T

he conclusion of the 115th US Open will always be remembered more for the continuing misfortunes of American Dustin Johnson than the historic win of his 21-year-old countryman Jordan Spieth. Johnson faced a putt for eagle from well under 4 meters to claim victory on the 18th hole. At that point, Spieth couldn'€™t control his own destiny as he nursed his clubhouse lead at 5 under par. The world watched as Johnson stroked his putt, missing by a fraction and rolling the ball just over a meter past the hole. Johnson'€™s next putt for birdie to finish and tie with Spieth was a foregone conclusion. The two men would then end up in an 18-hole playoff the next day to determine the champion. Little did anyone know that fate had one more tragedy in store for the 31-year-old Johnson to add to those he had suffered in 2009, 2010 and 2011. This time it would happen in the cruelest fashion when his final putt would miss the left edge of the hole to spell his demise once more in a major championship.

In 2009, the then 25-year-old Johnson missed entering a playoff to win the PGA Championship when dealt with a 2-stroke penalty after grounding his club in a bunker. In 2010 he went into the final round of the US Open with a 3 stroke lead only to suffer a meltdown, shooting 82 to lose the championship. In 2011 he finished 2nd in the Open Championship after hitting his 2nd shot on the par-5 14th hole out of bounds. An ashen Johnson would walk off the 18th green at Chambers Bay (par 70), Seattle on Sunday a man who'€™d been marked with not 1 but 4 scarlet letters. Johnson could only muster, '€œI was trying, it just didn'€™t work out, I just didn'€™t get it in the hole quick enough,'€ followed by '€œI did everything I could, I played well, I hit the ball well, and it just wasn'€™t my time.'€

On the other hand, no one can take anything away from the rising prodigy that is Spieth. He offered a shade of remorse for Johnson when he said, '€œI'€™m still amazed that I won.'€

Chambers Bay held an unconventional US Open. Links style golf with no graduated rough and trees. It was an experiment that many players lamented. The greens were condemned by almost all save Spieth who was left holding the magnificent US Open trophy at sundown. Round 1 saw the towering Dustin Johnson share the lead with the Swede, Henrik Stenson, both men shooting a sensational 5 under par 65. They were trailed by American Patrick Reed at 4 under par (66). Spieth shot a respectable 2 under par 68 and was 2 strokes back. Spieth answered with a spectacular 3 under par 67 in round 2 to take the lead along with Reed at 5 under after Reed shot a 1 under 69. Johnson was a touch back in 2nd place at 4 under after posting a 1 over par 71 in the 2nd round.

More drama was to unfold when the gutsy Australian Jason Day collapsed from vertigo on his approach to the 18th green in round 2. After round 3, Spieth, Johnson, the amazing Day and a surging Brandon Grace (South Africa) ended up tied for 1st place after posting 71, 70, 68 and 70 respectively all at 4 under par.

Spieth managed himself with brilliance posting a 1 under par 69 in the final round to take the clubhouse lead at 5 under par. The rest as they say is history. Spieth became the youngest player to win the US Open since Bobby Jones in 1923. With his back to back wins at the Masters and US Open he now stands a chance to win golf'€™s Grand Slam in one calendar year. To this he said, '€œYou can'€™t win them all if you don'€™t win the first two. We'€™ll go to the home of golf [St. Andrews] prepared to try and win the Claret Jug.'€ Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa also finished tied for 2nd at 4 under par but had no chance to win since he finished ahead of Spieth. So distraught was Dustin Johnson that he left the course before receiving his runner'€™s up medal.