On one of the most talked about days of the year for golf fans, the weather was nice and you could tell a good California day was coming. What they didn't know, however, is that good golf scores were not coming with it. Meet Dustin Johnson - 25 year old from Columbia, South Carolina, who became a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in 2008. Johnson had a 3 stroke lead going into the final day of the U.S. Open Championship, only to fully collapse on Father's Day (and also 2 days before his 26th birthday). His final round 82 was the highest by any golfer leading or holding a share of the lead on the final day in the U.S. Open since 1970. Johnson finished the open in 8th place, barely getting an automatic bid for next year.
Now onto Tiger Woods. After shooting a 5-under 66 on Saturday and looking like the Tiger we're accustomed to, he shoots a 4-over 75. That brings him into a tie for 4th at +3 to finish the Open. Phil Mickelson didn't fair too much better. He went into Sunday 7 strokes back of the leader, but still in contention to win because of how hard Sundays seem to be at Pebble Beach. On the final day, Phil shoots a 2-over 73 and finishes tied with Tiger for 4th place, 3 shots back of the winner, Graeme McDowell. Ernie Els was also in the mix at the end of Saturday, down by 6 strokes. Els didn't play too poorly, but still shoots a 2-over 73 to finish in 3rd place.
Graeme McDowell went into Sunday's final round 3 strokes behind Johnson. After Johnson triple bogeyed the 2nd hole and double bogeyed the 3rd hole, McDowell and everyone else found themselves in contention without even having to make birdies. McDowell didn't even play that well shooting, a 3-over 74 to win the championship. He becomes the first European to win the U.S. Open in 40 years and collects a major championship as his first tour win. I'd say that's a pretty good way to get on the map. Before the U.S. Open started, he was ranked the 36th golfer in the world. Now, after winning the Open, he is ranked 13th in world - a 23-spot jump. Who would have thought with Johnson blowing it that McDowell would have held off the likes of Els, Woods, and Mickelson with a combined 21 major victories? Not me, at least.
Now onto Tiger Woods. After shooting a 5-under 66 on Saturday and looking like the Tiger we're accustomed to, he shoots a 4-over 75. That brings him into a tie for 4th at +3 to finish the Open. Phil Mickelson didn't fair too much better. He went into Sunday 7 strokes back of the leader, but still in contention to win because of how hard Sundays seem to be at Pebble Beach. On the final day, Phil shoots a 2-over 73 and finishes tied with Tiger for 4th place, 3 shots back of the winner, Graeme McDowell. Ernie Els was also in the mix at the end of Saturday, down by 6 strokes. Els didn't play too poorly, but still shoots a 2-over 73 to finish in 3rd place.
Graeme McDowell went into Sunday's final round 3 strokes behind Johnson. After Johnson triple bogeyed the 2nd hole and double bogeyed the 3rd hole, McDowell and everyone else found themselves in contention without even having to make birdies. McDowell didn't even play that well shooting, a 3-over 74 to win the championship. He becomes the first European to win the U.S. Open in 40 years and collects a major championship as his first tour win. I'd say that's a pretty good way to get on the map. Before the U.S. Open started, he was ranked the 36th golfer in the world. Now, after winning the Open, he is ranked 13th in world - a 23-spot jump. Who would have thought with Johnson blowing it that McDowell would have held off the likes of Els, Woods, and Mickelson with a combined 21 major victories? Not me, at least.
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