SB Nation Boston - U.S. Open 2012: Webb Simpson Wins At Olympic Club; Vemont's Keegan Bradley Finishes T-68th

U.S. Open Highlights 2012: Webb Simpson Makes The Shots

2012-06-18T15:43:42Z

There were a bevy of terrific shots during the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. However, maybe the most dramatic was just a little chip shot on the fringe of the green.

Simpson, leading by only a single shot, had a tough lie on the edge of the 18th green. With perhaps the championship resting in the balance, Simpson made a beautiful shot putting the ball within three feet of the cup. He would tap in from there and the rest is history.

For a look at that memorable shot and others from Sunday, please check out this video.

While maybe not as important to the outcome of the tournament, there were many other moments to savor.

Take a few from Day Three, such as Ernie Els flying in an eagle from the rough on the 17th hole and Graeme McDowell putting an approach less than five feet from the pin. Those can be seen if you would be so kind to follow this link.

Also, please be sure to take a look at SB Nation's YouTube page for more golf.

For more on the 2012 U.S. Open, please be sure to check out our golf hub, the official Open site for ongoing coverage and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

U.S. Open 2012 Results: Webb Simpson Stands Atop Olympic

2012-06-18T14:26:47Z

After four challenging and thrilling rounds of golf, Webb Simpson walked away with his first major victory at the 2012 U.S. Open in San Francisco at the Olympic Club.

Simpson came from behind on Sunday to overtake a faltering Jim Furyk, who just couldn't get out of his own way. Graeme McDowell was close the entire afternoon and well into the evening, but he couldn't get over the proverbial hump.

Tiger Woods was never a factor on Sunday. After looking so good the first two days, Woods derailed with a 75 on Saturday, knocking him out for all intents and purposes.

Keegan Bradley, the Woodstock, VT native, finished 18-over for the tournament, a very distant 68th.

The real story was Simpson, who made key putts down the stretch and had one run of four birdies in five holes. On one of the toughest courses in the world, it was Simpson who was able to stay on track throughout with tough pin locations and at times, inclement weather.

For more on the 2012 U.S. Open, please be sure to check out the official site for ongoing coverage, our hub page and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

U.S. Open Prize Money 2012: Webb Simpson Earns Over $1.4 Million

2012-06-18T12:22:18Z

Webb Simpson made some pocket change over the weekend. Hopefully he has very big pockets.

Simpson won his first major by taking home the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on Sunday evening. As a reward for his herculean efforts, Simpson earned $1.44 million. Not bad for playing some golf for four days.

The rest of the top ten finishers also took home some major cash, all of which was in the six-figure range. After playing on a course that even confounded many of the professionals, the prizes were well-deserved.

For more coverage of the U.S. Open, please follow this link to the official site.

Here's the rest of the Top 10 and their earnings:

1 Webb Simpson (+1): $1,440,000
T2 Michael Thompson (+2): $695,916
T2 Graeme McDowell (+2): $695,916
T4 Jason Dufner (+3): $276,841
T4 Padraig Harrington (+3): $276,841
T4 David Toms (+3): $276,841
T4 John Peterson (+3): $276,841
T4 Jim Furyk (+3): $276,841
9 Ernie Els (+4): $200,280
T10 John Senden (+5): $163,594
T10 Kevin Chappell (+5): $163,594
T10 Casey Wittenberg (+5): $163,594
T10 Retief Goosen (+5): $163,594
T10 Lee Westwood (+5): $163,594

For more on the U.S. Open, please be sure to check out our golf hub, the U.S. Open's Continuing Coverage and SB Nation Boston for all the latest news and updates.

US Open Winner 2012: Webb Simpson Overtakes Jim Furyk At Olympic Club

2012-06-18T02:32:02Z

Webb Simpson shot a 2-under 68 on Sunday to overtake Jim Furyk from the clubhouse and win the 2012 U.S. Open at 1-over. Simpson got off to a rough start on the day, bogeying No. 2 and No. 5 to go 2-over through five holes. He then birdied four his next five holes, and parred the rest in an impressive surge on the unforgiving Olympic Club course.

Furyk entered the day tied for the lead with Graeme McDowell at 1-under, but faltered late. He hit bogeys on No. 13 and No. 16 to relinquish the lead to Simpson. McDowell shot 4-over on the front nine, but made a late charge capped by a birdie on No. 17 to put himself within a stroke of the lead. Neither McDowell nor Furyk could seal the deal on No. 18, however, giving Simpson his first career major victory.

Furyk finished at 3-over for the Open, tying David Toms, Padraig Harrington, John Peterson and Jason Dufner two shots off the lead. McDowell tied Michael Thompson at 2-over, one stroke behind Simpson.

Stick with this storystream for updates, scores and more from the 2012 U.S. Open. For more coverage of the event including live video, check out USOpen.com. SB Nation's dedicated golf hub is your source for full time golf news and analysis, and don't miss SB Nation on YouTube:

2012 U.S. Open Golf Leaderboard: Jim Furyk Leads Field Through 10, Webb Simpson Charging

2012-06-18T00:47:34Z

Jim Furyk entered Sunday as the leader at the 2012 U.S. Open, and still leads through 10 holes on the final day at the Olympic Club. He is 1-over on the day, and even overall. He is just one stroke ahead of Webb Simpson, who has birdied four of his last eight holes and is now 2-under through 13.

Furyk has been a model of consistency, per usual, with a bogey on No. 6 his only blemish on the day so far. Simpson started the day 2-over through five before stepping up his game.

Five players are now tied at 2-over overall. Michael Thompson, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, John Peterson and Ernie Els are all within striking distance of a title, but will need some help from the two men that have separated themselves from the pack.

U.S. Open 2012 Leaderboard: Keegan Bradley Finishes 7-Over-Par On Sunday, 18-Over-Par For Tournament

2012-06-17T21:38:24Z

Vermont native Keegan Bradley has wrapped up his fourth round at the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA. Bradley finished 7-over-par for the day and 18-over-par for the weekend. Bradley is currently tied for 68th with Stephen Ames in the tournament. Ames has also finished his round.

Bradley made the weekend with a pair of three-over-par 73 rounds on Thursday and Friday but did not produce any better results on the weekend with a 75 on Saturday and Sunday's 77. This event was Bradley's first U.S. Open Championship.

Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell are the current co-leaders of the tournament at 1-under-par. Neither golfer has begun their fourth round on Sunday.

Stick with this Storystream for scores, updates and more from the 2012 U.S. Open, and for even more coverage check out USOpen.com. For full time golf news and analysis, head over to SB Nation's dedicated golf hub.

2012 U.S. Open Golf: Keegan Bradley's Round 4 Performance Will Impact Ryder Cup Qualifications

2012-06-17T17:39:42Z

Vermont native Keegan Bradley hasn't had the greatest U.S. Open. He currently sits in 61st place at +11, but a solid Round 4 performance is still crucial. Bradley is currently on pace to qualify for the U.S. team in the 2012 Ryder Cup, and his performance on Sunday will likely have a direct impact on that.

Qualifying for the Ryder Cup is based on a points system, with points being assigned based on prize money in major championships and other official events. The top eight golfers in the standings are guaranteed spots on the team, and Bradley is currently in eighth place. Rickie Fowler and Steve Stricker are both close behind Bradley in the Ryder Cup standings and ahead of him on the U.S. Open leaderboard. If that's how things are at the end of Round 4, they would gain points on Bradley and possibly push him off the team. Bradley struggled in Round 3, posting a 75 after getting a 73 in both Rounds 1 and 2. He'll need his best performance of the week if he hopes to bolster his chances of playing in the 2012 Ryder Cup.

The full 2012 Ryder Cup standings can be found here, and a live leaderboard for the 2012 U.S. Open is available at USOpen.com.

US Open Golf 2012: Leader Jim Furyk On Tiger Woods, Course Conditions And More

2012-06-17T17:08:44Z

Round 4 of the 2012 U.S. Open opens with Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell tied for first place at 1-under-par. Furyk has been in front for much of the tournament, and in his post Round 3 interview he gave some insight into how he might close out the tournament with a victory. Straightforward play and patience will be key, according to Furyk:

I think you have to bide your time and get through certain holes each day trying to make pars. And there will be a couple of opportunities you get. There are some‑‑ if you can drive the ball in the fairway, there are some places you can get short irons in your hand and there are some pins that you can attack. You just have to be patient and wait for those moments instead of trying to force them.

Furyk doesn't expect many gifts from the course at the Olympic Club:

The greens are starting to look stressed. And 15 was one that came to mind. And I think it was because they moved that tee up so much. They kept that green pretty firm and glossy. 18 looked pretty baked out. I was nervous that putt was going to be quicker than it was.

I expect it to get firm. I expect it to get faster and the greens to be maybe a touch quicker. The golf course is going to play difficult. It looks like I need to kind of look at the weather report again and see how the wind is going to be tomorrow. If that wind gets up or it gets blowing 10 to 20 again like it was earlier in the week it's going to be a very tough day. Today it laid down a little bit. It was a lot warmer. Gave us more of a chance to score in spots.

Tiger Woods started Round 3 tied for first place with Furyk, but a rough Saturday saw him fade to +4 overall, ties for 14th. Furyk still doesn't count him out:

So he's 5 shots back. I think he's probably disappointed with the 18th hole. And 16, 17, 18 with the finish, being 3‑over par, if he gets it in with a birdie or so on the way in, he's only two shots back, to make two bogeys and maybe five back is probably disappointing.

He's come from farther back before. And I don't think he's really too worried about the disarray, or I forget what the other term you used, at the moment. He's probably already flipped the page and worried about what he needs to do to play well tomorrow.

Things are crowded at the top of the leaderboard, so Round 4 is likely to be as close as it is decisive. The top 10 start to tee off around 5:30pm EDT, with leaders Furyk and McDowell teeing off at 6:10pm. You can find full tee times here and updated odds here.