Webb Simpson of the United States holds the U.S. Open trophy after his one-stroke victory in San Francisco on Sunday, June 17. Simpson finished the four-day event at one shot over par to secure his first major title.
(CNN) -- American golfer Webb Simpson made a furious charge Sunday to win the U.S. Open, grabbing his fist major tournament victory.
Simpson had started the day four shots back off the lead but carded four birdies in five holes midway through the final round to get to the top of the leaderboard.
It gave the U.S. a third successive major win following Bubba Watson's maiden triumph at the Masters in April and Keegan Bradley at last year's PGA Championship.
Simpson shot two-under-par 68 Sunday to end the tournament at one-over 281 for the four rounds.
That score was good enough to win as all the golfers struggled on the slick greens of San Francisco's Olympic Club and no one scored under par.
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"It was a cool day. I had peace all day," said the 26-year-old Webb, who has won two other PGA Tour events. "I prayed more the last three holes than I did all my life.
"I had no experience in major championships of contention at all, so for me to play Sunday fourth from the last group was probably an huge help, as opposed to the last group.
I have gained utmost respect for all the guys who have won multiple majors, because it is just so hard to do. The level of pressure is so much greater than a regular event."
Former U.S. Open champions Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell were tied for the lead coming into play Sunday.
McDowell stumbled early in the final round but Furyk held the lead for most of day.
Furyk, who had held the lead from Friday afternoon, was unable to withstand Simpson's great play.
But still on the last hole, both McDowell and Furyk were just one shot behind Simpson.
Both had to get birdies to catch Simpson and tie the tournament, setting up a dramatic ending.
Furyk, the 2003 winner, buried his second shot in a bunker dashing his chances.
McDowell -- who claimed his first major at Pebble Beach in 2010 -- played better but still missed a 24-foot birdie putt, to end his hopes.
Tiger Woods continued his fall Sunday as he failed in his bid for his fourth U.S. Open title and his first major since winning at Torrey Pines in 2008. Woods was tied with Furyk and David Toms for the halfway lead going into play Saturday at one under par.
But his play faded and on Sunday the 14-time major champion ended the tournament in a tie for 21st place, dropping four shots in the first three holes of his final round as he eventually signed for a 73.
"I was just a touch off, " said Woods, who was six shots behind Simpson. "Today, I got off to a horrific start and just never got it going. But there are a lot of positives that can be taken from this week."
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Tiger Woods of the United States waves to the crowd on the 18th green.
Webb Simpson hits his tee shot on the 13th hole of the 112th U.S. Open.
Jim Furyk of the United States tees off on the eighth hole Sunday.
Michael Thompson of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th hole.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland waits on the seventh green.
Jim Furyk of the United States reacts to a poor shot on the 12th hole.
Webb Simpson of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Tiger Woods walks to the eighth tee Sunday.
Graeme McDowell hits his second shot on the sixth hole.
Lee Westwood of England, left, and Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden walk off the fourth tee.
Jason Dufner of the United States watches his tee shot on the fourth hole.
Fredrik Jacobson smiles from the green on Sunday.
Jim Furyk hits his tee shot on the sixth hole.
Tiger Woods walks to the eighth tee on Sunday.
Ernie Els of South Africa reacts to a missed putt.
Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden plays a bunker shot on the second hole.
Jim Furyk of the United States hits his tee shot on the second hole.
Tiger Woods of the United States watches his tee shot on the third hole.
Tiger Woods hits a bunker shot on the first hole on Sunday.
Sergio Garcia of Spain tees off at the third hole.
Michael Thompson of the United States hits his tee shot on the third hole.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States hits his second shot on the first hole Sunday.
Jim Furyk of the United States plays a bunker shot on the second hole during the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, June 16.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits a bunker shot on the fifth hole during the third round.
Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the third round.
Charlie Wi of South Korea hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday.
Raphael Jacquelin of France hits a bunker shot on the 17th hole during the third round.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States walks to the 18th green with his caddie, Bill Schellenberg.
John Peterson of the United States celebrates a hole-in-one on the 13th hole with his caddie, Gentry Mangun.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium hits his tee shot on the third hole Saturday.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States waits on the seventh hole Saturday.
Kevin Na of the United States reacts to a missed birdie putt on the seventh hole.
Ernie Els of South Africa plays a bunker shot on the seventh hole during the third round.
Ernie Els of South Africa hits his tee shot on the seventh hole during the third round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland waits on the eighth green during the third round.
Michael Thompson of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the third round.
Charl Schwartzel of South Africa hits a shot during the third round.
David Toms of the United States hits a shot on the fifth hole Saturday.
Tiger Woods of the United States reaches for a golf ball on the practice ground.
Lee Westwood of England celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday.
Tiger Woods of the United States walks off the third tee during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday, June 15.
Tiger Woods climbs out of a bunker on the sixth hole during the second round.
Tiger Woods of the United States lines up a putt.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson walk past one another during the second round.
David Toms of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Phil Mickelson walks off the eighth green.
Amateur Beau Hossler of the United States hits his tee shot on the seventh hole.
Beau Hossler celebrates a birdie on the seventh green.
Caddie Scott Gneiser watches David Toms of the United States line up a shot during the second round.
Beau Hossler hits his tee shot on the sixth hole.
Beau Hossler greets fans on the seventh hole.
Tiger Woods walks off the 18th green.
Tiger Woods plays a bunker shot on the 16th hole.
Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the eighth hole.
Tiger Woods hits a shot on the 16th hole.
Tiger Woods, left, and Bubba Watson of the United States wait on the first tee during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open on Friday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the eighth green during the second round.
Luke Donald of England walks up a fairway with a group of caddies during the second round.
Justin Rose of England hits a shot during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open on Friday.
Golfers play the eighth hole during the second round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 15th hole.
Jim Furyk of the United States watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits a shot from a bunker on the 10th hole during the second round of the 112th U.S. Open.
Justin Rose of England hits an approach shot on the fourth hole.
Matt Kuchar of the United States watches his tee shot Friday on the third hole as Ian Poulter of England and Steve Stricker of the United States look on with their caddies.
Casey Martin drives a golf cart off the first hole during the first round of the 112th U.S. Open on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot on the second hole during the first round of the 112th U.S. Open on Thursday.
Rickie Fowler of the United States hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the first round.
Ian Poulter of England lines up a putt during the first round.
Hunter Mahan of the United States plays a bunker shot on the 17th hole during the first round.
Sergio Garcia of Spain watches his tee shot on the first hole during the first round.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits a shot on the first hole.
Lee Westwood of England hits his tee shot on the fourth hole as a gallery of fans look on.
Ryo Ishikawa of Japan hits his tee shot on the tenth hole.
Matt Kuchar of the United States watches his tee shot on the first hole.
Michael Thompson hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round.
David Toms watches a tee shot on the second hole during the first round.
Michael Thompson of the United States reacts to a putt during the first round.
Michael Thompson hits his tee shot on the second hole during the first round.
Tiger Woods watches his approach shot on the 18th hole during the first round .
Ireland's Padraig Harrington watches a shot during the first round.
Bubba Watson plays a shot on the second hole during the first round.
From left, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson wait on the 13th tee during the first round.The trio teed off together in what many called a "super group."
Woods tees off on the 10th hole Thursday.
Mickelson blasts out of the bunker on the 10th hole.
Fans watch the play during the first round of the U.S. Open.
J.B. Park of South Korea walks off the second tee during the first round.
Spectators watch as Mickelson heads up the hill to the tee on the ninth hole.
Surrounded by spectators, Woods watches a shot on the 18th tee.
Mickelson takes a shot on the 18th hole.
Woods, who was leading his group, hits his tee shot on the 13th hole Thursday.
Andy Zhang, a 14-year-old originally from China, hits a bunker shot on the second hole.
Kevin Na hits a shot to the 18th green.
Mickelson and Woods wait on the 11th green.
Mickelson reacts after his putt on the ninth hole Thursday.
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