Woodland Nabs First Major Win at U.S. Open

Gary Woodland fended off a challenge from the reigning champion and won his first major championship, shooting 2-under 69 during Sunday's final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on the shores of northern California.

Woodland, who's from Topeka, Kan., finished 13-under 271 for the tournament for a three-shot victory. The 35-year-old, who was a college golfer at Kansas, capped the round with a long birdie putt on the last hole.

Brooks Koepka, the two-time defending champion, made it interesting, finishing with 68 after a torrid start to the round. He ended up at 10 under.

Koepka, who won last month's PGA Championship, posted birdies on five of the first six holes. He closed with six straight pars, barely missing a birdie putt on the final hole that would have closed the gap to one stroke at the time.

England's Justin Rose (74), Xander Schauffele (67), Chez Reavie (71) and Spain's Jon Rahm (68) tied for third place at 7 under.

Rose shared the top spot briefly on the final day but couldn't stay there. He was undone by bogeys on Nos. 12, 13 and 15.

Woodland's third bogey of the tournament came on the ninth hole Sunday. He gave another stroke back on No. 12.

Even with Koepka lurking, Woodland held it together.

With a birdie on the first hole, Rose pulled even with Woodland as the leaders began the round.

Webb Simpson, with birdies on three of the last six holes, shot the best round of the day at 5 under. That put him at 3 under and tied for 16th.

"Made the eagle on (No.) 6 to start me in the right direction," Simpson said.

Masters champion Tiger Woods shot 69 for his best round of the tournament. He ended up at 2 under and tied for 21st place.

After four bogeys on the first six holes, he had six birdies the rest of the way.

"I wish I would have known because I would have turned it around a little earlier than that," Woods said of the reason for the change of fortunes. "Again, got off to another crappy start and was able to fight it off."