Spieth wins U.S. Open in stunning finish

  • By Rich Myhre Herald Writer
  • Sunday, June 21, 2015 8:03pm
  • SportsSports

UNIVERSITY PLACE — On a day of heart-stopping suspense and stunning emotional swings, Jordan Spieth won the 115th United States Open at Chambers Bay on Sunday with two birdies over the final three holes, followed moments later by an inexplicable three-putt by rival Dustin Johnson on the 18th green.

The result was a one-stroke victory for Spieth, who pocketed the winner’s paycheck of $1.8 million despite letting a three-stroke lead vanish with a shocking double-bogey on the par-3 17th hole. That mishap, coupled with a subsequent birdie by Johnson on the same hole, left the two golfers tied with one hole to play.

On the decisive par-5 18th, Spieth played a marvelous second shot to 15 feet from the pin and two-putted for a birdie. But Johnson, playing in the final twosome, played an even more marvelous second shot, stopping his ball 12½ feet from the cup.

At that point there were three possible outcomes. Johnson could sink the putt to win. He could two-putt for a tie and an 18-hole playoff Monday. Or he could miss and make Spieth the winner.

Johnson slid his first putt about 3½ feet past the hole, eliminating the first possibility. When he missed the comeback try, with his ball just kissing the left lip, it made a winner out of Spieth, who was watching on television in the nearby scorer’s tent with his caddy, Michael Greller of nearby Gig Harbor.

“I’m still in shock,” said the 21-year-old Spieth, who also won the Masters in April. “It’s a cliché to say, but I’ve never experienced a feeling like this. It’s just kind of total shock.”

“I thought that I had won it on 16. I didn’t think I had lost it after 17, but I thought I needed to play 18 well just to play (in a playoff today). And then after (Johnson) hit is second shot (to the green) I thought, ‘Shoot, I may have just lost this tournament.’ And then utter shock at the finish.”

As he watched the final dramatic moments unfold, “I was probably more nervous than I was on the course at any point. … I’m still trying to wrap my head around the finish,” Spieth said. “This was just an odd deal, very odd, and I very much feel for Dustin. He deserves to be holding the trophy just as much as I do.”

Spieth, who finished the day at 1-under-par 69 and the tournament at 5-under 275, is just the sixth golfer in history to win both the Masters and the U.S. Open in the same year, joining Craig Wood, Ben Hogan (twice), Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. In addition, Spieth is the youngest golfer to win the U.S. Open since amateur Bobby Jones in 1923, and the youngest to win two career majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922.

Hearing all those names recited at the post-tournament press conference, Spieth could only smile and shake his head.

“Those names are the greatest that have ever played the game and I don’t consider myself there yet. But I’m certainly off to, I think, the right start in order to make an impact on the history of the game,” said Spieth, who won for the third time this season and is ranked second in the world to Rory McIlroy.

“Jordan played tremendous golf,” said playing partner Branden Grace, who finished two strokes back after a round of 1-over 71. “He’s a great talent obviously. You have to be something special to win the Masters and (the U.S. Open) back to back. He’s a huge talent, and exactly what golf needs behind Rory and Tiger (Woods).”

Second place went to Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen, who tied at 4-under 276. Johnson closed with an even-par 70 while Oosthuizen, who birdied six of his final seven holes, had a 3-under 67.

Johnson led for much of the early part of Sunday’s round. But he started the back nine with three bogeys on the first four holes, and a three-stroke deficit with two holes to play made him seem an unlikely winner. One hole later he was tied, and with a reasonable eagle putt on the 18th green he seemed poised for his first major championship.

But it was not to be. With his fiancée, Paulina Gretzky, looking on, along with their young son Tatum, Paulina’s dad Wayne Gretzky, the former hockey great, and her mother Janet Jones, a former actress, Johnson twice missed putts left of the hole. Dazed, he tapped in and then left the green, just as Spieth emerged from the scorer’s tent, looking equally dazed.

“I’m disappointed that I three-putted the last hole,” Johnson said. “Other than that, I had a damn good week. I’m happy with the way I played. … I gave myself chances all day long. If I’d rolled the putter halfway decent today, I win this thing by a few shots.

“I did everything I could,” he said. “I tried my damnedest to get the ball in the hole (on 18) and I just couldn’t do it.”

The low score of the day — indeed, the low score of the entire tournament — belonged to Australian Adam Scott, who put together a bogey-free round of 6-under 64.

“I played really well,” Scott said. “I took advantage of some of the holes playing a little bit shorter, I didn’t have any disasters out there, and I hit a few good shots and took advantage of them. It’s kind of what I needed to even think of having a chance.”

McIlroy made a charge with six birdies over his first 13 holes — including a 72-foot birdie putt on No. 13, one of the shots of the tournament — to pull within a few shots of the leaders, but a deficit of eight strokes to start the day was just too much. McIlroy had bogeys on two of the last four holes for a round of 4-under 66 and a tournament total of even-par 280, putting him in a three-way tie for ninth.

“When I look back at this tournament, that’s where I’ll rue some missed opportunities,” McIlroy said. “I feel like it’s sort of one that got away, especially with the way I putted this week. But I don’t think I’ve ever hit the ball as well in a major championship.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.