Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach California. He is the first Irishman and first European in 40 years to win the tournament. McDowell finished the four-day tournament with a three-over 74. “You’re something, kid,” said father Kenny McDowell as he embraced his son on the 18th green. “He’s been ice cool all week."
It was a final round nobody anticipated. Relatively unknown golfer McDowell, 30, did not let the pressure of playing alongside the world's top ranked golfers get to him. He pulled into the lead after Dustin Johnson lost his three shot lead. The final round was the most surprising in which Johnson missed a two-foot birdie putt, finishing with an unfortunate 82. However, Johnson's score is amongst the highest in U.S. Open history.
McDowell and Johnson were low on the radar coming into the tournament, especially with big name contenders like come-back-kid Tiger Woods, favored Phil Mickelson, up-and-coming European Lee Westwood, and former champion Ernie Els, all of whom could have taken the cup had their luck played out differently.
Woods was disappointed he wasn’t able to rank higher. The tournament was the first high profile golf event the No.1 ranked golfer has participated in since the scandal broke about his marital infidelities last December. “I made three mental mistakes . . . The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the U.S. Open." Woods ended with a 75 after he bogeyed five of his first 10 holes and made only two birdies.
Mickelson had the most riding on the championship. The No. 2 golfer was the favored participant before the tournament began, and won the 2009 Masters back in April. Mickelson, who holed a birdie putt on the first hole just off the green, played disappointingly for the rest of the weekend. Perhaps dealing with the pressure that if he won the tournament he would propel to No.1 in the world and dethrone Woods was too much for the 40 year old lefty to handle. Instead, he and Woods tied for fourth. Of his game Mickelson said, “It was anybody’s ball game,” adding that, “I had a number of opportunities to get well under par, and I didn’t do it.”
According to Mickelson, this weekend was a “wide-open tournament. Many guys had a chance. And it made for kind of an exciting U.S. Open, I thought." Undoubtedly disappointed, Mickelson still had kind words for McDowell, “To play steady and to withstand some tough holes the way Graeme did and to come out on top, he played some great golf."
McDowell remained in control throughout the game. He made an eight foot birdie putt at the fifth hole, earning himself the highest score in the final round since Andy North in 1985. “I can’t believe I’m standing with this right now.” McDowell said as he posed with the cup for the cameras. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve been dreaming it all my life. Two putts to win the U.S. Open. Can’t believe it happened."
This is the second year in a row the cup has gone to a surprise contender. Last year, American golfer Lucas Glover shocked crowds when he shot a 3-foot putt for par on the 18th hole, winning by a margin of two strokes and propelling himself to the 18th place in the world rankings.
“I can’t believe how difficult this golf course was.” said McDowell. “No matter how good you play . . . good golf got rewarded, and bad golf got punished really badly." McDowell was rewarded with the silver trophy for his amazing efforts at Pebble Beach, while France’s Gregory Havret placed second, followed by Ernie Els in third.
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