After Tiger Woods fell apart it looked like Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell would battle alone at the top of the 2012 U.S. Open leaderboard—but the results are in, and Webb Simpson is the surprise champion, a 26-year-old who finished 14th at the Open last year in his breakout 2011 season. The major victory—his first—establishes him for good as a real force on the PGA Tour, a year after he made over $6 million with 12 top 10 finishes. Furyk and McDowell narrowly missed forcing a playoff, with Furyk falling down the leaderboard on his last few holes; Michael Thompson, with a 66 and a 67 flanking second and third rounds of 75 and 74, pulled in at second place.
Simpson started the tournament back in the pack, shooting 72 and 73 over the first two rounds, but his weekend was outstanding—he shot 68 in both rounds, leaping up seven spots on the last day. St. Louis native Scott Langley finished tied for 29th at +9, after shooting a 73 on Sunday.
For a complete look at the leaderboard, check out USOpen.com.