US Open: Farcical end as Johnson claims crown

Dustin Johnson survived a farcical climax to the US Open to win his first major title as Ireland's Shane Lowry let slip a four-shot lead at Oakmont.
Dustin Johnson holds the trophy after winning the US OpenDustin Johnson holds the trophy after winning the US Open
Dustin Johnson holds the trophy after winning the US Open

Johnson carded a closing 69 to finish four under par, but only after belatedly being given a one-shot penalty following an incident which left players, officials and spectators unsure of his score with just seven holes to play.

The world No 6 began the final round four shots behind Lowry, but moved two clear of the field with birdies on the second and ninth coupled with four bogeys in the first 10 holes from Lowry.

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However, the 31-year-old was then told on the 12th tee that officials would be reviewing an incident on the fifth hole, bringing back memories of his nightmare finish to the 2010 US PGA when a two-shot penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the 72nd hole cost him a place in the play-off.

Johnson had seen his ball move fractionally as he lined up a par putt, but called in the referee walking with his group and was initially cleared of any wrongdoing before holing out for par.

The news that Johnson had been informed of the post-round review was widely criticised, with four-time major winner Rory McIlroy writing on Twitter: “This is ridiculous... No penalty whatsoever for DJ. Let the guy play without this crap in his head. Amateur hour from @USGA.”

And defending champion Jordan Spieth added: “Lemme get this straight.. DJ doesn’t address it. It’s ruled that he didn’t cause it to move. Now you tell him he may have? Now? This a joke?”

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Double US Open champion Curtis Strange, commentating for Fox Sports, added: “What other sport do you wait until the end to make the ruling? This is ridiculous in my opinion.”

Johnson was eventually given a one-shot penalty but still finished three shots clear of Lowry - who struggled to a disappointing 76 - Scott Piercy and former champion Jim Furyk.

Sergio Garcia finished a shot further back alongside South Africa’s Branden Grace after carding three birdies in succession from the 14th.

Johnson, who three-putted the 72nd hole at Chambers Bay last year to finish a shot behind Jordan Spieth, had got on level terms with a birdie on the ninth and found himself in the outright lead when Lowry bogeyed the same hole after finding sand off the tee.

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He then enjoyed an enormous stroke of luck when he pulled his drive on the 10th into thick rough, but was allowed to take a free drop into the first cut due to a television tower being between him and the green.

Lowry’s three-putt bogey on the 10th left Johnson two shots clear, but amid the confusion over the possible penalty, Lowry reduced the deficit with a tap-in birdie on the 12th.

Johnson three-putted the 14th to drop back into - for the time being at least - a tie with Lowry, only for the Irishman to do exactly the same in the group behind and then make the same mistake on the 15th and 16th as well.

With Piercy dropping a shot on the 18th, Johnson had a vital three-shot cushion but made absolutely certain thanks to a stunning approach to the 18th and holing from five feet for birdie.

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Asked how he coped with the uncertainty of the situation, Johnson said: “I knew I was swinging well and I just kept thinking it’s just me and the course. I’m playing against the course. I can’t control what anyone else does.

“So I just tried to hit golf shots, tried to hit it on the correct side of the hole and two-putt.

“I hit two great shots on 18. It (his approach) might be one of the best shots I ever hit. So that was very nice to have a short putt like that to get it in the house.

“It feels good. Feels really good. Feels well deserved. I’ve had a lot of opportunities that I didn’t quite get it done. So this one’s definitely really sweet.”

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Johnson was greeted on the 18th green by wife Paulina and son Tatum and added: “It means the world. It’s Father’s Day. My birthday’s in a couple of days (he turns 32 on Wednesday). Couldn’t have come at a better time.”