NORTHERN IRELAND‘S Graeme McDowell has held on to win the 2010 US Open and become the first European in 40 years to lift the trophy.
He beat Frenchman Gregory Havret by one shot on a punishing Pebble Beach Course that in the end no one mastered.
After four days no one was left in red figures.
Dustin Johnson, the big hitting young American who was overnight leader, imploded and threatened final round runs by the big names, including Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, faltered.
McDowell finished with a three-over-par 74 for an even-par total of 284.
When he saw Havret, a qualifier ranked 391st in the world, miss his birdie putt on the 18th he knew he could play it safe. But there were still some nail biting moments for the Irishman.
“I’ve dreamed this all my life,” McDowell said. “Two putts to win the US Open. I can’t explain how I feel right now. It’s amazing.”
The last European player to win the US Open was Tony Jacklin in 1970. McDowell also became just the third Irishman to win a major title, along with Padraig Harrington and Fred Daly.
South Africa’s Ernie Els finished third with a 73 for 286 and Woods and Mickelson shared fourth place on 287.
Overnight leader Johnson saw his three-shot lead quickly evaporate with a triple-bogey seven at the second hole. He collapsed to an 82.
The only two Australians to make the cut, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby, finished at 11 over and tied for 29th.