CHEERS TO THE CHAMPION, GRAEME MCDOWELL!

By Doug McAllister

In a finish befitting a true U.S. Open, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland held on to win the 110th U.S. Open! Pretty stunning, really. Tiger was hard charging at the end of yesterday's play. Ernie and Phil were within striking distance. And, of course, Dustin Johnson entered the final round with a three shot lead.

But, as should be the case when so much is on the line, the putts didn't fall today as they had yesterday—for anyone! And that was especially true for leader, Dustin Johnson. Nicknamed "Flat Liner" because of his being seemingly impervious to the pressures of a major championship, Johnson quickly flat lined, literally, as far as hopes of winning his first major within the first few holes. Shot after bad shot and Johnson was dead! I suspect, had his caddy tried to find it, Johnson's pulse was gone before six holes had been played.

Not much better for Tiger. Bogeying the first hole was all it took. The spring left his step and the light left his eyes and, as is so often the case when things don't immediately go his way, Tiger threw in the towel, for all intents and purposes by the end of the front nine.

But then Pebble Beach wasn't the same friendly course it had been just 24 hours before. The lack of sunshine seemed to ominously set the stage for the day. It was as if Pebble were saying, "We'll see who's boss" to everyone who teed off. And everyone seemed to feel it.

Even McDowell seemed resigned to simply hold on, not make too many mistakes and, hopefully, come out at the top of the pack in the end.

But isn't that what a U.S. Open—and winning one—is all about. I had to laugh at all of the whining that went on all week about the course conditions and how they were so unfair. Hilarious! After all, isn't the course the same for all comers? So what is all this talk about whether Pebble Beach—especially hole 14—was unfair this week? Commentators chatted brainlessly about whether things need to be changed before the 2019 U.S. Open returns.

The only rational comment—at least among those that were aired on T.V.—came from the champion, Graeme McDowell. In his victory speech, McDowell was gracious and quick to note that the course was fair for all, rewarding good shots and punishing bad ones. In a nutshell, he summed up what I believe golf is all about. The whiners, after all, were those punished by bad shots and whined because they knew that their chances of winning were small at best. Ian Poulter crybabied above the rest. And to what end? What good did it do him? Perhaps he was able, by blaming Pebble Beach, to save a measure of face. Verily he had his reward. Besides, had the course been made simpler it would have been so for everyone and, given the state this week of Poulter's game, it wouldn't have made any difference anyway!

But the big winner was obviously McDowell, not only from the standpoint of toting away the big prize, but also because he, as a fellow Brit—Rudyard Kipling—once put it, "[kept his] head when all about [him] were losing theirs" and blaming Pebble Beach. Cheers to the champion!

Long and straight As usual, long and straight!