SAN FRANCISCO —
Webb Simpson posted his second consecutive 68, sat down with his wife and waited for someone to catch him.
It never happened.
Simpson had to sweat out Graeme McDowell’s birdie attempt at the 72nd hole before he could celebrate winning the 112th U.S. Open at The Olympic Club.
Simpson, who broke through on the PGA TOUR last season with his first two wins, finished at 1 over. He was making his fifth major start and just his second at the U.S. Open.
”I knew it was a tough golf course,” Simpson said. “I had to go out and do as well as I could. I probably prayed more the last three holes than I’ve ever done in my life. It helped me stay calm and get in with 2 under.”
He started the day four shots off the lead but moved up during a five-hole stretch in which he made four birdies, while McDowell and Jim Furyk, the 54-hole co-leaders, struggled and slipped back to the pack.
McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champ, was 4 over at the turn but came alive on the back nine. His birdie putt from 25 feet at the 18th drifted to the left. He finished at 2 over, tied with Michael Thompson for second place. Thompson shot 3-under 67, the low round of the day.
Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open winner, failed to make a birdie all day. He came to 18th also needed a birdie to tie Simpson, but his approach found the bunker.
Furyk finished in a group at 3 over that also included Padraig Harrington, David Toms, Jason Dufner and John Peterson.
Ernie Els finished in solo ninth.
Simpson won the U.S. Open 56 years after Arnold Palmer suffered a heartbreaking playoff loss to Billy Casper after Palmer lost a seven-shot lead with nine holes to play in regulation at The Olympic Club. Simpson went to Wake Forest on a Palmer scholarship.
“I read that story Monday or Tuesday and thought about it,” Simpson said. “He’s meant so much to me and Wake Forest that hopefully if I win, I can get a little back for him and make him smile.”
Simpson also becomes the second Simpson to win the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club. Scott Simpson won here in 1987.
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American Webb Simpson was crowned the 112th U.S. Open champion on Sunday. The Associated Press
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