Jordan Spieth created more history as he added the US Open Championship to his Masters Tournament victory on a dramatic final day at Chambers Bay. The 21 year old is halfway towards an unprecedented calendar grand slam after winning his second Major in succession, but only after a final round full of twists and turns.
He becomes the youngest US Open Champion since Bobby Jones in 1923, the youngest player to collect consecutive Majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922 and youngest ever to win the Masters and US Open.
After three-putting the opening hole, Spieth recovered with birdies at the eighth, 12th and 16th, where playing partner Branden Grace drove out of bounds to card a double bogey and drop out of the lead.
That gave Spieth a three-shot lead - only for the World Number Two to double bogey the 17th, hitting a wild tee shot and then compounding the error by three-putting from 40 feet.
In the group behind Dustin Johnson, who had been two clear at the turn, made birdie on the 17th to get into a tie for the lead, only for Spieth to hit two brilliant shots onto the 18th green to set up a two-putt birdie and finish five under.
With the pressure back on Johnson the 30 year old responded superbly, producing an even better approach than Spieth - but he three-putted from 12 feet to miss out on a first Major title.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen also finished on four under after recovering from three bogeys in the first four holes with six birdies in his last seven for a back nine of 29 and closing 67.
Grace shared fourth place with Australian pair Adam Scott and Cameron Smith, Scott having carded a flawless 64 and Smith completing a 68 with a tap-in eagle on the 18th.
Speaking about the possibility of winning all four Majors this season, with The Open Championship next in July, Spieth said: "To go to the Home of Golf in the next tournament is the sole focus, I am not going to look beyond that. But I guess you can't win them all unless you win the first two.
"We will go to St Andrews looking to win the Claret Jug. I believe we will be able to get the job done if we get the right prep in."
Asked how he composed himself following the double bogey on 17, Spieth added: "I was happy 18 was a par five, first and foremost (a reference to calling it a "dumb" hole when played as a par four on Friday).
"I hit a drive right where I wanted and Michael [Greller, his caddie] said 'you've hit this shot before already'. I got a nice little bounce and two putts later...I did not think it was enough."
Greller is from the Seattle area and even got married at Chambers Bay two years ago, with Spieth quick to praise his local knowledge.
“I think it will sink in a little quicker than the Masters did given that it's already happened but, boy, what a team effort,” he added.
“I didn't have my best stuff and we were able to get it done. Michael knew this course better than anybody playing this week and he made sure I was in the right spots without my best stuff and that's why I won.”
Johnson, meanwhile, was left to reflect on a whole host of missed opportunities as his search for a maiden Major continues.
He said: “I’m disappointed, because I played really well this week. I just didn’t make any putts today. I had all the chances in the world, just couldn’t take them. But I’m really proud of the way I hit the ball, and proud of the way I handled myself all day.
“If I’d holed even a fraction of the chances I made, I would’ve won this thing by a few shots, it’s not even close. But I didn’t, and that’s just how it goes. I did everything that I could. I tried my hardest to get in the hole but just couldn't do it.”
