Britain’s Graeme McDowell kept his composure in tough scoring conditions to end a 40-year title drought by Europeans at the U.S. Open with a gutsy one-shot victory on Sunday.
Three strokes behind American playing partner Dustin Johnson going into the final round, the Northern Irishman ground out a three-over-par 74 at a breezy Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Despite dropping three shots on the more difficult back nine as the ocean winds strengthened in the late afternoon, McDowell held his nerve with some of the game’s biggest names close behind to finish at even-par 284.
The 30-year-old from Portrush calmly parred the final hole to clinch his maiden major title, and Europe’s first US Open since Briton Tony Jacklin won the 1970 edition at Hazeltine.
Frenchman Gregory Havret, who came through 36 holes of sectional qualifying last month to book his place at Pebble Beach, closed with a 72 to secure a surprise second place at one over in his first U.S. Open.
Double U.S. Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, briefly tied for the lead early on, was a further stroke back after a 73 with world number one Tiger Woods (75) and fellow American Phil Mickelson (73) joint fourth at three over. — Reuters