By Tom Edrington

San Francisco, CA

Webb Simpson posted his second impressive score of the weekend Sunday and had to watch and see if it was good enough to hold off a pair of major champions to win the U.S. Open.

It was.

Simpson carded a 2-under-par 68 at Olympic Club in the final round and won the U.S. Open by one stroke for his first career major championship.

"You know, this is only my second U.S. Open, and so I told myself don't get too excited, don't try to win," said Simpson. "You've got to go out there and try to make pars, and that's what I did. And luckily I made some putts, and got a couple under out of it."

Simpson finished at 1-over 281 to edge Michael Thompson and Graeme McDowell by a shot. McDowell, who won the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, played in the final group and had a 20-footer for birdie on 18 to force a playoff but misread the put and missed it left.

That made Simpson a major champion and left McDowell, who had birdied 17, frustrated.

""There's a mixture of emotions inside me right now," said McDowell. "Obviously disappointment, deflation, pride - but mostly just frustration, just because I hit three fairways today. That's the U.S. Open. You're not supposed to do that."

Jim Furyk entered the round tied with McDowell (73) for the lead at 1-under but floundered down the stretch to lose a shot at his second U.S. Open title.

Furyk carded a 74 with four bogeys, including two in his last three holes to finish tied for fourth at 3-over. Furyk didn't have a birdie in the final round.

"I don't know how to put that one into words," Furyk said. "But I had my opportunities and my chances and it was right there. It was my tournament to win."

 

Webb Simpson has won the U.S. Open for his first major title. Simpson saved par on the hilly 18th hole with a chip from the rough, closing with a 2-under 68 to hold off Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson at The Olympic Club on Sunday. (June 18)

 

 

Webb Simpson Rallies to Win U.S. Open by One