U.S. Open 2019: Gary Woodland holds on for win at Pebble Beach

E.Jay Zarett

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U.S. Open 2019: Gary Woodland holds on for win at Pebble Beach image

Gary Woodland is a major champion for the first time.

The 35-year-old shot a 2-under 69 on Sunday to come away with the win at the 2019 U.S. Open. He finished the tournament at Pebble Beach 13 under overall.

Woodland recorded four birdies and two bogeys during the final round to secure the victory.  

Woodland entered the Open with three career victories, the last of which came at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February 2018.

Woodland held off Brooks Koepka, who birdied four of his first five holes Sunday. Koepka, however, came up short after bogeying 12 and shooting six straight pars to close out the tournament.  

Koepka entered the weekend as the two-time defending U.S. Open champion.

Rory McIlroy was 1 over Sunday and finished in a tie for ninth. Tiger Woods overcame a poor start to shoot a 2-under 69 to tie for 21st.

"Just keep fighting," Woods told reporters about his mindset. "Just because I got off to a bad start doesn't mean it's over. Keep grinding, keep playing. And I was able to turn my round around today as well as yesterday. So, rounds that could have easily slipped away and kind of gone the other way pretty easily I was able to turn it around."

Amateur Viktor Hovland was 4 under for the tournament and tied for 12th.

 

E.Jay Zarett