The US Open, the second golf major of the year, begins Thursday at the Chambers Bay course in Washington. Ahead of the action, here is a look back at the past five winners:
2014 – Martin Kaymer
Last year's event at Pinehurst in North Carolina proved to be a one-sided affair as Kaymer dominated. The German led by three shots after the opening day, six shots after the second round, five at the end of the penultimate round and triumphed by eight shots in the end on nine under from Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler for the second major of his career.
2013 – Justin Rose
Rose became the first Englishman in 17 years to win a major when he prevailed at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania. He had gone into the final round two shots off the lead, but a level-par round of 70 was enough to give him victory as he finished on one over, two ahead of overnight leader Phil Mickelson, who shot 74 on the last day, and Jason Day.
2012 – Webb Simpson
The last American to win the event, Simpson prevailed by one shot from Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Simpson had begun the final round in a tie for eighth place, four shots off the pace, but his round of 68, allied to rounds of 73 and 74 respectively for overnight leaders McDowell and Jim Furyk gave him the title at one-over par.
2011 – Rory McIlroy
The Northern Irishman had failed to win the US Masters two months earlier after taking a four-shot lead into the final round, but there was no problems at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland as he bounced back to win his first major. McIlroy led throughout after an opening round 68 and won by eight shots on 16 under, eight clear of Day.
2010 – Graeme McDowell
McDowell became the first European since Tony Jacklin in 1970 to win the US Open at Pebble Beach in California despite hitting a final round of 74. The Northern Irishman had finished on level par, one ahead of Gregory Havret, as overnight leader Dustin Johnson, who had started the day three shots clear of McDowell, crumbled with a round of 82.
Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE
