Jordan Spieth's breakout season caught fire Sunday as he followed up his Masters victory by emerging from a crowded leaderboard to claim his first US Open title.
Spieth is fast becoming the posterboy for American golf over the fading Tiger Woods, as he became the first player to capture the Masters and US Open in the same year since Woods did it in 2002.
The 21-year-old Texan's stunning one-stroke victory over fellow American Dustin Johnson and South African Louis Oosthuizen at Chambers Bay golf course gets Spieth halfway home to an unprecedented calendar-year Grand Slam.
Spieth fired a closing one-under 69 for a five-under 275 total, denying a first time major championship for Johnson, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat after he three-putted on 18 including a putt to win the tournament.
Johnson shot a 70 for a four-under 276 total to finish in a tie for second with Oosthuizen, who had a sizzling 67.
Johnson missed his eagle putt for the win and then had a four-foot putt at the last to force a 18-hole playoff on Monday but he missed it.
Spieth is the youngest champion of the US Open since the legendary Bobby Jones in 1923 and the youngest player to win two career majors since Gene Sarazen in 1922.
For the first time since 1973, four players headed into the final round with a share of the lead, comprising Spieth, Jason Day, Johnson and Branden Grace.
Spieth was the first to blink, falling back with a bogey at the first.
He edged his way back into a share of the lead with Grace going down the back nine and a snaking 27-foot birdie putt at the 16th put him three clear with two to play as the South African hit out of bounds for a double bogey.
He took a double bogey of his own at the 17th but birdied the last to take the lead.
Playing in the final pairing, Johnson reached the par-five green in two and had a 12-foot eagle putt to win his first major title.
That effort slipped agonisingly four feet past and he missed the one back to force the playoff.
Three players were tied for fourth - Australians Adam Scott (64) and Cameron Smith (68) and South African Branden Grace (71).
Spieth used all the tricks he had in his bag but the biggest ace up his sleeve Sunday was his caddie Michael Greller who started his career at Chambers Bay.
