A fantastic 2-under par final round helped little-known Webb Simpson grab the US Open title by one stroke at the Olympic Club.
Simpson, playing in only his second US Open, held on for victory by a stroke from Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson. Simpson's final round featured four birdies in a five-hole stretch and not a single bogey in his final 13 holes. The 26-year-old finished with 1-over 281.
McDowell shot 3-over for the day to finish tied for second on 2-over 282 with opening round leader Thompson, who carded a 3-under in the final round.
"I never really wrapped my mind about winning, the place is so demanding, and so all I was really concerned about was keeping the ball in front of me," Simpson said.
"The pressure, I couldn't feel my legs most of the back nine.
"Every day my game got a little better. I told myself don't get too excited, just try to make some pars," added the American, who became the fourth consecutive US Open champion at Olympic to shoot 68 in the final round.
Tiger Woods, five shots behind the leaders at the start of the final round, shot a disappointing 3-over to finish tied for 21st.
Jim Furyk, who went into the fourth round tied for the lead with McDowell, carded a 4-over final round to tie for fourth with David Toms, Padraig Harrington, J Peterson and Jason Dufner.
"I don't know how to put that one into words," Furyk said. "I had my opportunities and my chances and I was right there... I needed to play those last three better."
"There's a mixture of emotions inside me right now," McDowell said. "Obviously disappointment, deflation, pride. But mostly just frustration because I hit four fairways today. That's the US Open. You're supposed to hit it in some fairways. And that was the key today really," the 2010 winner added.
Woods, who had the lead after the second round, felt he played okay, but not well enough to win at the demanding Olympic golf course. "I didn't really miss it that badly this week," said the three-time US Open champion.
"The misses were just a fraction off, which is great. That's what we want to have happen. And this golf course is just so demanding that a fraction off you pay the price."
