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Australian PGA Pro Am Tour28 Jul 2010
 Doug Holloway and Matt Holten finish in a tie for ninth in the City of Rockhampton Pro Am at the Capricorn Country Club yesterday. Holloway and Holten carded one under 69's to be four back of winner Ian Esson, Queensland and Adam Porker, Victoria.
The next tournament on the circuit is the Ian Weigh Motors Rockhampton Pro Am at Rockhampton Golf Club. New Zealanders in the field for the four round AU$50,000 event beginning Thursday are: Brad Shilton, dale Clarke, Doug Holloway, Hamish Robertson, Josh Carmichael and Mark Boe.
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Sir Bob bows out of International Competition26 Jul 2010
 There was no celebration, hardly any cheer, and no presentation when New Zealand's greatest ever golfer ended his competitive career on the 18th green at Carnoustie on day two of the British Senior Open.
On the first tee he was introduced without undue fuss by the European Tour's official starter, Ivor Robson.
"Next on tee. From New Zealand. Bob Charles."
Sir Bob easily found the first fairway on his final event on the world stage.
A career that burst into the public eye when, as an 18-year-old amateur he won the 1954 New Zealand Open, ended with Sir Bob, 74, shooting a seven-over-par 78 on the famed Scottish golf course where in 1968 he finished joint British Open runner-up to South African Gary Player.
Sir Bob won the British Open in 1963 courtesy of his silky putting, the first left-hander to claim a major.
Forty-seven years on it was a lot different as Sir Bob carved his second shot out-of-bounds down the last at Carnoustie before signing for an eventual 16-over par tally.
After the customary handshakes, he headed to the scorer's hut, as he has done now for 52 years.
There waiting for him after he had signed his score card was Sky TV golf reporter David Livingston.
His first question: "Sir Bob. You have just completed your round here at Carnoustie and it's a kind of special day because we understand it's the end of era of international competition for you?"
Sir Bob told Livingstone he was correct.
"I made the decision some time ago that this week would be my last Senior British Open and my last competitive international round of golf.
"I have played in all 24 Senior British Opens starting in 1987 so I feel after 50 odd years - and in fact I have been travelling since 1958 - that it's about time to take a break and sit back and enjoy life a little bit, and not have these early morning starts and late finishes.
"But today was not an emotional occasion for me, no not at all, as I only get emotional with my family. Not with my golf.
"Golf has been good to me as I have had a great innings and I have won a lot of tournaments around the world so I have been one of the fortunate ones. It's been a great ride and I have enjoyed the success but then I haven't enjoyed the poor tournaments.
"But you are looking at a 74-year-old who is not a kid anymore, and I actually feel like I am playing against 50-year old kids out here and I am old enough to be the father of a good percentage of them.
"Fortunately, my body has held together pretty well and, as I said, I've had a great innings."
Aside from looking forward to taking his wife on cruises off Alaska and on the Mediterranean, it was his desire to return to Scotland and play courses at Macrinhanish Dunes and Castle Stuart, which he did not manage to get to on an extensive journey last year to some of the country's golfing gems.
"I've played most of the others so I will be back for the next St Andrews Open, and I will bring my clubs."
Former Ryder Cup captain Mark James of England walked up to congratulate him on a superb golfing career.
"I just want to say how wonderful you have been to the game of golf," said James.
"You have played the game as it has deserved to be played and thank you for the joy you have brought to everyone."
Sir Bob was able to offer only a simple 'thank you', then he walked from the scoring compound to be mobbed by children seeking his autograph.
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RBC Canadian Open23 Jul 2010
Danny Lee has carded a one under 69 in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open at St George's Golf and Country Club, Ontario. Lee carded three birdies and two bogeys to be seven shots off the lead currently held by Brent Delahoussaye on eight under.
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Monty picks Clarke, Bjorn and McGinley 21 Jul 2010
 Colin Montgomerie believes Europe will go into the Ryder Cup with the strongest squad the continent has ever assembled, both on and off the course.
Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn and Paul McGinley were on Tuesday unveiled as Montgomerie's vice-captains for the clash at the Celtic Manor Resort in October as Europe try to regain the trophy after their defeat to the United States in Valhalla in 2008.
The popular trio, who boast 10 Ryder Cup appearances between them, have vast experience of winning the event and Montgomerie reckons they have the ideal qualities to help get Europe back to winning ways.
"The Ryder Cup is about passion, commitment and will to win and all three men I have named possess these qualities in abundance," the Scot told a press conference here at the European Tour's headquarters in Wentworth.
"They have all been part of successful European Ryder Cup teams in the past and know the players who will be part of the team. We all have huge respect from the players and respect in the team room and on the course is vital.
"I think this is the strongest team we have ever assembled, on and off the course. It's a fabulous time for European golf."
Montgomerie has an embarrassment of riches as he prepares to finalise his 12-man team for the October 1-3 match, with Europe's players shining on both sides of the Atlantic in recent months.
There is a gathering sense that the balance of power is shifting towards Europe.
Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell won the US Open, while Europeans filled the many of the leading positions at last week's Open Championship at St Andrews, although the tournament was won by a South African, Louis Oosthuizen.
Montgomerie also looks to have a close-knit backroom staff, with all three vice-captains popular men with strong Ryder Cup records.
Northern Irishman Clarke played in five consecutive Ryder Cups, between 1997 and 2006, when he was on the winning side on four occasions.
Bjorn, of Denmark, was part of winning teams as a player in 1997 and 2002 and was Bernhard Langer's assistant at the 2004 Ryder Cup that Europe won at Oakland Hills, Michigan.
Ireland's McGinley holed the winning putt for the European team in 2002 at the Belfry and was a popular member of victorious squads in the next two events.
"We are all very good friends," McGinley said. "We used to live very close to each other and we've all been involved in successful Ryder Cup teams. There's a winning formula and we know what works."
Clarke, who could still qualify for the event as a player, is fondly remembered for his performance at the K Club, Ireland in 2006, when he won three points from three just weeks after his wife Heather had died from cancer.
"The way it's shaping up at the moment, we look as if we have a fantastic team," Clarke said.
"In the Ryder Cups I've been involved in, the spirit in the team room has been fantastic and we want to generate that as much as possible."
Montgomerie, who revealed he had decided against selecting Jose Maria Olazabal as one of his assistants owing to the Spaniard's rheumatism problems in his shoulder, said he and his three vice-captains will be treated as equals.
"The four of us will be a team. We are very much together and we will be making decisions from now on together," said Montgomerie, a veteran of eight Ryder Cups.
Europe have won five of the last seven Ryder Cups and are heavy favourites ahead of the October match. top
Oosthuizen is the new Open champion19 Jul 2010
Video - Round Four Highlights
 Any doubts that Louis Oosthuizen had the game and the temperament to cope with the pressure of leading a major championship on the last day, having missed the cut in five previous attempts, were soon dispelled over the Old Course when he played with the confidence of a seasoned campaigner to win the game's oldest and most coveted title by seven shots.
After eight holes his lead was trimmed to three shots, but he responded instantly with an eagle at the ninth and Paul Casey's spirited challenge fell apart with a wayward tee shot at the 12th that lead to a triple-bogey seven and allowed Oosthuizen the luxury of playing the final six holes with an eight-shot cushion that he never looked like losing until a dropped shot at the 17th hole.
The chase for second place became a battle between old friends and adversaries Casey and Lee Westwood and it was Westwood who took the honours at nine under when Casey three-putted the last after driving into the Valley of Sin. It was Westwood's second successive near miss following his third place last year when he was one shot short of the play-off between Stewart Cink and Tom Watson at Turnberry.
Rory McIlroy, who set an Open record with his opening round of 63, recovered strongly from a wind-blown 80 on the second day to finish 69-68 for an eight-under total and a share of fourth place with Henrik Stenson of Sweden.
One of the biggest cheers of the day rang out around the 18th green when 18-year-old Amateur Champion Jin Jeong completed his first Open Championship with an eagle putt after driving the green and finished at four under par. He followed young Italian Matteo Manassero in completing the double of Amateur title-holder and and winner of the Silver Medal as leading non-pro in The Open.
As he stepped from the last green as the newly crowned Open champion Oosthuizen said: "My biggest goal this week was to keep calm. It became very difficult after the 12th hole on the back nine with an eight shot lead, but I was glad of those eight shots at the 17th. I cramped up a bit. But that was unbelievable."
Later he added: "I felt I needed something to get me going and the eagle was the thing that did it. During the final round I made good putts when I had to and rarely missed anything under six feet, but it was much tighter than it looked until that 12th hole."
The last hole still held its dramas. "Coming down the 18th I didn't want to hit driver and thought about the three-iron, but that might have bounced on the road and finished anywhere. It was amazing when I saw the ball hit the fairway."
Of the great breakthrough in his career he said: "Everyone told me it was just a matter of me believing in myself and my first win on the European Tour really helped. But to win an Open is special. To win at St Andrews is extra special."
The new champion secured his first win on the European Tour earlier this year in the Open de Andalucia, but had won four times in his home country, including a successful defence of the South African PGA title in 2008. He had failed to make the cut in three previous Open appearances at Troon, Hoylake and Turnberry, and had also failed to progress in the US Open and Masters.
The 27-year-old lives on a farm next door to his parents in Gouritz River, South Africa, and also has a home in Manchester.
He was a graduate of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation which gives financial assistance, playing, practice and coaching help to young players and he was the first from that programme to play in the Masters. He represented South Africa at boys, youths and senior levels and he is now putting something back into the game by starting his own junior golf academy.
2010 Open Championship - Final Standings
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Woods keeps his head as McIlroy is blown away17 Jul 2010
Live Leaderboard
 The fierce winds that have battered the Old Course have tested the patience and the ball-striking ability of the game, leading players in a vigorous examination of their talents and as the old saying goes - if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, think how much taller you'll be.
Tiger Woods, who three-putted the first two holes immediately after the resumption of play following more than an hour's delay when the greens became unplayable, has taken a firm grip of his game, reclaiming the two lost shots at the fifth and ninth and has started the long run back with three solid pars.
That's in strict contrast to yesterday's hero Rory McIlroy who set the lowest ever opening round record with a 63 and today has dropped eight shots in 15 holes. While he and many others are struggling to hold on, the scores of early finishers Louis Oosthuizen at 12 under par and Mark Calcavecchia at seven under, in first and second place, are set in stone.
Lee Westwood and Paul Casey have also finished their rounds at six under, a score than has been matched by young Spaniard Alejandro Canizares who has picked up a single shot in his first eight holes. England's Steven Tiley is also on the six-under mark. He is level par for the six holes he has played today in the final group out on the course.
The group of players with completed rounds at five under includes former champion Tom Lehman, this year's US Open winner Graeme McDowell and former Champion Retief Goosen.
Displaying an experienced head on young shoulders, 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa has got through 12 holes in level par to remain at four under. top
17 Jul 2010
Reflections on a record-breaking day
The Open Championship Leaderboard
 It was a tale of two halves over the Old Course on the first day of the 139th Open Championship. The morning starters were blessed with flat, calm conditions, while those who played in the afternoon had to contend with rising wind and blasts of heavy rain. No one took greater advantage of the benign course than 21-year-old Irishman Rory McIlroy who set the lowest first round score in the history of the Championship with a nine-under-par 63.
Tiger Woods, seeking his third successive win at St Andrews after victories in 2000 and 2005, is four shots behind in a large grouping on five under that also includes home favourite Lee Westwood, YE Yang, winner of the 2009 USPGA Championship, and former US Open victor Lucas Glover.
But Colin Montgomerie was struggling to hold together a level-par round before he fired his tee shot out of bounds at the 17th. Three off the tee, he put his fourth in the Road bunker and recovered from a near impossible lie before holing the putt for a six. But it all added up to a 74. Heavily-backed Masters champion Phil Mickelson also had a torrid time as he returned a 73, the same score as double champion Padraig Harrington and last year's almost-champion Tom Watson.
McIlroy has a history of low scoring, starting as a 16-year-old when he returned a 61 over the championship course at Portrush. In eight previous rounds over the Old Course, six as an amateur, he has never been higher than 69 and at the Quail Hollow Championship this year in America he won with a final round of 62. "I probably got more of a buzz from the 61, just because I was 16 and it was the first time I really went low," he recalled. His shot of the day was undoubtedly the six-iron he hit high and stopped quickly at the 17th, but he failed to convert the birdie putt.
His lead was reduced to two shots by an impressive round from South African Louis Oosthuizen who reached the turn in 31 shots and slotted two more birdies before falling victim to the 17th hole in common with the majority of players. He was unable to regain that dropped shot at the last where he finished with a somewhat shaky par. A member of the South African team that won the World Junior Championship in 2000, he has yet to make his mark in the majors, having played in five and missed the cut in every one. But he holds second spot on his own, one shot ahead of a five-man group in third place.
One of the best finishes of the day was achieved by heavyweight Swede Peter Hanson who completed the last four holes of his round birdie, par, birdie, birdie for a 66 to share third place on six under. The highlight was his three at the extended 17th, one of just a handful of below-par scores on the hole all day. The six-under target was set early in the day by playing partners John Daly, the champion here in 1995, and Scotland's Andrew Coltart, a former Ryder Cup player. Later in the day it was also matched by Bradley Dredge with a blemish-free 66. In 2005 he partnered Stephen Dodd to victory for Wales in the 2005 World Cup. Also on 66 is Steven Tiley, who gained his spot at St Andrews after a play-off in Local Final Qualifying at Scotscraig. He justified his place with six birdies and no dropped shots.
The newly crowned Amateur champion, Korea's Jin Jeong, dropped two shots in a six-birdie round of 68 that will set a hot pace for the other six amateurs in the field. It was a score matched by Ryo Ishikawa, the 18-year-old prodigy who leads the nine-man Japanese contingent at St Andrews. His only blemish was at the demanding 465-yard 13th hole.
With more than 20 nations represented in the field, young Colombian Camilo Villegas put his country's name among the leaders with a fine 68, no dropped shots and two birdies in each half.
More than half the field of 156 players finished the day under par and more than 500 birdies were recorded. Tiger Woods said that he had never known a major championship where it took a five under par score to get into the top 10 in the first round. In fact 16 players are on that score or better.
As today's late starters rue their tough luck and prepare for an early tee time tomorrow, the latest weather forecast is not encouraging - heavy rain at times, becoming drier and brighter by late morning, with increasing wind and sunny spells in the afternoon. top
Goydos takes 156th and final place in St Andrews field12 Jul 2010
 The USA's Paul Goydos has taken the 156th and final place in the field for this year's Open Championship, after finishing second at the John Deere Classic yesterday [Sunday]. The place at golf's oldest Major was available for the leading player, not already exempt, finishing in the top five.
The 46-year-old from Long Beach, California, began the tournament with a 12-under-par 59, becoming only the fourth player to do so in PGA Tour history. Rounds of 68, 67 and 66 followed, leaving him two strokes behind eventual winner Steve Stricker, and a comfortable four shots ahead of Jeff Maggert, his nearest competition for the ticket to St Andrews.
"[There are] dozens of things that I'm excited about. The perk is I get to go over and play St Andrews," said the two-time PGA Tour winner, who will be making his third consecutive Open Championship appearance. "It was a goal early in the year and this is the last opportunity to get in. And playing in an Open at St Andrews, I think, is about as cool a thing as you can do."
Earning the penultimate place on the Old Course yesterday was Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, whose second place at the Barclays Scottish Open secured qualification as the leading player, not already exempt, finishing in the top five.
Speaking at Loch Lomond, Clarke said: "I wasn't in The Open before I came here and I am now. I had to post a score around the back nine to do that, and I did that with a couple of great up and downs. I also made a great birdie on the 17th.
"I go to St Andrews to, hopefully, reproduce my first three rounds here - and there are no par fives over water at St Andrews!" he added with reference to the trouble he found himself in during a final round of 76.
The field is now complete for the 150th Anniversary Open Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews. Click here for profiles of all 156 players. top
Hendry Records Crushing Victory in Indonesia Open 4 Jul 2010
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| Michael Hendry | New Zealand's Michael Hendry propelled his name into the spotlight today with an emphatic seven-stroke victory in the US$1 million Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta.
The 30-year-old from North Harbour started the day with a one stroke lead and fired a flawless final round seven-under-par 65 at Damai Indah Golf - Pantai Indah Kapuk Course to finish comfortably ahead of second placed Liang Wenchong from China.
Liang came in with a 71, in the fifth event of the season on OneAsia.
Unheralded Hendry killed off the challenge of his nearest competitors with a brilliant run of seven birdies on six, eight, nine, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
It is far and away the biggest victory of Hendry's career and is the culmination of an outstanding period of form. He won the Fiji Open two weeks ago and was a back-to-back winner of titles on the PGA of New Zealand's domestic Tour in May. He currently leads the New Zealand PGA money list - an award he claimed last year for the first time.
"This feels surreal. It will take some time to sink in. It is a very emotional moment for me," said Hendry.
He finished with a four-round aggregate of 19-under-par 269 and earned a cheque for US$180,000.
"I caught fire out there today. I have worked really hard on my game over the past year and it has paid off. I know my mortgage is now going to be a lot smaller," added the Kiwi.
As he walked off the 18th several of his fellow professionals, including Gareth Paddison, Josh Carmichael and Brendan Stuart, performed the Haka in Hendry's honour.
Liang was hot favourite to take the title having won the season opening Luxehills Chengdu Open in China on OneAsia in April. He also claimed last year's Midea China Classic.
The 31-year-old birdied the second hole to draw level with playing partner Hendry. The tournament developed into a two horse race on the front nine but Liang uncharacteristically fell back with three bogeys on the trot from the 10th.
"Michael was just too good today. Even if I played well I don't think I could have caught him," said Liang, who won US$102,000. He made four birdies and three bogeys.
Australian Anthony Brown and Taiwan's Hsieh Tung-shu finished in a tie for third, nine strokes behind Hendry, after shooting rounds of 70 and 71 respectively.
Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, winner of this event in 2005, was a stroke further back with Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Ronald Harvey from Canada.
Thaworn carded a 68 while Mamat shot a 71 and Harvey returned 66.
Japan's Shingo Katayama, a five timer winner of the Japan Tour Money List, finished in a tie for 12th. He closed with a 70 to finish the tournament on five under par.
The burgeoning OneAsia will stage 11 tournaments with a total of more than US$12 million in prize money this season.
This week's event was showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Other New Zealand Scores: Michael Long (74 69 69 71 = 283 tied 12th), Gareth Paddison (75 71 70 70 = 286 tied 21st), Scott Hill (71 71 73 74 = 289 tied 24th), Josh Carmichael (72 73 78 72 = 295 tied 58th). Hamish Robertson, Mahal Pearce and Brenden Stuart missed the cut.
All Scores can be viewed here top
Is This Hendry's Big Moment? Leading going into the Final Round3 Jul 2010
Michael Hendry has added a third round 67 to his tally, leading the Indonesian Open by one shot from LIANG Wenchong going into the last day with a further two shots back to third place.
A win in this OneAsia Tour event would be just reward for Hendry considering his consistent form of late, and would go a long way towards moving on to the next level in his quest to be the best.
Michael Long also improved with a three under par 69 to move into 10th equal place, while Scott Hill slipped a little with his 73. Gareth Paddison held steady with a two under par round of 70 while Josh Carmichael fell back with a six over par 78.
The final round concludes Sunday and you can follow the live scoring right here by clicking on this link.
We are experiencing link problems at this time but it does appear that Michael Hendry has a seven shot lead with very few holes left to play. top
Hendry Tied Third Halfway Through Indonesian Open 3 Jul 2010
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Michael Hendry | Michael Hendry has added a blemish-free five under par round of 67 to his previous 70 to be on 137, seven under par and tied third, three back of the leader LIANG Wenchong in the Indonesian Open.
The OneAsia event is being payed at the Damai Indah Golf Club and features a number of other New Zealanders who are experiencing varying degrees of success.
Scott Hill has had a pair of 71, to be tied 14th, Michael Long 74 69 and 17th equal, Josh Carmichael 72 73 and tied 28th, and Gareth Paddison 75 71 and 38th equal. These players have all made the cut.
Failing to progress to the weekend were Hamish Robertson (73 79), Mahal Pearce (75 77) and Brenden Stuart (77 76).
You can follow the live scoreboard by clicking on this link top
Sir Bob and Royalty1 Jul 2010
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Sir Bob watches on in the company of Amy Williams and Brian Lara, Lady Verity bottom right | Sir Bob and Lady Verity Charles were instumental in Venus William's match being delayed by 15 minutes as he was introduced to the spectators together with other legendary sportspeople from the Royal Box at Wimbledon.
Alongside West Indies cricket great Brian Lara and Olympic Skeleton gold medalist Amy Williams, their individual sporting accomplishments were presented by a BBC commentator while photographs of their greatest moments were displayed on the tournament video board. top
One Asia - Indonesia Open1 Jul 2010
 The Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta, will be the fifth leg of the burgeoning OneAsia Tour for 2010, in which 11 tournaments will be staged with a total of more than US$12 million in prize money to be won.
With such a strong Australian line up, the Indonesia Open is expected to propel several Australians into contention for the second OneAsia Order of Merit title, which will ultimately be decided by the final tour event, the Australian PGA Championship in December.
"As a founding partner of OneAsia, the PGA has continuously supported the development of a regional tour for the Asia-Pacific region that will compliment the structure of tournament golf in Australasia," said Simon Butterly, General Manager of the PGA Tournament Division.
"The Indonesia Open provides a great opportunity to over 50 of our members who will this week play on an international stage for an impressive prize pool. Through the PGA Tour of Australasia, Australia and New Zealand continues to produce successful, international golfers at a rate that is second to none the world over. However the ongoing success of our players is contingent on opportunities such as this being made available continuously throughout the year."
Amongst this week's field in Jakarta is a mix of Aussies at all stages of their careers including Ashley Hall, Terry Pilkadaris, Matthew Griffin, Stephen Dartnall, Jason Norris, Michael Curtain, Steven Jones, Kim Felton, Steven Jeffress and Steve Allan.
Also in the OneAsia field is 17-year-old Queenslander, Taylor Cooper, who last December became the youngest ever golfer to gain his PGA Tour of Australasia card via Qualifying School.
Cooper, playing his third OneAsia event this week, is the youngest player in the Indonesian field.
Also lining up against the Aussies is the Japanese stetson-wearing showman, Shingo Katayama, winner of a staggering 26 titles and US$17 million in prize money in Japan, as well as former Asian number ones Liang Wenchong of China and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant.
The Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta will be broadcast on OneAsia's television platform to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries. top
McDowell wins breakthrough U.S. Open21 Jun 2010
Graeme McDowell led earlier in the week, then got lost in the crowd. But he made the most of Dustin Johnson's implosion early Sunday, then held steady while all his challengers fell away to win become the first European to win the U.S. Open in 40 years.
 PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland closed with a 3-over 74 to become the first European in 40 years to capture the U.S. Open.
McDowell seized control after a shocking collapse by Dustin Johnson, then failed to get flustered with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els lined up behind him.
McDowell's father was waiting to embrace him on the 18th green.
"You're something, kid," Kenny McDowell said.
McDowell, 30, wasn't perfect, but he was good enough to take the initiative and hold on for a one-shot victory over another surprise contender, Gregory Havret of France, who shot 72.
Johnson took a triple bogey on the second hole to lose all of his three-shot lead, and a double bogey on the next hole ended his hopes. Three of the biggest stars of this generation were right there, ready to continue the lineage of great champions at Pebble Beach, only to play far below their expectations.
McDowell made only one birdie -- an 8-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole -- and his final round was the highest score by a U.S. Open champion since Andy North in 1985.
"I can't believe I'm standing with this right now," McDowell said, posing with silver trophy. "It's a dream come true. I've been dreaming it all my life. Two putts to win the U.S. Open. Can't believe it happened."
Woods couldn't believe it, either.
Poised to end six months of bad publicity over a shattered personal life, he bogeyed five of his first 10 holes and took himself out of contention with a 75.
Els and Mickelson hung around a little longer, and both had their chances, but neither hit the kind of shots that win the U.S. Open.
Els had a brief share of the lead on the front nine but came undone along the coastal holes -- including one stretch of bogey-double bogey-bogey -- and never quite recovered. His hopes ended when he missed his target with a sand wedge on the par-5 14th and took bogey, then missed a four-foot birdie putt on the 15th.
He closed with a 73 to finish alone in third.
Mickelson, with another great chance to end a career of disappointment at the U.S. Open, holed a birdie putt from just off the green on the first hole, then didn't made another birdie the rest of the day. He also shot a 73 and tied for fourth with Woods, missing a chance to supplant Woods at No. 1 in the world.
Woods made only two birdies, but was more troubled by his mistakes.
"I made three mental mistakes," Woods said. "The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the U.S. Open."
Even so, nothing compares with what happened to Johnson. The 25-year-old American looked so unflappable all week, and came apart so quickly. On the final hole of a round he won't forget, Johnson missed a two-foot birdie putt and wound up with an 82. It was the highest closing round by a 54-hole leader in the U.S. Open since Fred McLeod shot 83 in 1911.
McDowell finished at even-par 284 and ended 40 years of questions about when a European would capture America's national championship. England's Tony Jacklin was the last one, in 1970 at Hazeltine.
McDowell had to work harder than he imagined.
Even under overcast skies and a stiff breeze, the course was firm and dangerous as ever. Davis Love III, with a 71, was the only player among the final five groups who matched par.
"I can't believe how difficult this golf course was," McDowell said. "No matter how good you play ... good golf got reward, and bad golf got punished really badly."
McDowell got into the U.S. Open by narrowly getting into the top 50 in the world at the deadline to avoid qualifying. He wound up with his first victory in America to go along with five European Tour victories, most recently the Wales Open last month at the home course for the Ryder Cup in October. He is sure to be part of the European team now, moving up to No. 13 in the world.
Only the best have won a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach -- Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite and Woods in 2000 by a record 15 shots. Lanny Wadkins won the only PGA Championship played on this fabled course by the sea.
McDowell might not have the pedigree, but he certainly had the game.
"To play steady and to withstand some tough holes the way Graeme did and to come out on top, he played some great golf," Mickelson said. "It was a wide-open tournament. Many guys had a chance. And it made for kind of an exciting U.S. Open, I thought."
With so few birdies to cheer on a day that was more about survival, the gentle waves lapping the shore almost made more noise than the gallery. McDowell had a three-shot lead as he walked down the 10th fairway, and from there it was a matter of hanging on.
"You go chasing and you'll make bogeys," McDowell said.
Mickelson gave it one last try when he fired at a dangerous pin on the right side of the 16th green. It came up just short and buried in the deep grass, and when the Masters champion heard the groan, he said to caddie Jim Mackay, "I took a chance, Bones. Didn't pay off."
Els played the par-3 17th in 5-over par for the week, including a bogey from the bunker on Sunday. Needing an eagle on the 18th to have any chance, he came up woefully short and to the right in a bunker.
None of this would have been possible without Johnson's collapse, which was simply spectacular.
He had a three-shot lead and was in the middle of the fairway at No. 2 with a wedge in his hand after a 343-yard drive. When he walked off the green at No. 4, he was three shots behind, a six-shot turnaround in three holes.
With 15 holes remaining in the final round, the U.S. Open was wide open, setting up perfectly for the three biggest names in golf -- Woods, Mickelson and Els -- to seize the moment.
To most everyone's surprise, none of them did.
US Open 2010 - Final Standings
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US Open - Mickelson eases stress on himself, adds it to everyone else19 Jun 2010
U.S. Opens are supposed to be the ultimate stress-inducers. And Pebble Beach, with its pint-sized greens, its Cliffs of Doom, its quad-producing par 5, its impossible-to-hold 17th and its intimidating closing hole along the Carmel Bay, can cause trepidation in even the most steely-eyed golfers.
And yet, there was Phil Mickelson pointing out all the "easy pars" he encountered when he wasn't rolling in birdie putts during Friday's second round. And there was Ernie Els talking about how "calm" he's felt the past two days. And there was Graeme McDowell, proud that he kept his "emotions in check" as he zoomed to the top of the leaderboard.
McDowell, the Northern Irishman who romped to victory in his last start two weeks ago in Wales, goes into the weekend at the 110th U.S. Open with a two-stroke advantage after shooting a second-round 3-under 68. Els, the two-time Open winner, matched that 68 to move into a tie for second.
But the biggest noise was made by Mickelson, who tied his career-low round at a U.S. Open with a 5-under 66, joining Els, Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa and two-time AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am winner Dustin Johnson at 1 under.
Indeed, Mickelson made it look easy on Friday as he chases his first U.S. Open title. Disappointed at his failure to produce a birdie in the first round, he made a slight adjustment in the setup with his putter, then went out and made a ton of them -- six birdies, to be exact -- in posting the tournament's lowest round through the first two days.
"Certainly my mood is better," the No. 2-ranked player said. "I'm a lot cheerier and I feel much better about my position in the tournament and heading into the weekend than I did after yesterday's round.
"I knew I was playing well. I knew I was putting well. Even though I putted terrible yesterday, I knew it was close. And to be able to make that change and get it going ... I'm looking forward to the weekend."
Friday, as Mickelson, pointed out, was the day to make a move. Under cool, cloudy conditions, the greens were much smoother than on Thursday when several players -- Tiger Woods among them -- complained about their bumpiness.
While Woods, feeling much better about Friday's greens, didn't match Mickelson's vault up the leaderboard, he did shoot a 1-over 72 and is certainly in lurking distance at 4 over for the tournament. "I'm right there," Woods said. "As we know, the U.S. Open is only going to get tougher as the weekend goes. The golf course will dry out. I know they put some water on it last night, and that's probably the last drink they will get."
Mickelson agreed, which is why he pressed so hard Friday to get back into the tournament. And he pressed hard early, knowing that the best chances to score at Pebble Beach are in the first seven holes before reaching the treacherous eighth hole and the start of the three-hole Cliffs of Doom.
A short uphill birdie putt on the second hole set the tone. Mickelson would spend the majority of the round below the pin, understanding that uphill lies allow him to hit firmer putts that hold their lines. He birdied five of seven holes during that early stretch and was even surprised not to birdie the ninth, as his putt "kind of waffled off at the hole," forcing him to settle for birdie.
Ultimately, Mickelson needed just 25 putts on a round that playing partner Padraig Harrington called "spectacular." Added Paddy: "Best I've ever seen him play."
Said Mickelson: "I made a lot of putts. I had a lot of putts go in, and I was very fortunate. There was only one or two that you could look back and say, 'Oh, that could have gone in.' But for all the ones that actually did, no, I don't feel like I left any out there."
So now wife Amy and the kids will come to stay with him this weekend in hopes of celebrating a second consecutive major on Sunday evening. But first, Mickelson and all the other hopefuls must prepare themselves for a tough, patience-testing, emotion-rattling 36 holes.
The scoreboard, at this point, means little. McDowell has the two-shot lead, but nothing's safe and nobody's out of it. Harrington, hoping for "chaos" on the weekend, pointed out that "it doesn't take very much for seven shots to disappear on a windy, fair day out there."
All Mickelson knows is that he's 1 under par and as long as he maintains that kind of equilibrium the rest of the way, he should be in good shape.
"I'm in a good spot," he said. "I don't look at the leaderboard, I don't look at other players. I look at par. And this is the only tournament really in professional golf to date that brings out Bobby Jones old saying of 'playing against Old Man Par' because if you just can stay around par you're going to be in the tournament on Sunday.
"That's kind of the goal."
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