Jordan Spieth has captured the first two majors of the 2015 season but what transpired Sunday at the U.S. Open was a shocking, dramatic finish that left Spieth as shocked as the thousands looking on at Chambers Bay.
Consider that Spieth seemingly had the championship in his pocket after pouring in a 19-foot birdie putt at the par four 16th that gave him a three shot lead. Contenders Brandon Grace and Dustin Johnson were reeling while Louie Oosthuizen’s historic 29 on the back nine had him in the house at four-under, 276.
Spieth would suffer an incredible double-bogey at the 17th that opened the door for Johnson, who then birdied 17 to get to tie Spieth for a moment.
Spieth hit a great drive and a career three-wood from 287 out at the final hole and faced a 15-footer for eagle. He missed, tapped in for birdie and a five-under par total of 275. He had to watch as Johnson launched a titanic drive that split the fairway at 18. From there, a 5-iron put Johnson just outside 12-feet for eagle and victory, his first major title staring him in the eye. line.
Johnson could win with that putt, or, at worst, two-putt and meet Spieth in a Monday playoff.
Then came one of the most shocking moments in U.S. Open history.
Johnson’s eagle putt missed and rolled a little past three feet under the hole. With Spieth thinking playoff, Johnson pulled the putt badly, it didn’t even touch the hole and Spieth was the U.S. Open champion, the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923.
“I’m in shock. Wow! I feel bad for Dustin,” Spieth said, shaking his head. “I had that feeling on 17.”
It was an afternoon of drama that saw Johnson lead most of the way until he suffered bogeys at 10, 11 and 13, and was seemingly out of it.
Spieth and Grace were going head-to-head. Tied at 5-under standing on the 16th tee. It was there that Grace hit his worst shot of the tournament, a drive that sailed 60 yards right and out-of-bounds. Spieth birdied, Grace doubled and Spieth looked ready to cruise in until disaster struck at 17.
Spieth’s tee shot at 17 missed the green 30-yard right, his second left him a 20-footer for par, he ran it four feet by then missed.
He recovered. Johnson appeared to have a win or playoff in the bag.
But on a strange, bizarre afternoon, Spieth prevailed in a finish unlike any other.
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Heartbroken Dustin Johnson finished tied for second with Oosthuizen, both at four-under. Adam Scott shot the low round of the tournament, a six-under par 64 and tied for fourth with 21-year-old Aussie Cameron Smith and Grace. Smith hit his second shot at 18 inside two feet and eagled for 68. Grace shot 71.
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Jason Day made a valiant effort, but looked like he was running on empty, battling severe vertigo that knocked him down on Friday before he finished his round. “I don’t know how you even play with that,” said Fox analyst Greg Norman. Day shot 74 and finished at even par.
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This loss was the fourth time Dustin Johnson saw a major championship slip away from him. Back in 2010 he lost the U.S. Open after leading at Pebble Beach for 54 holes. He lost the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits the same year when he grounded his club in a bunker on the 72nd hole and suffered a two-shot penalty that cost him a spot in the playoff won by Martin Kaymer. In 2011 he lost his shot at the Open Championship at Royal George’s when he hit a shot out-of-bounds on the 14th hole.
But this loss, this tragic ending, was by far the most bitter loss for Johnson.
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Jordan Spieth is already looking forward to the Open Championship at St. Andrews. When asked about it by Fox lead commentator Joe Buck, Spieth didn’t back off:
“We’re gonna go to St. Andrews looking for the Claret Jug,” Spieth said. “You can’t win all four unless you win the first two.”
