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Posted April 2, 2016, 2:10 pm
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U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record

  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Jordan Spieth celebrates after winning the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay last June in University Place, Wash. Both Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen were in the running for a time.
  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Jordan Spieth claps after finishing final round of the U.S. Open.
  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Jordan Spieth kisses the trophy after winning the the 2015 U.S. Open.
  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Jordan Spieth walks off the green after the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay on Sunday, June 21, 2015 in University Place, Wash. Spieth won the championship. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the 2015 U.S. Open.
  • Article Photos
    U.S. Open: 'Odd deal' earns Spieth new record
    Photos description
    Spieth closed with a double bogey and birdie and was expecting to have an 18-hole playoff. Instead, Johnson three-putted the last hole.

Jordan Spieth seemed as surprised as everyone else that Sunday at Chambers Bay ended with him holding the U.S. Open trophy and a rare opportunity to chase the Grand Slam.

“When I finished I was just hoping to be playing (Monday),” Spieth said after Dustin Johnson’s three-putt from 12 feet on the 72nd hole left the 21-year-old Texan as only the sixth player to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same season.

In what might arguably be considered the craziest finish on the craziest golf course in U.S. Open history, Spieth survived a double bogey on the penultimate hole and had to birdie the par-5 18th to be in position for what he assumed would be an 18-hole playoff with Johnson on Monday.

On an imperfect course that drew as many jeers as cheers from players for its greens – “like putting on broccoli” Henrik Stenson said – the U.S. Open ended up providing as thrilling a finish as anyone could have hoped.

Spieth became the youngest golfer since Young Tom Morris to win two majors. On a new U.S. Open venue few players had ever seen, Spieth used the local knowledge of his caddie, Michael Greller, who spent years caddying at Chambers Bay before joining Spieth’s team.

“I didn’t have my best stuff and we were able to get it done,” Spieth said. “Michael knew this course better than anybody playing this week, and he made sure I was in the right spots without my best stuff and that’s why I won.”

Spieth’s performance was a far cry from his wire-to-wire dominance at Augusta National in April. He seemed in shock when the U.S. Open trophy fell into his lap with perhaps the most stunning in a long list of major heartbreaks for Johnson.

Despite a six-month sabbatical that left Johnson rejuvenated, his putting touch abandoned him on the back nine. His closing three-putt joined his meltdown at Pebble Beach, bunker snafu at Whistling Straits and out-of-bounds drive at Royal St. George’s on his list of major championship scars.

“Disappointed,” Johnson said. “I played really well. I didn’t make any putts today, I really didn’t. I had all the chances in the world.”

The trophy seemed to be all Spieth’s when co-leader Branden Grace sent his drive on the 16th tee out of bounds near the train tracks that border Puget Sound.

Spieth seized the moment with a 27-foot birdie putt on No. 16 that opened a seemingly insurmountable three-shot lead with two to play before his double bogey on the 17th.

That opened the door for John­son to catch up and momentarily set up Louis Oosthuizen as the clubhouse leader at 4-under. Oosthuizen rallied from an opening 77 and birdied six of the last seven holes.

Spieth eliminated Oost­huizen with a two-putt birdie on the last hole but didn’t believe it was enough when he signed for his 5-under total in the scoring trailer and waited for John­son to finish.

“I wasn’t calm and collected,” Spieth admitted. “I didn’t enjoy not being able to control it.”

When Johnson delivered his second shot to 12 feet, he had an eagle putt to bury his past and establish his legacy. It slid 4 feet past the hole, and he tugged the comebacker.

“This was just an odd deal, very odd,” Spieth said after the craziness ended. “I very much feel for Dus­tin. He deserves to be holding the trophy just as much as I do, I think.”

Spieth’s victory delivered a new name to the ledger of historic accomplishments. He joined Craig Wood, Ben Hogan (twice), Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year.

“What a kid,” said four-time major winner Ernie Els. “It’s just amazing how this game can really give you something. He’s worked hard and he’s probably the best player in the world right now. Unbelievable stuff. Great stuff.”

U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONS

1895 Horace Rawlins

1896 James Foulis

1897 Joe Lloyd

1898 Fred Herd

1899 Willie Smith

1900 Harry Vardon

1901 Willie Anderson

1902 Laurie Auchterlonie

1903 Willie Anderson

1904 Willie Anderson

1905 Willie Anderson

1906 Alex Smith

1907 Alex Ross

1908 Fred McLeod

1909 George Sargent

1910 Alex Smith

1911 John McDermott

1912 John McDermott

1913 Francis Ouimet

1914 Walter Hagen

1915 Jerome Travers

1916 Charles Evans Jr.

1917-18 No tournament**

1919 x-Walter Hagen

1920 Edward Ray

1921 James M. Barnes

1922 Gene Sarazen

1923 x-Bobby Jones

1924 Cyril Walker

1925 x-Willie MacFarlane

1926 Bobby Jones

1927 x-Tommy Armour

1928 x-Johnny Farrell

1929 x-Bobby Jones

1930 Bobby Jones

1931 x-Billy Burke

1932 Gene Sarazen

1933 Johnny Goodman

1934 Olin Dutra

1935 Sam Parks Jr.

1936 Tony Manero

1937 Ralph Guldahl

1938 Ralph Guldahl

1939 x-Byron Nelson

1940 x-Lawson Little

1941 Craig Wood

1942-45 No tournament*

1946 x-Lloyd Mangrum

1947 x-Lew Worsham

1948 Ben Hogan

1949 Cary Middlecoff

1950 x-Ben Hogan

1951 Ben Hogan

1952 Julius Boros

1953 Ben Hogan

1954 Ed Furgol

1955 x-Jack Fleck

1956 Cary Middlecoff

1957 x-Dick Mayer

1958 Tommy Bolt

1959 Billy Casper

1960 Arnold Palmer

1961 Gene Littler

1962 x-Jack Nicklaus

1963 x-Julius Boros

1964 Ken Venturi

1965 x-Gary Player

1966 x-Billy Casper

1967 Jack Nicklaus

1968 Lee Trevino

1969 Orville Moody

1970 Tony Jacklin

1971 x-Lee Trevino

1972 Jack Nicklaus

1973 Johnny Miller

1974 Hale Irwin

1975 x-Lou Graham

1976 Jerry Pate

1977 Hubert Green

1978 Andy North

1979 Hale Irwin

1980 Jack Nicklaus

1981 David Graham

1982 Tom Watson

1983 Larry Nelson

1984 x-Fuzzy Zoeller

1985 Andy North

1986 Ray Floyd

1987 Scott Simpson

1988 x-Curtis Strange

1989 Curtis Strange

1990 x-Hale Irwin

1991 x-Payne Stewart

1992 Tom Kite

1993 Lee Janzen

1994 x-Ernie Els

1995 Corey Pavin

1996 Steve Jones

1997 Ernie Els

1998 Lee Janzen

1999 Payne Stewart

2000 Tiger Woods

2001 x-Retief Goosen

2002 Tiger Woods

2003 Jim Furyk

2004 Retief Goosen

2005 Michael Campbell

2006 Geoff Ogilvy

2007 Angel Cabrera

2008 x-Tiger Woods

2009 Lucas Glover

2010 Graeme McDowell

2011 Rory McIlroy

2012 Webb Simpson

2013 Justin Rose

2014 Martin Kaymer

2015 Jordan Spieth

x-won in playoff

* World War II

** World War I