U.S. Open Wrap-Up: Day 4

Eric did a great job covering the U.S. Open on the last day, and I don't have a lot more to add. As I said at the beginning of the tournament, the Olympic Club has a history of throwing up odd winners, and so it should not be that surprising to see that Webb Simpson came out of nowhere to beat Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk on the last day. Indeed, this is what most majors look like these days. In April 2010, Phil Mickelson won the Masters for the third time. Since then, every major tournament has been captured by a first-time major winner:

2010 U.S. Open: G. McDowell (NIR)
2010 British Open: L. Oosthuizen (RSA)
2010 PGA: M. Kaymer (GER)
2011 Masters: C. Schwartzel (RSA)
2011 U.S. Open: R. McIlroy (NIR)
2011 British Open: D. Clarke (NIR)
2011 PGA: K. Bradley
2012 Masters: B. Watson
2012 U.S. Open: W. Simpson

It is encouraging for American golf fans that our young golfers are finally stepping up to win the tournaments that Tiger and Phil can no longer win -- although I would have been more impressed with Webb Simpson if he had faced some major pressure down the stretch. But the results seem distressingly random. Last year, I thought Rory McIlroy was ready to step up and become the true champion that golf needs, but that has not happened yet. Next month, in England, history will wait again to see if someone in the new generation is ready to seize the moment.

Oh, well. At least we didn't have to deal with a playoff.

Final Standings:

1. W. Simpson: +1 (72+73+68+68=281)

T2. G. McDowell (NIR): +2 (69+72+68+73=282)
T2. M. Thompson: +2 (66+75+74+67=282)

T4. J. Dufner: +3 (72+71+70+70=283)
T4. J. Furyk: +3 (70+69+70+74=283)
T4. P. Harrington (IRE): +3 (74+70+71+68=283)
T4. J. Peterson: +3 (71+70+72+70=283)
T4. D. Toms: +3 (69+70+76+68=283)

9. E. Els (RSA): +4 (75+69+68+72=284)

T10. K. Chappell: +5 (74+71+68+72=285)
T10. R. Goosen (RSA): +5 (75+70+69+71=285)
T10. J. Senden (AUS): +5 (72+73+68+72=285)
T10. L. Westwood (ENG): +5 (73+72+67+73=285)
T10. C. Wittenberg: +5 (71+77+67+70=285)