2010 US Open : Final Nine Hole Coverage and the Winner Is Graeme McDowell

There is only one other player besides this happy Irishman pictured, under par going into the final nine holes of the 2010 US Open.

Graeme McDowell is the leader at minus four, with the Frenchman, Gregory Havret at minus one.

All the other big names have started to fade in these fast green conditions, wind, and of course, US Open pressure.

Tiger Woods just made a bogey. As did McDowell as McDowell slips to minus three for the Championship.

Havret just missed his par attempt and slipped to even par. Now, just McDowell remains under par for the tournament.

Ernie Els will make a birdie and move to even par also for his attempt at his third US Open. He made his birdie putt to cheers of encouragement.

It seems as opponents of Grame McDowell are having a rough time putting any kind of pressure on him as he saunters down the 10th fairway three shots clear of the lead.

If McDowell has a hiccup now, this will be an unreal finish. Many players are hanging around hoping for something good, like Phil Mickelson, who just birdied to pull to plus one.

Tiger Woods is at plus three and has a birdie putt where he started his charge yesterday.

McDowell is now having trouble on the 10th green, and will drop to minus two. Just a two shot lead is all that's left.

Dustin Johnson is still in this at plus one. It's amazing he has a chance after 42 on the front nine. But he's only three back.

Ernie Els just stated, "how can that ball go f***ing left," as he hands the club to the caddy. That can't be a good swing thought, Ernie.

Els and Havret are at even par, McDowell at minus two. It looks like another bogey for Tiger as he slides into the land of ordinary players once again.

Brandt Snedecker made the leader board ar plus three now, along with Alex Cejka also at plus three.

Dustin Johnson dropped another stroke to par. He is now at plus two.

Davis Love III also cards a bogey and drops to plus three.

Graeme McDowell is in the front bunker on the par three and needs an up and down or the lead slips to one. He made his par and has six holes to play in par or under to win the 2010 US Open. 

He alone is under par at minus two as we approich the 13th tee. Most of the good players with a chance left all still going the other way with their scores.

The last five holes are privotal with only a two shot cushion, and it's still anyone's Open among six or eight players.

Havret hits the stick and saves par to stay at even.

Tiger Woods made birdie on 14 to get back to plus three.

McDowell was stuck close to the lip in a trap on 14 and has to chip out. Bogey is a big possibility on this hole for McDowell as Els hits it close but fails to make birdie.

The Leader Board now reads a s follows with five holes left.

Graeme McDowell minus one, Gregory Havret even, Ernie Els plus one, Phil Mickelson plus two, and Tiger Woods at plus three.

I sense a playoff at this point as no one is taking charge of this tournament with five holes left to play.

Els just misses a birdie on 16 and the holes are running out for the Big Easy.

McDowell hits a nice approch on 15 for a birdie try, and a two shot lead. He just misses the putt, and could have really used that one.

The 381st ranked player in the world, Gregory Havret is currently outplaying Tiger Woods in the final round of the US Open. Huh?

Els is at 17 and has not parred that hole this week. He is way short and in the bunker.

Meanwhile, showing total control, McDowell stripes his tee shot up the middle on 16.

Only seven or eight players have made par on 17. This could still be interesting as McDowell approaches.

Even par is the target score to win this Open right now in Ernie Els' mind as he needs one more birdie to post a score before McDowell finishes 17.

Els missed his par putt and no one can challenge McDowell's steadiness coming in.

Mickelson is still at plus three along with Tiger Woods. Graeme McDowell makes his par at 16 and moves on to 17, a pivotal stop on this mad journey to greatness.

It's McDowell or Havret now in this great tournamnet. Havret misses his par and falls to plus one. The cushion is now two. McDowell must manage the difficult 17th par three.

This is the shot of his McDowell's golfing life and he is way off, short, in the bunker, and has a very difficult shot to save a par.

Els is at plus two, Mickelson and Woods at plus three. It looks like McDowell will carry a one shot lead into the 18th hole.

McDowell is now at even par going into 18, missing a 10 footer on 17 for par. Havret has hit his second shot in the greenside bunker at 18 and has a nice chance for birdie.

McDowell will have to birdie 18 to win the Championship. Hats off to a great tournament by Gregory Havret in only his fourth major and first US Open.

Havret has about an eight footer for birdie to put intense pressure on McDowell. He pulls it badly under intense pressure.

Tiger Woods finishes with a par and plus three for the tournament.

McDowell now just needs a par to win, and will lay up for wedge and two putts to win.

His lay up is successful and he needs to get it in the hole with three shots from 110 yards.

Graeme Mcdowell is the first Northen Ireland player to win the US Open, or any other major in the US.

Congratulations on holding it together under intense pressure, although he has been very cool all week.

Until next time, Thomas [NFL Mikee] Moreland