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Pebble Beach - Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell won the US Open on Sunday, holding steady as Pebble Beach buffeted a bevy of golf's big names to claim his first major championship.
McDowell became the first European since England's Tony Jacklin in 1970 to lift the trophy - and he beat another European - unheralded Frenchman Gregory Havret - by one shot.
McDowell carded a three-over par 74 to claim the title with an even par total of 284. Havret posted a one-over 72 for 285.
South Africa's Ernie Els finished third with a 73 for 286. Woods and Masters champion Phil Mickelson shared fourth place on 287.
"To play steady and to withstand some tough holes the way Graeme did and to come out on top, he played some great golf," said Mickelson, who missed out on a chance to seize the world number one ranking from Woods and remained in search of a US Open title after five runner-up finishes.
No one was hit harder than overnight leader Dustin Johnson. His three-shot lead evaporated with a triple-bogey seven at the second hole. That was followed by a double bogey and a bogey as he collapsed to an 82 that left him tied for eighth.
Havret, playing in his first US open, kept his poise admirably. But McDowell clung to a one-stroke lead over the last four holes and Havret couldn't find a birdie that he needed at the last.
When Havret failed to birdie, McDowell needed only to par the last and he laid up closed it out in regulation.
McDowell's only birdie of the day came at the par-three fifth, where he rolled in a putt from inside 10 feet.
He had four bogeys on the back, but on a day when bogeys abounded he did enough.
"I can't believe I'm standing with this right now," said McDowell, who was hugged by his father at the 18th green before he was presented with the trophy.
"I've dreamed this all my life," he said. "Two putts to win the US Open. I can't believe it happened."
McDowell claimed the fifth US Open title to be decided at Pebble Beach. The others were won by a roll call of golf's best - Jack Nicklaus in 1972, Tom Watson in 1982, Tom Kite in 1992 and Woods in 2000.
Woods, whose triumph here 10 years ago was by a stunning 15-shot margin, had appeared to shake off his recent troubles with a storming third round.
But when Johnson's spectacular meltdown opened the door, Woods couldn't walk through it.
"It's disappointing because I started off so poorly again," said Woods, who had four bogeys in his first eight holes. He finished the day with six bogeys and just two birdies in his 75.
"I really didn't too many bad shots," Woods said. "I just left myself in the wrong spots.
Els briefly held a share of the lead early, but dropped four shots in the span of three holes from the ninth, a detour to the beach leading to a double bogey at the par-four 10th.
Mickelson's birdie at the opening hole proved to be his last. He closed with a 73.
McDowell, who squeaked into the top 50 in the world rankings just in time to avoid having to qualify, arrived in California after a victory a fortnight earlier at Celtic Manor in Wales - where the Ryder Cup will be held this year.
He claimed his first US victory after five prior European Tour titles, but it wasn't easy.
"I can't believe how difficult this golf course was," said McDowell, who still praised the set-up as fair.
"Good golf got rewarded, and bad golf got punished - really badly."
Havret, who came through qualifying at Walton Heath, called his runner-up finish "probably the best surprise for me, but it's also the biggest disappointment."
He was in a greenside bunker at 18 and couldn't make a long putt to force a playoff.
"Well, that's a very bad putt," he admitted. "Those greens are obviously a little bit bumpy and quite firm. You don't want to make a big mistake hitting it too strong ... and then I pulled it."
"I was quite happy to make the other one, because that wasn't that short."
Collated fourth-round scores on Sunday in the 110th US Open Championship at the par-71, 7,040-yard Pebble Beach Golf Links (A-denotes amateur):
284 - Graeme McDowell (NIR) 71-68-71-74
285 - Gregory Havret (FRA) 73-71-69-72
286 - Ernie Els (RSA) 73-68-72-73
287 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 75-66-73-73, Tiger Woods (USA) 74-72-66-75
288 - Matt Kuchar (USA) 74-72-74-68, Davis Love (USA) 75-74-68-71
289 - Brandt Snedeker (USA) 75-74-69-71, Martin Kaymer (GER) 74-71-72-72, Alex Cejka (GER) 70-72-74-73, Dustin Johnson (USA) 71-70-66-82
290 - Sean O'Hair (USA) 76-71-70-73, Tim Clark (RSA) 72-72-72-74
291 - Ben Curtis (USA) 78-70-75-68, Justin Leonard (USA) 72-73-73-73
292 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 73-76-74-69, A-Scott Langley (USA) 75-69-77-71, Lee Westwood (ENG) 74-71-76-71, Jim Furyk (USA) 72-75-74-71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-71-74-73, A-Russell Henley (USA) 73-74-72-73
293 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 73-76-73-71, Shaun Micheel (USA) 69-77-75-72, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 75-72-74-72, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 73-73-74-73, John Mallinger (USA) 77-72-70-74
294 - Ricky Barnes (USA)72-76-74-72, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 75-72-74-73
295 - Stuart Appleby (AUS) 73-76-76-70, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 77-70-74-74, Robert Allenby (AUS) 74-74-73-74, Tom Watson (USA) 78-71-70-76
296 - Jason Dufner (USA) 72-73-79-72, Ryan Moore (USA) 75-73-75-73, David Toms (USA) 71-75-76-74, Kenny Perry (USA) 72-77-73-74, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 69-73-77-77, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 72-71-75-78, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 70-71-75-80
297 - Bo Van Pelt (USA) 72-75-82-68, Ross McGowan (ENG) 72-73-78-74, Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 74-72-76-75, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 74-72-75-76, Stewart Cink (USA) 76-73-71-77, Bobby Gates (USA) 75-74-71-77, Paul Casey (ENG) 69-73-77-78
298 - Jim Herman (USA) 76-73-81-68, Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 70-75-81-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 74-75-74-75, Jason Gore (USA) 76-73-74-75, Jason Allred (USA) 72-73-76-77, Scott Verplank (USA) 72-74-75-77, KJ Choi (KOR) 70-73-77-78, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-73-77-78, Luke Donald (ENG) 71-75-74-78, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 75-72-72-79
299 - Steve Stricker (USA) 75-74-77-73, Retief Goosen (RSA) 75-74-76-74, Lucas Glover (USA) 73-73-77-76, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 72-77-74-76, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 77-72-73-77
300 - Gareth Maybin (NIR) 74-75-76-75, Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 73-76-76-75, Steve Wheatcroft (USA) 74-73-77-76, Jerry Kelly (USA) 72-70-81-77, Eric Axley (USA) 75-73-75-77, Steve Marino (USA) 73-75-73-79
301 - Erick Justesen (USA) 74-74-80-73
302 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 78-69-79-76, Fred Funk (USA) 74-72-77-79, Matt Bettencourt (USA) 72-74-77-79, David Duval (USA) 75-73-74-80
303 - Rhys Davies (WAL)78-70-79-76, Kent Jones (USA) 73-76-78-76
305 - Nick Watney (USA) 76-71-77-81
306 - Matthew Richardson (ENG) 73-75-80-78, Zach Johnson (USA) 72-77-78-79, Chris Stroud (USA) 77-72-76-81
307 - Mike Weir (CAN) 70-79-83-75, Ty Tryon (USA) 75-74-78-80
311 - Pablo Martin (ESP) 73-76-83-79, Jason Preeo (USA) 75-70-82-84
McDowell became the first European since England's Tony Jacklin in 1970 to lift the trophy - and he beat another European - unheralded Frenchman Gregory Havret - by one shot.
McDowell carded a three-over par 74 to claim the title with an even par total of 284. Havret posted a one-over 72 for 285.
South Africa's Ernie Els finished third with a 73 for 286. Woods and Masters champion Phil Mickelson shared fourth place on 287.
"To play steady and to withstand some tough holes the way Graeme did and to come out on top, he played some great golf," said Mickelson, who missed out on a chance to seize the world number one ranking from Woods and remained in search of a US Open title after five runner-up finishes.
No one was hit harder than overnight leader Dustin Johnson. His three-shot lead evaporated with a triple-bogey seven at the second hole. That was followed by a double bogey and a bogey as he collapsed to an 82 that left him tied for eighth.
Havret, playing in his first US open, kept his poise admirably. But McDowell clung to a one-stroke lead over the last four holes and Havret couldn't find a birdie that he needed at the last.
When Havret failed to birdie, McDowell needed only to par the last and he laid up closed it out in regulation.
McDowell's only birdie of the day came at the par-three fifth, where he rolled in a putt from inside 10 feet.
He had four bogeys on the back, but on a day when bogeys abounded he did enough.
"I can't believe I'm standing with this right now," said McDowell, who was hugged by his father at the 18th green before he was presented with the trophy.
"I've dreamed this all my life," he said. "Two putts to win the US Open. I can't believe it happened."
McDowell claimed the fifth US Open title to be decided at Pebble Beach. The others were won by a roll call of golf's best - Jack Nicklaus in 1972, Tom Watson in 1982, Tom Kite in 1992 and Woods in 2000.
Woods, whose triumph here 10 years ago was by a stunning 15-shot margin, had appeared to shake off his recent troubles with a storming third round.
But when Johnson's spectacular meltdown opened the door, Woods couldn't walk through it.
"It's disappointing because I started off so poorly again," said Woods, who had four bogeys in his first eight holes. He finished the day with six bogeys and just two birdies in his 75.
"I really didn't too many bad shots," Woods said. "I just left myself in the wrong spots.
Els briefly held a share of the lead early, but dropped four shots in the span of three holes from the ninth, a detour to the beach leading to a double bogey at the par-four 10th.
Mickelson's birdie at the opening hole proved to be his last. He closed with a 73.
McDowell, who squeaked into the top 50 in the world rankings just in time to avoid having to qualify, arrived in California after a victory a fortnight earlier at Celtic Manor in Wales - where the Ryder Cup will be held this year.
He claimed his first US victory after five prior European Tour titles, but it wasn't easy.
"I can't believe how difficult this golf course was," said McDowell, who still praised the set-up as fair.
"Good golf got rewarded, and bad golf got punished - really badly."
Havret, who came through qualifying at Walton Heath, called his runner-up finish "probably the best surprise for me, but it's also the biggest disappointment."
He was in a greenside bunker at 18 and couldn't make a long putt to force a playoff.
"Well, that's a very bad putt," he admitted. "Those greens are obviously a little bit bumpy and quite firm. You don't want to make a big mistake hitting it too strong ... and then I pulled it."
"I was quite happy to make the other one, because that wasn't that short."
Collated fourth-round scores on Sunday in the 110th US Open Championship at the par-71, 7,040-yard Pebble Beach Golf Links (A-denotes amateur):
284 - Graeme McDowell (NIR) 71-68-71-74
285 - Gregory Havret (FRA) 73-71-69-72
286 - Ernie Els (RSA) 73-68-72-73
287 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 75-66-73-73, Tiger Woods (USA) 74-72-66-75
288 - Matt Kuchar (USA) 74-72-74-68, Davis Love (USA) 75-74-68-71
289 - Brandt Snedeker (USA) 75-74-69-71, Martin Kaymer (GER) 74-71-72-72, Alex Cejka (GER) 70-72-74-73, Dustin Johnson (USA) 71-70-66-82
290 - Sean O'Hair (USA) 76-71-70-73, Tim Clark (RSA) 72-72-72-74
291 - Ben Curtis (USA) 78-70-75-68, Justin Leonard (USA) 72-73-73-73
292 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 73-76-74-69, A-Scott Langley (USA) 75-69-77-71, Lee Westwood (ENG) 74-71-76-71, Jim Furyk (USA) 72-75-74-71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-71-74-73, A-Russell Henley (USA) 73-74-72-73
293 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 73-76-73-71, Shaun Micheel (USA) 69-77-75-72, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 75-72-74-72, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 73-73-74-73, John Mallinger (USA) 77-72-70-74
294 - Ricky Barnes (USA)72-76-74-72, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 75-72-74-73
295 - Stuart Appleby (AUS) 73-76-76-70, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 77-70-74-74, Robert Allenby (AUS) 74-74-73-74, Tom Watson (USA) 78-71-70-76
296 - Jason Dufner (USA) 72-73-79-72, Ryan Moore (USA) 75-73-75-73, David Toms (USA) 71-75-76-74, Kenny Perry (USA) 72-77-73-74, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 69-73-77-77, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 72-71-75-78, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 70-71-75-80
297 - Bo Van Pelt (USA) 72-75-82-68, Ross McGowan (ENG) 72-73-78-74, Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 74-72-76-75, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 74-72-75-76, Stewart Cink (USA) 76-73-71-77, Bobby Gates (USA) 75-74-71-77, Paul Casey (ENG) 69-73-77-78
298 - Jim Herman (USA) 76-73-81-68, Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) 70-75-81-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 74-75-74-75, Jason Gore (USA) 76-73-74-75, Jason Allred (USA) 72-73-76-77, Scott Verplank (USA) 72-74-75-77, KJ Choi (KOR) 70-73-77-78, Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-73-77-78, Luke Donald (ENG) 71-75-74-78, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 75-72-72-79
299 - Steve Stricker (USA) 75-74-77-73, Retief Goosen (RSA) 75-74-76-74, Lucas Glover (USA) 73-73-77-76, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 72-77-74-76, Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 77-72-73-77
300 - Gareth Maybin (NIR) 74-75-76-75, Toru Taniguchi (JPN) 73-76-76-75, Steve Wheatcroft (USA) 74-73-77-76, Jerry Kelly (USA) 72-70-81-77, Eric Axley (USA) 75-73-75-77, Steve Marino (USA) 73-75-73-79
301 - Erick Justesen (USA) 74-74-80-73
302 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 78-69-79-76, Fred Funk (USA) 74-72-77-79, Matt Bettencourt (USA) 72-74-77-79, David Duval (USA) 75-73-74-80
303 - Rhys Davies (WAL)78-70-79-76, Kent Jones (USA) 73-76-78-76
305 - Nick Watney (USA) 76-71-77-81
306 - Matthew Richardson (ENG) 73-75-80-78, Zach Johnson (USA) 72-77-78-79, Chris Stroud (USA) 77-72-76-81
307 - Mike Weir (CAN) 70-79-83-75, Ty Tryon (USA) 75-74-78-80
311 - Pablo Martin (ESP) 73-76-83-79, Jason Preeo (USA) 75-70-82-84
