Tearful JJ Spaun sinks monster putt on final hole as 120/1 underdog pips Robert MacIntyre to US Open crown at Oakmont
ROBERT MACINTYRE suffered the same Oakmont heartbreak as boyhood hero Colin Montgomerie as JJ Spaun pushed him into second place at the US open.
At the fearsome course where Montgomerie was edged out in a play-off by Ernie Els in 1994, MacIntyre looked like going one better after a brilliant closing round of 68 saw him take the clubhouse lead at one over par.
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Spaun, who was also on one over with two holes to play, was the only man with a realistic chance of denying the young Scot.
And he produced a wonder shot at the driveable par four 17th, smashing a 309 yard drive to within 18 feet of the flag.
The eagle putt rolled past the hole, but Spaun showed nerves of steel to sink his three footer for birdie, and claim the outright lead.
The stocky American still needed to make at least a par at the ultra-tough 18th to avoid a play-off.
And maybe the memories of what happened to him at The Players Championship a few months ago meant he was determined to avoid that outcome.
Spaun left a putt for victory at Sawgrass hanging in the jaws of the final hole - and he was blown away by Rory McIlroy when they returned for a three hole shoot out the next day.
He made absolutely sure that could not happen again by sinking a bomb from 65 FEET at the last for a two shot victory.
At one under par he was the only man to finish in red figures.
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Spaun, who was 120/1 with the bookies at the start of the week, also had the distinction of firing the only bogey-free round of the week with his first round 66.
He hung tough after that, produced a fantastic finishing flourish, and the world No 25 is now a worthy Major champion.
Eagle-eyed fans spot Rory McIlroy's 'unrepeatable' magic trick in furious fit of rage at US Open
It was hard on MacIntyre, who was the only player in the final SIXTEEN groups on the course to break par on day four.
His weekend rounds of 69-68 would have made him a worthy winner, if world No 25 Spaun had not shown such grit after a horror start saw him drop five shots in the first six holes.
MacIntyre knew he could not have done any more.
He commented: 'All I can say is that I'm absolutely delighted with the way I played today.
'I got off to a rough start with a couple of early bogeys, but sinking a sixty footer for eagle on the fourth showed you can never tell what is going to happen next here
'I could see no-one was getting away from me among the guys who started out in front of me, so I had to dig in, dig in, and dig in some more. I did that. I did my best.'
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It appeared to be a joyless week of golf for Rory McIlroy at the US Open, with his temper boiling over several times as his worrying run of post-Masters form continued. In one tense moment with the press, the 36-year-old, who had snubbed his recent media duties, indicated his 'frustration with you guys', saying that he feels 'the right to do whatever I want to do' when it comes to interview availability after rounds. Then on Friday, the golfer hurled his club 30 yards following a disappointing play and then, five holes later, smashed up a tee marker in anger. His frustrating performance likely wasn't helped by his wife Erica Stoll's absence. The New York native wasn't publicly seen supporting her Northern Irish husband at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. The lack of cheering-on from the sideline was in stark contrast to the family's show of support at Rory's triumphant journey at the Masters. 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In another tense moment at the US Open, Rory, who has come under fire for avoiding media after six consecutive major championship rounds, ended his silent run on Saturday and said he felt he earned the right to do as he pleases. PGA Tour players are not obliged to speak to the media after their rounds but for someone like world number two Rory, who has been the de facto spokesman of the US-based circuit in recent years, it has come to be expected. Following a four-over 74 that left well out of contention at Oakmont Country Club, Rory spoke to reporters and was asked if his drop in form since winning the Masters was why he decided to avoid the media outside of pre-tournament availabilities. 'No, not really. It's more a frustration with you guys,' McIlroy told reporters before being asked to elaborate. 'I'm just, yeah, I don't know. I have, I've been totally available for the last few years, and I'm not saying - maybe not you guys, but maybe more just the whole thing.' 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