2016 U.S. Open Recap and Best Shots Compilation

U.S. Open Recap

What a difference a year makes.

Back in 2015 at Chambers Bay in Washington, Dustin Johnson left himself a 12-foot eagle putt for the win before three-putting for par, thus handing a back-to-back major title - the 115th U.S Open - to Texan, Jordan Spieth.

Fast-forward just twelve months and DJ found his own ‘major redemption’ by closing out his win at Oakmont Country Club to take the U.S. Open championship trophy, despite the calamitous intervention of the USGA.

Johnson, and the viewing public, were left scratching their heads trying to fathom his leading score for most of his final round. This was all due to a supposed rules infraction when his ball moved but, seemingly, without the current world number one having addressed the ball.

The golfing world was up in arms, not least the other professionals who reacted angrily on social media.

Luckily Johnson’s four-under-par finishing score was three shots better than his nearest challenger, saving the USGA from the likely cacophonous discontent that would have followed. That said, they were not spared completely

Taking the focus back to Dustin (where it should have always been), it was a performance worthy of a maiden major win and helped him on his way to the ultimate goal of becoming world number one – a feat finally achieved in February of this year after his win at the Genesis Open.

Enjoy some of DJ’s best shots from Oakmont last year. Just a heads up, there’s a lot of them!

Shots of the Tournament

Along the way we witnessed some truly awesome shots from the rest of the field.

On the second hole, Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick short-sided himself in a bunker before slam-dunking it into the hole for a birdie three. There was a 195-yard bunker shot that
Kevin Na stiffed to no more than a few feet (with a little help from the flagstick) and Jon Rahm, an amateur 12 months ago, holed-out from 135 yards for eagle.

In fact, in the video below of the best shots at the 2016 U.S. Open there’s 17 hole-outs in all. Add to that some great celebrations and a bucket load of jaw-dropping golf shots and you've got yourself 6 minutes of pure golfing bliss.

We’ll say no more and let you have a look at a compilation of some of the best hits at Oakmont Country Club this time last year. Enjoy.

Winners and losers at Oakmont C.C.

Winner: Dustin Johnson

The ultimate winner, though, was the man seemingly likely to come up just short with such alarming regularity. Dustin Johnson managed to break free of the shackles of the nearly-man and, for every major championship here-forward, will be seen as very much the man to beat.

Loser: The ‘Big Three’

Not a great showing from the previously coined ‘Big Three’. Jason Day was playing catch up from day one after a poor opening round, Spieth finished 13 shots back and Rory failed to make weekend.

The ‘Big Three’ is no more.

Winner: Andrew Landry

OK, let’s forget the final round. Finishing off a major championship with a 78 is going leave a bit of a bad taste in the mouth but this was a mightily impressive major debut. His opening round 66 was the lowest opening round of a major at Oakmont C.C.

With a pre-tournament world ranking of 624, few would have expected that he make the cut never mind hold a one shot lead heading into the weekend.

Andrew Landry, take a bow.

Loser: USGA

Following hot on the heels of the criticism levelled at the organisation for the selection of Chambers Bay to hold the 2015 edition of the tournament, they did themselves no favours with the treatment of DJ. There have been high profile faux-pas on the LPGA Tour also.

The players are not happy and the USGA will come under close scrutiny at Erin Hills this year.

As we head into the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, Wisconsin next week, it seems only right that we leave the last word to the great man. Catch his post-tournament winner’s press conference below.

What are your memories from last year’s U.S. Open? Are there any great shots you remember? Who do you think's in with a shout of winning this year?