2016 U.S. Open: DJ's Major Redemption

The legendary Arnold Palmer once said, "Winning isn't everything, but wanting it is." When those on the brink of greatness fall short, it is the unspoken questions that point deeper. Is talent being wasted? Is there enough desire? Will they be able to achieve it? In golf, the label of underachievement has been stamped on the careers of even

major

championship winners, but especially those talented players who have never won. No

major

championship offers a greater opportunity to reverse the narrative of a career than the US Open. It is a platform to rewrite history. In

2016

, in a place where racing has been transformed, the burden of potential was finally lifted, and so it was at the 116th U.S.

Army. Open at Oakmont for DJ's Major Redemption. The US Open is widely considered the ultimate test of golf. Jack Nicklaus, who won the championship a record-tying four times, always said that while he could compete in other majors with less than his best play, he can't fake it at the US Open. The US Open's signature course is Oakmont Country Club, founded in 1903 outside of Pittsburgh. In

2016

, in the 116th edition of the championship, Oakmont hosted the US Open for a record ninth time. As it always has, the muscular setup in the heart of the country of steel would demand the highest level of both ball control and self-control.

It will test every club in your bag. It's going to test how you think, how you recover from situations that, you know inevitably over the course of 72 holes, you're going to get in trouble and stuff, and it's how you think your way through it and how you execute your way out of it. Former USGA president Sandy Tatum defined the goal when he said, "We're not trying to embarrass the best golfers in the world, we're trying to identify them." It's very, very difficult. Something different from what is played any week of the year: harder, longer, a marathon type test, not a sprint.

So it's a different game, a different mentality, a different attitude that is adopted at a US Open. I love the ordeal where we really have to think that every mistake is magnified and that's how it should be. Many have not achieved their goals at the US Open. Some of the game's greats have suffered failures before finding the peak of their golf careers. Jack Nicklaus nearly won his first major at the US Open in 1960, but succumbed to the legendary Arnold Palmer. Palmer putsts with a sensational final-round 65. Two years later, the Golden Bear overcame the loss by defeating hometown hero Palmer at Oakmont in an 18-hole playoff to capture his first major.

Tiger Woods finished third in 1999 and won his first US Open in 2000. Tiger Woods is the 100th US Open champion in history. Throughout his career, Dustin Johnson has faced the same trials that Tiger and Jack faced. DJ, a talented modern golfer, who has had multiple opportunities to win his first major championship, has so far come up empty-handed. At the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, Johnson entered the final round with a three-stroke lead over Graeme McDowell. Sunday at Pebble was probably one of the biggest learning experiences of my career. It was the first time I was in a situation where I didn't really know what to expect or how to handle myself.

Johnson had a nervous start that quickly took him out of the competition. He battled home in 82 to finish eighth. Wow, it's hard to know where that ended, but that remains. There are all kinds of things that happen. When you got the lead in the major and that helped me later in the PGA, you know, I was in the same situation again. Two months later, at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, Johnson reached the 72nd hole with a one-stroke lead. After what he thought was a bogey that would have sent him to the playoffs, DJ received a two-stroke penalty for leaving his club in a bunker that he believed was not a danger.

It was another bitter ending as Johnson finished fifth. Obviously everyone knows about losing the bunker, apart from the fact that I played very well. But the hardest blow came in 2015 in Chambers Bay. Johnson made an eagle putt on the 18th to win. After missing the 12-footer, Johnson had a short putt to send him into a playoff against Jordan Spieth. Once again, it was not like that. Jordan Spieth has won the US Open! Many predicted that Johnson would never recover after so many missed opportunities, but he never gave up believing in him. After last year's disappointment, do you feel like you're better prepared to handle things if you're in that position again?

I feel like my game in those situations has held up well. You know, that's it, all I'm trying to do is give myself a chance on the back nine on Sunday. It's not that I've never thought about it, of course, I mean, people ask me about it all the time, so it's kind of hard not to think about it, but I felt like I did everything I was supposed to do in that one. US Open. , you know, reaching the final stretch with the possibility of winning. At 17 I made a great shot there, made a birdie. You know, at 18 I made a great drive and a great second shot.

But I didn't feel like I made a bad putt or anything, so there was nothing to get angry, worried or afraid about. You know, if Dustin three-putted the last hole, you know I three-putted the 16th, you know? It could have been Nos. 8 and 12. You know, it's more significant because of where it happened, but everyone was three-putting. People are going to three-putt this week, it just happens at the US Open. I certainly felt bad for him. In the end I would have liked him to have made the second putt and then I would have liked to beat him on Monday, eh, but you know, it's 72 holes, add them up and we ended up with a one-stroke lead.

I feel like he's always been the way he's done it. The way he's handled it has been impressive. You know, he's a guy who's never let it get him down. It's always easy from the cheap seats to say, "Oh, I should have hit it there," but it's hard to do when you're under pressure and trying to win a tournament. You know a lot of fans, a lot of people around the world just don't realize how hard it is to win. One person who understands this notion perfectly is Phil Mickelson. With more than 40 career victories, including five major championships, Mickelson finished second at the US Open, a record six times.

A victory at Oakmont would give him the final leg of the Grand Slam of his career. Could B.S. you and tell you that I don't think about that; No, I think about it all the time. This is the tournament I want to win the most. I have to get that out of my head and try to execute and be patient and not think about the results. If you start thinking about results, you will never play your best golf. This year and every year until I finally win this tournament will be my biggest focus, my biggest thought.

Jason Day came to Oakmont as the number one player in the world. The 28-year-old Australian won the last major in 2015 at the PGA Championship and added three more victories in 2016, including the Players Championship. He finished second at the US Open twice. You know, being very close to winning a US Open, especially in the last few years, and having two second place finishes, but this is a tournament that is very stressful and I feel like I thrive under stress and I hope I can do that. Do this, you already know that this year, 2011 US Open champion and former world number one Rory McIlroy encountered Oakmont for the first time.

Winner of four major championships at the age of 25, the Northern Irishman knows that adding another is the quickest way to regain his position at the top of the game. You know, I had a good look here at Oakmont last Monday and Tuesday and then I played a couple more rounds yesterday and today, so you feel as prepared as I do, how can I be coming here and you know, I feel like I have a good plan of game for the course. It's just a matter of going out and executing it. Defending champion Jordan Spieth is looking to bounce back from the toughest loss of his career two months earlier at the Masters.

He intends to build on the memories of his victory at Chambers Bay in an effort to win his third major. Winning a US Open is a different experience than winning anywhere else. Literally anything can happen. As much as I talk about major championships being two events in one, you have to be patient for two rounds in each round. It is no more relevant than in a United States Open. Among the game's seasoned champions, other stories would emerge at Oakmont. Could a Cinderella claim the right to it? Would it be a foreigner who would win on American soil?

Or perhaps a story of

redemption

forever? This year's championship would be unlike any other played before. Historically, golf courses in the U.S. Open are the most intimidating of all the championship courses played during the season, and in 2016 Oakmont was going to be the toughest of them all. It really has been a demanding test of golf and also a strategic test of golf. While the course has certainly changed a bit over time, between tree growth and tree removal, it has really maintained its ability to produce excellent championships at Oakmont even since I first saw it, it set up well in my eye .

Right in front of you there is nothing complicated in it. It is very hard but very fair: very hilly, the bunkers are deep, the greens are very hard and there is a lot of slope. It's the type of golf course I like. Members are very proud of Oakmont. They want to see them all bloody when they come off the golf course, you know? There's no doubt that Oakmont brings out the best in what you have to do, but I think the US Open is consistently who can be the strongest mentally because things are always happening that you don't see happening anywhere else.

The US Opens are never fun for a player except the one he wins. It's just a very, very tough test and every US Open always has been. This year's championship at Oakmont would test the best and brightest, as has been done eight times previously over the last century. Those who have won here are considered among the best of all time. Names like Armour, Hogan, Nicklaus, Miller and Els have been celebrated for winning at this historic venue. For every player in the field, Oakmont presents the opportunity to transform a career, while entering contention means walking the knife's edge between glory and disappointment; champions appreciate that opportunity.

The best example of such a spirit on the current scene is exemplified by Dustin Johnson, by acclaim the most athletically talented player in the game. At 31 years old, the lanky, 6'4" South Carolina native has already absorbed some of the cruelest disappointments in major championship history. I think there are a lot of golfers who have moments from which they can't recover. They have a championship or a major or a tournament where they are there and they will never be able to recover from that. That has happened to Dustin many times. We all know how good this guy is.

Great hand-eye coordination, good ball driver. golf for his length, wonderful touch - he is one of the best athletes to ever play the game. What more does it take to win golf tournaments but he hasn't done it yet I really had a chance at Pebble Beach, I didn't. .He played very well but he made a mistake, penalty on the last hole. So you think this guy has it? And I'm not talking about the game, the touch, because when you get to the last ones? four or five holes, it's not about who has more talent. It's about who wants it more.

The Oakmont that the players were prepared for could be described as classic US Open conditions on steroids. That is, a relentless 7,254-yard par 70, playing so hard and fast that simply getting the ball to stay on the fairways and greens would require all the skill the world's best could muster. In the first few practice rounds, players comment on how impossible it is and how you can't control the ball when it lands on the green. You know the ball rolls 20, 30, 40 yards on the fairway. It was that firm, that fast, and that hot – that 6 or 7 over par would probably win.

You almost think, "Oh, I'm glad I'm not playing," and the rain saved them all. After heavy rain on Wednesday night, the players' attitude towards this US Open changed. The suddenly mild conditions would allow for a more aggressive strategy that could produce the lowest score Oakmont has ever seen. It just takes the fire out of the golf course, and when I say fire, the firmness of the fairways and then you get to the greens. The speed of the greens slows them down enough that when the player comes out of me, I was glad to see some rain because now we're going to see some players play golf and not be so scared, defensive.

On Wednesday, the day before and then on Thursday we were inundated with rain. At any other golf course that had received this much rain, the players would have really gotten away with it in terms of scoring, not at Oakmont. When the game began, the competitors were in attack mode and, as is often the case in championship history, a relative unknown took the lead.Headlines. Andrew Landry, ranked 624th in the world entering the US Open, had to go through local and sectional qualifying just to get to Oakmont. Heading into the US Open, Landry represented the best of the US Open.

From the beginning, there has been an opportunity for golfers that if you are good enough to qualify, you can play in the US Open and by the way, it doesn't matter if you are a professional, an amateur or if you are a professional player. If you are a junior or a senior you can try to qualify for the US Open Championship. I think the USGA, what it does for you, you know any individual, whether it's a 13-year-old kid or a 50-year-old man, to be able to go and qualify for a major championship, that's world class on their part. .

And Andrew Landry took advantage of his opportunity, suddenly running the table on the biggest stage of his career. Ten was where it all started. I just hit a good shot there, 5 yards from the green and it just stopped. He just stopped dead around the front of the green and I knew right away it was an automatic three putt. I mean you can't put the ball in the hole in two unless you make a par from 15 to 20 feet. The putt breaks at probably 15 feet and I buried it right in the hole. The number 624 player in the world rankings, but what a start he has had in his first US Open.

That's where it all started. You know I was confident, I hit a 60-foot shot on the first hole at the U.S. Open, you know the roars, the crowd was getting into it and it was like a big adrenaline rush and I was like, "Okay, so let's go." . In contrast to the controlled precision and hot putting employed by the 5-7 Landry, two-time major champion Bubba Watson, who had finished fifth at Oakmont in 2007, relied on his experience and powerful shots to get off to a start. fast. The Florida Panhandle southpaw would finish the day 2-under through 14 holes, leaving him one stroke off Landry's pace.

I turned 2 under par, bogey-free, and then the rain delay hit. As the day progressed, the rain would continue to soak the field and cause a series of delays that would change the playing schedule for the remainder of the championship. You know, the only feeling I had was that the guys didn't really know when they were going to come out again. I think they were a little surprised, like us, that the weather hit so fast and so hard and just as they started shooting, the horns sounded. You know, you're looking at Jordan Spieth and some big names that are walking around, hanging around, all sitting around trying to get this US Open going.

You know that you can get tired sitting, waiting for four hours and not playing for a whole day. I mean, that's, that's, that's exhausting. Finding a rhythm on a day of unpredictable stops and starts became a major challenge. It was hard starting and stopping, and the conditions changed from when we started to when we finished, but it is what it is. We deal with that here and there. Players who play on the big tours around the world are used to having all these stops, you know, weather delays. Nobody likes it, but I think experienced players can handle it.

Among those who successfully negotiated the changing conditions was Englishman Lee Westwood, who was seeking his first major. Westwood finished 1 under par through 13 holes. While former Masters champion Zach Johnson and Irishman Shane Lowry were tied with work remaining in Round 1 on Friday. My start was huge that day, leaving it

open

about 60 yards from the flag from my approach shot. I put it in such a way that there is no better way to start a tournament than that. 2015 US Open champion Jordan Spieth cleared 11 holes at 1 over par and would have some work left in his first round when he returned to the course Friday morning. 2011 US Open champion Rory McIlroy, who was 4 over par through 14 holes, and Rickie Fowler, who was 6 over par through 12, will be forced to play catch-up when they return to the course to finish their second round .

Andrew Landry broke out of one of the delays with a series of birdies on the second, third and fourth holes to put him five under par midway through his back nine, within reach of Johnny Miller's all-time score of 63 at Oakmont. Although he would drop two shots over the next four holes, when he finished play, Landry had a 10-foot birdie putt on the ninth for a 66, which he decided to score. I mean, being at the top of the leaderboard is fine, it's just that there's a lot of golf left and you know half the field hasn't even started yet.

Meanwhile, favorites who had afternoon starts, including Jason Day, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson, were unable to start their rounds. You know obviously once they screwed it up, they called it a day, you know Friday was going to be a long day and you know there was another hurdle I had to overcome. After a year of waiting to erase his loss in Chambers Bay, Dustin Johnson had to wait one more day to begin his chance at

redemption

. With the weather clearing, it would take a tremendous effort by the course staff and USGA staff to prepare the course for play on Friday after Thursday's onslaught of rain.

You know it was a Herculean effort on the part of the course staff and it's not just the Oakmont course staff, there are over a hundred golf course superintendents from all over the world who come and volunteer their services to make all of this happen. happen. If it hadn't been for them, you know, almost 200 people, we would never have been able to play. I mean, they were literally rebuilding bunkers that had been washed out, cleaning greens, and it rained so much on Thursday that the mentality is We'll just play as much golf as we can and eventually hope we can catch up on Sunday.

Many of the players who came out on Thursday had to get up early the next morning for the rest of the first round. The player who had the least and most work left to do was Andrew Landry, who returned to the ninth green for what he hoped would be a single shot from 10 feet for birdie to conclude a historic round. I wanted to go ahead and finish my round, but I went home that night and fell asleep and the next morning we were making a bunch of right-to-left putts from that distance. This morning Andrew Landry had to return.

What did he show up with? Just his putter, he didn't even bring his bag. Here on the 9th hole, the last hole of his first round, he birdies and becomes the first to shoot a 66 in the first round here at Oakmont Country Club. Also finishing their first rounds on a high note were veteran Lee Westwood of England with a 67, Ireland's Shane Lowry with a 68 and Bubba Watson with a 1-under 69. Defending champion Jordan Spieth shot a 72 to keep his chance. to repeat alive, if he managed to right the ship and warm up in his 2nd round. But Rickie Fowler struggled to post a 76, while Rory McIlroy posted the highest round among the pre-championship favorites, a 77 on the soggy track that could still punish missed shots.

Things aren't going Rory's way right now. I think he might have lost a little concentration and attention. Right now I just need to focus on trying to hit fairways and greens. I think I hit five fairways and eight greens. I think the hardest thing for me is trying to stay positive and not get too down and try to go out and play well and make it to the weekend. While McIlroy had to look for his best golf, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Sergio García and Phil Mickelson finally had the opportunity on Friday to begin their quest for the 2016 US Open title.

If time and daylight permitted, they would play up to 36 holes to return to the track and finish on Sunday. Just a low drop, pushing him back and that won't be a good spot. In his first round of the US Open since his misfortune at Chambers Bay, Johnson missed his first two greens in regulation, but after fighting for pars, he saw his game fall into rhythm. Using that new right back point, what a shot. You really had to choose when to be aggressive and when not to be aggressive. I even felt at times like you would know I would have a Sand Wedge or a Lob Wedge in my hand and not aim for the flag just because if it was even a little off I could end up in a really bad spot. and I'm going to make bogey, so I felt like I played, you know, a lot towards the center of the greens and you know, I'm just trying to give myself, you know, the easiest putt I could find.

His driving, his approach game and especially his wedge play were pure in a bogey-free first round of 67. A true testament to who he is as a player. Willing to give himself another chance here to erase the memory of last year. His fellow competitor, Sergio García, also showed great ball striking and a surprisingly good putt. And what a fantastic shot by Sergio. The Spaniard made five birdies against three bogeys in a solid 68. World number one Jason Day of Australia and six-time US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson had rounds that left them in danger of missing the 36th. .-hole cut.

Mickelson shot a 74, while Day shot an amazing 76. You know this has been the best putter all year, something has changed. He said he was fighting it. After a break in play, the boys warmed up for the second 18 of it, making for a very long day. You probably walk 12 to 15 miles at Oakmont and every shot, there are no easy holes, there are no easy shots, so every shot there's extra pressure. While some struggle with the schedule, Dustin Johnson came out with an attitude as good as his game. Picking up the same effortless pace he had set the first round of him.

Friday was going to be a long day and it was something you had to deal with and it was nothing I was upset about. This will be to reach 4 under par and tie for the lead. You know it was just another obstacle I had to overcome and if you get off to a good start and play well, you know it can be beneficial because you can play 36 holes that day. Oh, very good, Dustin Johnson. With an added degree of acuity and control, Johnson minimized risk with smart play from tee to green. His 69 put him one stroke ahead of the pack at 4 under, a gap that would have been greater had he capitalized on some short birdie opportunities.

I didn't make a great putt, but I played very solid all day. That was my goal, you know? So first hit the fairway, then try to get to the green where I had an uphill putt where I can be aggressive and make a lot of easy pars, you know? So there was no stress, which is great. Oh finally! After coming so close on so many holes, he hits that double on the 6th. His 69 in the second round was impressive and Dustin was on top when he started the weekend. Keeping a close eye on DJ throughout the day, Garcia had an up-and-down second round.

No, oh no. Now a ripe 36 years old, the veteran showed patience and courage. Out of the ditch. He was able to get this out of the ditch and onto the street and it was an incredible shot. A gigantic pair. Yes, he is going through Brad Valley, and he will break a little to the right once he gets over that ridge. Did he achieve it? No way! Garcia carded a par 70 to finish 36 holes at 2 under, making his remaining path to a possible first major rigorous but doable. Tired? My legs, ugh! Too old for this. I'm very happy to obviously finish at two under par.

I didn't play that well this afternoon, but I battled really well and made a couple of really big putts when I needed to. While Dustin and Sergio might be satisfied with their positions heading into the weekend, both Jason Day and Phil Mickelson fought for a chance to play on the weekend. Day cleared 15 holes in his second round at 1 under par to reach 5 over par when play was suspended due to darkness. No way, a couple of centimeters here and there and this guy could have a really low round today. Here at 15, Phil Mickelson for par. Mickelson was precariously sitting at 7 over par after 34 holes and in serious danger of missing the cut.

He will have 7 more, perhaps another year will go by without completing the grand slam of his career. He is still missing the US Open Championship. Two crazy days at Oakmont left the standings in flux. Some golfers had only played one round, others finished two, but most of the field was somewhere in between. But the most important thing heading into Saturday was that, once again, Dustin Johnson was in the lead at the US Open. What's your game plan for the next two days to finish this? I just need you to know how to stick to what I'm doing.

I have a good game plan for this golf course, just stick to it, you know? If I keep driving the way I do, I'll be tough. When the second round was finally completed, some of the biggest names in the game were left outside the cut line that would eventually sit at 6-over-par 146. Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler fell victim to Oakmont's challenges and missed the cut. Rory McIlroy had a chance, but the last of his second round proved to be his undoing. He's pretty much at the cutoff mark as we know him right now. And that's not a good start.

It's been a while since he missed a cut. It's not supposed tomust miss a cut. Things aren't really working out for Rory here, this has been a bad ending. I tried to delete it, but I actually let it slip. After the cut was made, the players in the field still competing for the US Open title would take the field for their third round. World number one Jason Day, who started his third round 5 over par and out of the mix, broke down on Saturday and played some incredible golf. First hole of this third round for Jason Day, just hit it here on 10.

I'm going in, got it! After a good start on the 10th, the Australian would go on a streak of birdies to start his round in surprising fashion. Dripping, what a great shot. I saw that well-judged wedge shot here, just a couple of feet away. Number one in putting this year, and two birdies. 20 feet for birdie. Does it hit him? 4 out of 5! What a start for the world number one. This for eagle After making the turn and dropping a shot on third, To reach four. And he has done it. an eagle on 4 brought him back to championship par.

He started the day nine behind the leaders and is now four behind. My mindset on the first day was a little cloudy. The second round felt a lot better and then obviously today, you know, I definitely gave myself the opportunities that there are today. Despite Day's incredible 66, it was Ireland's Shane Lowry who grabbed the afternoon headlines at Oakmont as he began to separate himself from the rest of the field. Stop it at the front of the green and it will start rolling. I judged it very well. Shane hit minus five through 14 holes in his third round before play was suspended due to darkness.

Hitting 10 of 11 fairways and 10 of 14 greens in the afternoon, it was an incredible display of golf that would have him feeling good about his game and ready to finish his third round when he returned to the course early Sunday morning. I made a very complicated descent for birdie to take the lead. A milestone in my career, a lead at the US Open on Saturday. Shane is slyly good. If you follow golf, you know how good Shane Lowry is, and I remember watching him play in the third round thinking I wouldn't be at all surprised if Shane won.

Shane Lowry was playing fantastic golf. He could feel the crowd, feel the electricity in the air. I mean it really was something special. Behind Lowry were a host of talented players who continued to play the type of solid golf that put them in position with a strong final round to win the US Open. Andrew Landry continued his steady play and at one point in his third round, the 624th-ranked player had regained the lead at the end of the US Open. Although he would lose a bit of Lowry's pace, he managed to get through 13 holes and would continue to be a major factor on Sunday.

He was excited. He was ready to go, but he was more nervous off the golf course than on it. He was pushing the food away, he couldn't eat. I felt really excited to go in there and let the world know who I am. Jordan Spieth's fourth shot. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth couldn't make up ground on Jordan Spieth's bogey putt and shot an even par 70 to put him 4 up heading into Sunday. You wouldn't expect that from Jordan Spieth on this hole. One player who was near the top of the leaderboard and would be a major factor on Sunday was Lee Westwood, who continued to be 2 under par at 15.

The aggressive drive there took him past the bunkers. He Little Wedge and spins it again! Not far behind was Sergio García, who also stayed at 2 under par through 14 holes as he continued to stay within striking distance. Oh, lucky kick there. And that was a great break for Sergio. But the only golfer the Oakmont crowd had their eyes on was Dustin Johnson. The entire golf world wanted to know if the talented long hitter could overcome the disappointment and doubts he had carried after late failures in two previous US Opens and finally enter history as a major champion.

He's the guy who slept with the leash on last night. And he is the one who feels the most pressure on the field at the moment. When the 36-hole leader made double bogey on the third hole of this third round, it looked like scar tissue might still be holding him back. Here it comes! Goodness. The big question hanging in the air: Could Dustin Johnson, physically supreme but still uncertain, dig deep enough to overcome him? I just can't do that, Curtis, you can't cut it that short. See if he can recover here. Johnson missed numerous putts and a bogey on the 10th hole left him 2 over in the round.

He would finish 13 holes with an overall score of 2 under par, three strokes behind Lowry. But while many fans rightly thought, "Here we go again," Johnson expressed quiet determination and optimism heading into Sunday at Oakmont. He was still in a great place. You know that the golf course is very difficult, on Sunday I was going to have to put together a special round. He knew he was going to have to play very well, but he knew it was still doable; It wasn't like he was out of it by any means. There has never been a US Open Sunday filled with as much golf and drama as the one in 2016 at Oakmont.

Even before the field could begin the final round, many of the top contenders came out early in the morning to finish the third. One of them was the de facto leader, Shane Lowry. Five under par for the championship when he stepped onto the 15th hole at 7:30 a.m., the 29-year-old Irishman felt the gravity of the moment. So I went out, I was leading by two, you know, all kinds of things were going through my head. I don't want to ruin it, you know? That's Oakmont, it can jump out and bite you when you least expect it.

He seems to be very happy with that. This is how you want to start things. Lowry was able to focus all those thoughts. Out of the box, he birdied the 481-yard par-4 15th, and that's a perfect, perfect putt and then the short, perfect par-4 17th for a 65 in the third round. Shane Lowry scored a 65. Brilliant round three golf for him, and currently with a four stroke lead! That's one of the best runs of my career there, 65 on this golf course against this course, you know, it's pretty good. So you know I just need to try to stay in the moment, be patient, and see what happens this afternoon.

Andrew Landry finished his third round with an incredible putt to move to 3 under par as the US Open qualifier continued his surreal run at Oakmont. What an ending for Andrew Landry. I'm very proud of it. You know that's all you can really hope for. Only to be in the final group of the US Open on Sunday. Dustin Johnson played his remaining five holes in his third round, 1 under par for a 71. Still looking for redemption after his tough loss in 2015, DJ entered his final round with a detailed approach. Before Sunday, my entire focus was just one shot at a time.

I don't care what other people do, I'm just focused on myself and my job, which is knowing the shot I was taking. Even as USGA officials set the final round's hole locations, it was clear that a still somewhat soft Oakmont could yield a low score to aggressive golf. At the same time, the pressure of the final round would make crises more likely. Despite Lowry's lead, one of the largest in championship history, anything was possible. It's another beautiful day at Oakmont Country Club and the stage is set for another magical US Open Sunday. As the final round progressed, the participants would need their best to take home the championship. 2003 champion Jim Furyk, 10 shots behind, had a round he won't soon forget.

The 46-year-old Pennsylvanian, who had finished tied for second at Oakmont in 2007, would shoot 66 to finish at 1-under 279. A score that would give him a chance to win if the leaders stumbled. And he will finish this championship at 1 under par. They love him. Leading by three strokes, Shane Lowry's start was shaky. He bogeyed the 2nd, 5th and 9th holes for a 38 and dropped to 4 under par. You can see if a guy is anxious or not. Shane Lowry didn't shoot well, the stick was flying everywhere. The first thing that pressure affects is your pace. You know he looked like he was upset.

With the door

open

ing, Scott Piercy birdied his first two holes and finished with a 33 on the front nine. Sergio García scored the same score until nine, who remained in the mix at 2 under par for the championship. This back hole location, that's what I'm talking about. The matador is in a fight. Defending champion Jordan Spieth never had a good streak. Finally, he shot a 75 to finish with 9 overs and a tie for 37th. It was not the week he wanted here at Oakmont. It will be a four putt for Jordan Spieth. Lee Westwood really struggled, posting an 80 that left him tied for 32nd.

It's been a disappointing day for Lee Westwood. It's almost inexplicable how that can happen to someone so good, but Oakmont is that difficult. Dustin Johnson, however, came out determined to put his past behind him. It was probably the most focused time I've ever been on the field, it was that Sunday at Oakmont. Obviously, you know that I have a lot of past experiences that I can draw on and that help me in those types of situations. The fans supported him and that does wonders for your emotions. Sometimes you have to calm down because of your confidence, because of your ability to play the hard shot when you know that everyone here supports you.

It really helps. He birdied the second hole of the final round to get to 4 under par. Driving the ball extremely long and straight, DJ hit another good tee shot on the 373-yard fifth hole that left him with only a lob wedge approach. I hit the fairway and got a 60-degree angle and had four feet, maybe, for birdie. Pin is a little inclined. There aren't many places where you have a putt that short that breaks that much. I made a pretty good putt and barely missed it. He slid a little, probably 3 feet. So I, standing over the putt, was making my practice strokes, about to move it behind the ball to hit the putt.

The ball moves. I stop, call the rules official. My putter was in the air, I didn't make it move. He says: "No problem. He just plays, he plays the ball from where he is." And so I did and I hit him. I never thought about it again. We have a roving rules official with each group. Only Dustin actually saw it, but he walked over to his golf ball and the ball moved slightly. He did the right thing. He called the Rules official. After another solid hole on the 299-yard par-3 eighth, Johnson birdied the long ninth to turn around at 5 under par for the championship.

Yeah! Maybe this is the day. He was now tied with the falling Shane Lowry, who was playing one hole behind DJ. It has often been said that a major championship doesn't really begin until the back nine on Sunday. The 2016 US Open at Oakmont illustrates the axiom. Oh Joe, this is going left. Well, there's the old betrayal. After teeing off in thick rough on the 10th hole, Johnson was allowed to take relief because his original approach line was blocked by a television tower. His lie was so bad that I don't think he could have advanced it more than 60 or 70 yards.

So now he has a perfect lie, he has 176 yards, this is an incredible break for Dustin Johnson. From a good lie after his drop, Johnson reached the green in regulation and made a crucial par. It doesn't always matter what you achieve, sometimes it's what you overcome. Johnson, who now had the lead alone after a par on the 11th hole, walked to the 12th tee, where he was greeted by USGA Rules officials. What I will assume is that they looked further into that situation on the 5th hole, when he had his putter to the side, and that may have caused the ball to move.

The head Rules official comes out and says, you know, "Hey. We need you to come and watch the video about what happened at number 5." I was like, "Sure. We'll see when it's over; that's fine by me." If I'm a DJ, I have to think, "What do I have to do to win one of these major championships?" Dustin, I think, you know, looking back, I couldn't have handled that situation better. You know it was based on these experiences. You'd hate to think that to win a major, you'd have to suffer four or five catastrophes like he did.

Dustin Johnson couldn't seem to catch a break and with seven holes left for his chance at redemption, DJ would have to block out the distraction and prove that he could keep up his excellent game to the finish line. DJ and the other contenders would continue playing without knowing if he would be assessed a one-stroke penalty that could determine the outcome. It all comes down to: "Did a player make his ball move? That was at rest." A decision was made, as it should have been made based on the information the official had. I didn't think he caused the ball to move, so I didn't think he was going to get a penalty.

They may want to check it out, okay, we can go check it out. But I still didn't think I had done anything to cause it to move. So now, in the final stretch of the 2016 US Open, Dustin Johnson would have to face a demanding field, formidable pursuers, an imminent penalty and his own complicated history in the championship. It was too much. Driving onto the long par-5 12th, Dustin Johnson maintained his composure. I suppose thatthe response so far is very good, if that is the case with Dustin Johnson, he is overwhelmed. After a wayward second shot, Dustin still gave himself a chance to make birdie.

He finishes this close to a birdie here on the 12th. Still, the lead was intact and he was one hole closer to his goal. Later, the world number one, Jason Day, threatened. An eagle on the 12th was followed by a birdie on the 13th. Alright, Jason Day, now experiencing the pressure of the US Open, but Day would eventually be undone by a double bogey, a bogey finish that left him tied for eighth place. . There go your chances, whatever came here, they are gone right now. I have already achieved two second places. A fourth, a ninth, an eighth now, so one of these years will fall my way.

Local qualifier and gallery favorite Andrew Landry had minor trouble Sunday and quickly fell out of contention with five bogeys and a double during a disastrous 42 on the front nine. Although the Texan would shoot 78 and finish tied for 15th, he was grateful for the experience. . Those four days were practically the icing on the cake for me. I felt like that was going to boost my career. It definitely helped my confidence and helped me grow as a player. Scott Piercy got to 3 under, but bogeys at the 16th and 18th dropped him to 1 under overall, tying him with Jim Furyk, who was the clubhouse leader with a 66 early in the morning.

So Piercy will give one back here on 18. Sergio García He reached 3 under par through 13 holes, but followed that up with three consecutive bogeys that ended his chances of a first major. That putter has held him back this week and possibly his entire career. At the end of the day, this is what we work for, this is what we practice hard for, putting ourselves in this situation over and over again and that's the most important thing. Despite Shane Lowry's rocky start, the four-shot lead he took into the final round allowed him to remain Johnson's most dangerous challenger.

After three-putting the 10th hole for his fourth bogey of the day and falling to three under, Lowry rebounded with a birdie on the 12th hole that put him within one of Johnson; without taking into account the looming possibility of Johnson's penalty. My caddy and I figured it out. We thought, "We have to do it as if he hadn't been penalized." And we were one behind instead of tied for the lead. Closing a career in a specialty is always a challenge. Dustin Johnson had the added pressure of knowing that no matter what he shot, he might have to add one more shot.

Johnson seemed to feel the heat on the 14th tee, where despite hitting an iron to make sure he hit the fairway, he drove his ball into thick, rough ground. Since he was warned there on the 12th tee, he has hit some bad shots. This has to worry anyone, especially with his history here in recent years in the majors. Forced to play through the center of the green, Johnson would make two difficult putts to stay at 5 under par. After a decent lag of about 3 feet, he made par with what appeared to be a shaky shot. And Dustin Johnson can't get his par putt to land here at 14, so he'll return one.

Lowry watched from the center of the fairway as Johnson's putt missed. Now, Johnson and Lowry were tied, and doubt grew whether DJ could hold out. Well, he's been Mr. Almost lately. But with the gate open, Lowry's 131-yard approach with a wedge fell short and the players failed to take advantage of this short hole. and he left an uphill putt with a sharp break. If he could get anything back, I'd stay at 14 with that wedge in my hand. Not aggressive enough; trying not to make a mistake. Mentally it was probably as bad as I was all week.

Twenty-seven feet, 10 feet of rest and another putt that you must make outside the hole. It's brutal here right now with these players. Lowry's crucial missed putt proved to be the final factor that changed the momentum of that championship. The worst putt I've made all week. You know you haven't seen him do that all week. Sunday afternoons are not easy. The Irishman would make two more bogeys to fall back to 1 under par, with a disappointing 76. Frustration and a sigh at the end of a long week. As we learned all week at Oakmont, par is a good score.

Dustin Johnson was able to do just that and rally on pars 15, 16 and 17 to take control of the championship. That was very close to the length of last year's putt at Chambers Bay that he missed on the 18th, and he did it like a champ. The fans were absolutely incredible and especially when they came down on the 16th, 17th, 18th, you know, there was so much electricity and, and the atmosphere that was there, it was incredible. When Johnson teed up the 18th hole, he was officially 4 under with a two-stroke lead; not including the possible penalty of one hit.

Whether he was leading or trailing or whatever, it didn't matter. I'm trying to get the best possible score on that hole. Appropriately, Johnson threw his drive up the middle some 303 yards. Dustin Johnson throws it right up the middle. Then I made my drive down the street. Follow my routine, I'm about to make it while there's obviously a bunch of cameramen on the street. Well, one of his walkie-talkies goes off and that's when I turned around and said, "Really?" but I started again, I went back to my routine. Then he left no room for doubt (penalty sanctioned or not) with one more perfect swing.

Probably the biggest shot Dustin Johnson has ever taken here. What a gem, Dustin Johnson! Shot of a lifetime from him! I made a great shot there, probably the best shot, the best shot he's ever made. Johnson's commanding 6-iron approach never left the flag and left him just 3 feet away from a final birdie. DJ was finally able to enjoy the knowledge that the US Open title that had slipped through his fingers a year earlier in Chambers Bay was now his. Tatum, his eighteen-month-old son, with Paulina Gretzky. Dustin Johnson, on his way to a US Open championship. Oakmont is tough, there's no doubt about it.

This is Dustin Johnson's moment of glory, he has worked hard for it. A little bird at 18! Dustin Johnson will win the US Open! Rules officials eventually gave Johnson a one-stroke penalty for causing his ball to inadvertently move on the fifth green, but that would not affect the outcome of the championship. The video then showed that, you know what? In fact, Dustin had punished his club and that's why we had some of our best Rules officials watch this. They deliberated and finally said, "You know what? Based on all this, there has to be a penalty for this." Not only did Dustin Johnson perform excellently over the four days, but in a way, it was justice for Dustin to win the US Open.

Winning his first major championship by three strokes, Johnson finished with a 69 for a total of 4-under 276. His game at Oakmont had been a testament to immense skill, fierce concentration and, above all, stamina. Everything a person goes through in life, they can learn from it or not, so I try to take every situation, good or bad, and just try to learn from everything that happens to me in life. I know firsthand that when it ended at age 18, his life will never be the same. For it to finally pay off is absolutely incredible and pushes me to work even harder because I know what I'm doing is working.

And a major championship for Dustin Johnson, he is the 116th US Open champion. It's what you dream of when you're a kid: lifting the US Open Trophy. It is definitely a moment I will never forget. I think it was Dustin Johnson's coming out party. Everyone learns from his experiences in the U.S. Open. Possibly everyone will receive a piece of history, but it was another good week that I remember like Dustin Johnson's victory. It's definitely the best feeling. Especially the feeling of accomplishment you know after everything that happened to me in the majors. You know, the many times I've been there, you know, with a chance to win, and I just haven't made it, and finally making it on Sunday at the U.S.

Open, it was absolutely incredible.