OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Dustin Johnson no longer has to wear the unwanted title of “best golfer never to have won a major.”
Johnson, who tied for fourth at the Masters, finally has earned his first major with a three-shot victory at the 116th U.S. Open at Oakmont. With the crowd lining the 18th hole chanting “D-J, D-J, D-J,” the long-hitting Johnson finished a sparkling week with a birdie on the final hole to finish a final-round 1-under 69. He finished four under for the tourney — just one of four players to post sub-par scores for the Open. That was even being assessed a one-shot penalty following his round for slightly moving his ball on the fifth green.
Johnson had a history of 18th hole disappoints in major tournaments. It began with the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in 2010 when he was penalized a shot on the last hole for grounding his club in a hazard.
He also three-putted last year on the final green to allow Jordan Spieth to win the Open at Chambers Bay
Scott Piercy, Jim Furyk and Shane Lowry tied for second. Lowry started the final round with a four-shot lead. But the Irishman ballooned to final-round 6-over 76.
Defending U.S. Open champ Spieth finished tied for 37th at 9-over. Masters champion Danny Willett also tied for 37th.
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