Dustin Johnson secures three-shot win at incident-filled US Open
Monday 20 June 2016 07:49, UK
Dustin Johnson ended his wait for a major title with a three-shot win after a controversial final round at the US Open.
Johnson birdied the last to close a final-round 68 at Oakmont and end the week five under par, only to be penalised by tournament officials for a moving ball at the fifth.
The USGA told the American he may be punished for his moving ball but it wouldn't be reviewed until after the round, with the winner eventually being handed a one-shot penalty to reduce the size of his victory.
Jim Furyk, Scott Piercy and Shane Lowry were Johnson's nearest challengers on one under, with Sergio Garcia and Branden Grace a further stroke adrift.
Resuming four shots clear, Lowry saved par at the first but opened the door for the chasing pack when his approach to the second spun off the back.
Johnson cut Lowry's lead in half by driving the second green to set up a two-putt birdie, only to miss a chance to move within one by taking two attempts from four feet at the controversial fifth.
After finding the bunker off the tee and doing well to get away with just a bogey at the fifth, the Irishman holed clutch putts over the next two holes before getting up-and-down from the rough to save par at the eighth.
An eight-foot gain at the ninth saw Johnson post a front-nine 33 and reach the turn in the share of the lead, only to take the outright advantage when Lowry bogeyed the same hole.
Lowry three-putted from distance at the 10th to fall two behind, where Johnson posted a four after being allowed to take a free drop due to a television tower being in the way.
Officials told Johnson the incident at the fifth would be reviewed after the round, with the American going on to miss a birdie opportunity at the 12th and lose ground with a blemish at the 14th.
Also being made aware about the situation, Lowry picked up a shot at the 12th only to make successive three-putt bogeys from the 14th to increase Johnson's advantage to three.
Piercy missed a birdie chance at 17 to move within two and bogeyed the last to close with a one-under 69, ending the week alongside Furyk after the American set the initial clubhouse target with a final-round 66.
Johnson produced a majestic approach to the last and converted a birdie-three from six feet to complete a memorable victory, his first of 2016, as Lowry trickled in at the last to end the week tied-second.
Earlier, Sergio Garcia had looked set to threaten the leaders when he holed out from a bunker at the eighth and carded a birdie-two at the 13th, only to run up a hat-trick of dropped shots from the next and end alongside Branden Grace tied-fifth.
Lee Westwood's victory hopes faded with four consecutive bogeys from the second on his way to a final-round 80, while Jason Day dropped three strokes over the final two holes to end the week two over.
