Jordan Spieth becomes youngest US Open champ since 1923

Seattle: Jordan Spieth became the youngest player to win golf’s US Open since Bobby Jones in 1923, capturing a second straight major when Dustin Johnson three-putted from 12 feet on the final hole with a chance to win or force a playoff.

The 21-year-old Spieth, who also won the Masters Tournament in April, shot a 1-under-par 69 during the final round to finish with a four-day total of 5-under 275 at Chambers Bay Golf Course outside Seattle.

Spieth had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 18th hole, putting him one shot ahead of Johnson, who was playing in the final group. Johnson had an 12-foot attempt at an eagle for the win, but ran his first putt by the hole and then missed a 5-foot birdie try that would have forced an 18-hole playoff on Monday.

“I’m in shock,” Spieth said. “I just wanted a fighting chance tomorrow. I felt bad for Dustin.”

Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen tied for second at 4 under, one shot better than Adam Scott, Branden Grace and Cameron Smith. Charl Schwartzel finished at 2 under.

Spieth is the sixth golfer to win both the Masters and the US Open in the same year and the first to do so since Tiger Woods in 2002. That select group of champions also includes Craig Wood (1941), Ben Hogan (1951 and 1953), Arnold Palmer (1960) and Jack Nicklaus (1972).

In his young career, Spieth has been chasing many of the records set by Woods, and now he’s surpassed the 14-time major champion for one milestone. Two months after earning the green jacket at Augusta National as the second-youngest Masters winner behind Woods, Spieth became the youngest player to win two career majors since Hall of Famer Gene Sarazen in 1922.

Second-ranked player

Spieth, an American, entered the US Open as the second-ranked player in the world behind only Rory McIlroy, who finished tied for ninth at Chambers Bay. While McIlroy will remain No. 1 in the next Official World Golf Ranking, no player has been as successful as Spieth in 2015.

In 16 events since February, Spieth now has 10 top-10 finishes, three victories and a total of $7.8 million in winnings. Spieth pocked $1.8 million for winning the US Open. He’s also become one of the sport’s top earners off the course, with endorsement partnerships with Under Armour Inc., AT&T Inc., Fortune Brands’ Titleist and Rolex.

Spieth and Woods are now the only players since 1940 to win four times on the PGA Tour before their 22nd birthday.

Woods’s struggles

While Spieth’s successes grow, Woods’s struggles continue.

Woods, who entered the week at 195th in the world ranking, missed the cut for weekend play at Chambers Bay for just the second time in 19 US Open appearances after rounds of 80 and 76. The combined 36-hole score of 156 was his worst in 308 professional starts on the PGA Tour.

The last time Spieth competed at Chambers Bay was at the 2010 US Amateur Championship, where at 17 he shot 83 in his lone stroke-play round and failed to qualify for the match play portion of the competition.

Spieth had the advantage of local knowledge this week. His caddie, Michael Greller, is a resident of Gig Harbor, Washington, and until 2011 spent time as a Chambers Bay caddie while also working as a teacher. Spieth opened the tournament with rounds of 68, 67 and 71, leaving him in a four-way tie for the lead entering the final round. Bloomberg