Simpson Wins US Open in Dramatic Fashion

Wow.

I don’t know if there is a better way to describe what happened on Sunday at the Olympic Club.

Webb Simpson shot a 2 under par, 68 to squeeze out a one shot victory over Michael Thompson, Jim Furyk, and Graeme McDowell.

Webb started the day at tied for 8th at 3 over par. He managed the first six holes 1 over, bogeys on 2 and 5 followed up with a birdie on 6. He also birdied 7, 8 and 10 before parring out the rest of the holes.

While Webb was lighting up the scoreboard, Tiger Woods had already played the first six holes, 6 over par. His round was over before it ever started. He finished 2 under on the back 9, 3 over par for the day and 8 over par for the tournament in a tie for 21st.

“There are a lot of positives from this week, a lot of positives. Now I just have to apply them,” he said in an interview after his round.

Furyk played incredibly well on the front 9 only bogeying hole 6 before struggling on the par 5, 16th hole. He duck hooked his tee shot into the trees and had to chip out. His fourth shot was his approach shot which took a bad bounce off the green. He had to chip on and then one putt for a bogey.

On 18, with the tournament on the line, he hit his approach shot long and left into the bunker. From that bunker he thinned his shot into the bunker at the front of the green. He was able to put it close on his fourth shot and made his bogey putt.

McDowell played his way back into the tournament after shooting 4 over par on the front 9. He birdied 11 and 12 before bogeying 13 and 14. He made a 15 footer on 17 for birdie to give himself a chance to tie Simpson on the 18th hole. He missed his 25 foot birdie putt from above the hole on 18 to finish in second shooting 3 over par, 73 and 2 over for the tournament.

Ernie Els also had a good day. He started the day in 9th place and eagled 7 to give the crowd something to cheer for. He followed that eagle up with consecutive bogeys—his tee shot on the par 3, 8th hole was 40 yards short! He finished with a 2 over 72 and in a tie for 4th place at 4 over par.

Position Player Total
1 Webb Simpson +1
T2 Michael Thompson +2
T2 Graeme McDowell +2
T4 David Toms +3
T4 Padraig Harrington +3
T4 John Peterson +3
T4 Jason Dufner +3
T4 Jim Furyk +3
9 Ernie Els +4

 

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