signs for the next few months."
Next up for McIlroy will be another appearance in the Scottish Open in Gullane, East Lothian in two weeks time.
"I'll go probably (to St Andrews) the weekend before the Scottish Open or even the Monday, Tuesday of the Scottish Open and play a couple of practice rounds," he said.
US Open final scores
275 - Jordan Spieth (USA) 68-67-71-69
276 - Dustin Johnson (USA) 65-71-70-70, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 77-66-66-67
277 - Branden Grace (RSA) 69-67-70-71, Adam Scott (AUS) 70-71-72-64, Cameron Smith (AUS) 70-70-69-68
278 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 73-70-69-66
279 - Brandt Snedeker (USA) 69-72-70-68
280 - Shane Lowry (IRL) 69-70-70-71, Jason Day (AUS) 68-70-68-74, Rory McIlroy () 72-72-70-66
281 - Kevin Kisner (USA) 71-68-73-69, Matt Kuchar (USA) 67-73-72-69
282 - Patrick Reed (USA) 66-69-76-71, John Senden (AUS) 72-72-70-68, Andrés Romero (ARG) 71-69-71-71, Tony Finau (USA) 69-68-74-71
283 - Jamie Lovemark (USA) 70-68-75-70, Jason Dufner (USA) 68-72-73-70, Charlie Beljan (USA) 69-75-69-70, Brooks Koepka (USA) 72-72-70-69, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 69-72-75-67, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 70-71-72-70, Sergio García (ESP) 70-75-70-68
284 - Thomas Aiken (RSA) 74-71-73-66, Billy Horschel (USA) 72-72-73-67
285 - Brian Campbell (USA) 67-72-78-68, Daniel Summerhays (USA) 70-67-78-70, J.B. Holmes (USA) 72-66-71-76, Keegan Bradley (USA) 73-71-72-69, Morgan Hoffmann (USA) 71-74-74-66, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 65-74-72-74, Alexander Levy (FRA) 70-69-73-73, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 68-73-72-72, Justin Rose (ENG) 72-70-72-71, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 74-69-73-69, Marc Warren (SCO) 68-74-72-71, Jimmy Gunn (SCO) 72-73-70-70
286 - Paul Casey (ENG) 72-69-73-72, Joost Luiten (NED) 68-69-74-75, Troy Kelly (USA) 72-73-72-69
287 - Ollie Schniederjans (USA) 69-73-72-73, Denny McCarthy (USA) 71-73-71-72, Robert Streb (USA) 74-70-73-70, Jim Furyk (USA) 71-73-73-70
288 - Kevin Chappell (USA) 69-75-73-71, Webb Simpson (USA) 72-73-71-72, Kevin Na (USA) 70-72-72-74, Brad Fritsch (CAN) 70-74-72-72
289 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-69-77-70, Sam Saunders (USA) 72-72-76-69
290 - Ryan Palmer (USA) 74-70-73-73, Nick Hardy (USA) 70-75-77-68
291 - Cameron Tringale (USA) 75-68-74-74, Mark Silvers (USA) 72-71-75-73, Ian Poulter (ENG) 72-73-69-77, Ernie Els (RSA) 72-70-76-73
292 - Luke Donald (ENG) 73-71-73-75, Brad Elder (USA) 76-68-76-72, Jack Maguire (USA) 73-68-73-78, Jimmy Walker (USA) 72-73-72-75, Beau Hossler (USA) 71-72-73-76, D.A. Points (USA) 74-71-77-70
293 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 69-74-77-73, Ben Martin (USA) 67-70-86-70, Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE) 71-72-76-74, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-76-72-76, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 71-71-77-74, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 70-75-74-74
294 - George Coetzee (RSA) 72-73-72-77, Andy Pope (USA) 74-71-77-72
295 - Zach Johnson (USA) 72-72-78-73, John Parry (ENG) 72-73-71-79
300 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 72-73-80-75
301 - Chris Kirk (USA) 70-73-80-78