US Open: Victorious Woodland!

First Major for the player from Kansas at Pebble Beach

Gary Woodland from Kansas scooped the US Open title, his first Major victory, last weekend with the greatest of panache. He was a cool three strokes ahead of his nearest rival, defending champion Brooks Koepka. The 35-year old American put on an impeccable display of golf (68, 65, 69, 69) which was every bit as stunning as the scenery at the challenging Pebble Beach Golf Links, California where the world’s best golfers battled for the honour of winning the 119th edition of the US Open (13-16 June).

Victory for Gary Woodland means that he has become the third player in the last four years to win his first Major at the US Open. He is also the fifth consecutive American to win the prestigious title following in the footsteps of Brooks Koepka (2017 and 2018), Dustin Johnson (2016) and Jordan Spieth (2015).

Patriotic stars and stripes golf shoes

The long-hitting golfer from Kansas never looked like putting a foot wrong in his eye-catching and patriotic stars-and-stripes golf shoes. Armed with his beautiful, solid swing and calm, unrattled approach, Woodland seemed destined to win at Pebble Beach. As others steadily fell by the wayside, his game just kept getting stronger. And his confidence just kept growing.

On Sunday, Woodland, who turned professional in 2007, made only his fourth bogey of the whole week on the par three, 12th. Two holes later he made birdie to get a stroke back. Playing the 15th hole, he was still leading on 12-under par – two shots ahead of Koepka in second place. Rose had slipped back to 7-under for the tournament after making three bogeys in four holes. Woodland made par at 15, and then at the next saw his 27-foot putt pull-up agonisingly short for birdie and so miss out on having the comfort of a three-shot lead heading down the last two holes.

Koepka and Rose pose biggest threat

Rose hadn’t quite been firing on all cylinders the whole week despite opening with 65, 70 and 68, yet it was the 38-year old Olympic Golf Champion, along with Brooks Koepka, that continued to pose the biggest threat to Woodland. On Saturday, Rose couldn’t hit a fairway but excelled with his short game to stay in contention. On Sunday, his game was quite the opposite. Former World Number One, Dustin Johnson on the other hand, played sublimely from tee to green on Saturday but barely holed a putt leaving himself far too much to do on Sunday. He fell out of the picture with a closing 74 to finish a disappointing one-over for the championship.

While Woodland was in search of his first Major, Koepka was a player with an even more serious mission at Pebble Beach. If he could pip Woodland at the post down the final stretch and so defend his title, he would become the first player to have three consecutive victories in the US Open for 114 years.

As the two Americans made their way to the 17th tee their early rivals were heading into the clubhouse where no more than a top-10 finish awaited them: Adam Scott (Australia) and Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) on 6-under; Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Jon Rahm (Spain) on 5-under.

“Go Gary! You can do it!”

The crowds get behind Gary Woodland

Where the crowds had been spurring on Koepka for much of the round, the focus now turned to the leader. “Go Gary! You can do it!”, they cheered. A testing moment for ‘their man’ followed at the 220-yard, par-three 17th where his tee-shot had finished wide-right of the devilishly placed pin. He played a most delightful chip-shot from the apron over a tricky hump in the green and must have been relieved to see his ball run up close to the hole: par. Woodland was two strokes ahead of Koepka with just one hole to play.

Koepka was on the final green and had one last chance to put some pressure on the leader. He had a putt of some 9 feet for birdie to get to 11-under. And more than that, it was a chance for the 29-year old player from Florida to write history once again. His ball rolled towards the hole and at the last moment lost pace and just shaved the hole on the right. A par saw the defending champion finish his challenge on 10-under.

Birdie finish to clinch the title

One of the most beautiful 18th holes in the world would now decide who should be crowned 2019 US Open Champion. Woodland just needed to stay in the moment. He struck an iron off the tee for position down the right-hand side of the 539-yard, par five. The player from Kansas appeared super relaxed, strolling down the fairway of the final hole at Pebble Beach in the US Open with his hands in his pockets looking relaxed and without a care in the world.

A classy shot over the strategically placed tree in the middle of the 18th fairway and he was set up for a straightforward approach to the green. Woodland then had the calmness of mind to chip-up onto the green and then hole an enormous putt for birdie and so secure victory by a comfortable three strokes. Absolutely tremendous!

The US Open has a new and worthy Champion in Gary Woodland. And perhaps a new trending lucky colour for play on Sunday: pink polo-shirt … with stars and stripes shoes, naturally!

Sunday in the US Open is always full of sentimental moments as it traditionally coincides with Father’s Day. It will now be even more special for the newly-crowned US Open Champion. He is the proud father of a son called Jaxson, born in 2017, and in August, he and his wife Gabby, are expecting twins. His prize cheque of 2.25 million dollars from the 12.5 million dollar prize-fund will certainly come in very handy.

Many congratulations to you, 2019 US Open Champion, Gary Woodland on a stunning victory!

Wendy Hoad

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: The 2019 US Open Champion Gary Woodland.