SB Nation Minnesota - U.S. Open 2012: Webb Simpson Comes Back For Win

U.S. Open Golf 2012: Webb Simpson, USGA Play Nice With Bird Guy

2012-06-18T23:56:37Z

When Webb Simpson was expressing himself to Bob Costas following his win at the 2012 U.S. Open, he was cut short not by a dramatic pause, but rather by a grown man squawking on national television. That guy is better known as 'Jungle Bird' and he crashes events in order to spread awareness about deforestation.

While Simpson seemed none too pleased with the eccentric protestor (he was heard saying "Enjoy the jail cell, pal," as officials carried him off), he ended up posting this picture, which poked fun at the situation.

My new friend. twitter.com/webbsimpson1/s…
— Webb Simpson (@webbsimpson1) June 18, 2012

Despite being hauled off by police officers, the USGA opted not to press charges against Jungle Bird. Jungle Bird posted the following message to his facebook page:

"Congratulations to Webb Simpson on winning the US Open and a big thank you for being a good sport!"

For all your news and updates in the run-up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.

2012 U.S. Open Golf: Ratings On Final Day Up From Last Year

2012-06-18T22:12:20Z

Due to the close ending at the 2012 U.S. Open, it's no surprise that the ratings for the final round of the tournament was given a solid boost from the 2011 final, which saw Rory McIlroy walk away with the title. Despite relative unknown Webb Simpson coming out on top, audiences still found it intriguing enough to tune in.

Via USA Today:

The U.S. Open on NBC Sunday drew a 6.6 overnight. Predictably, that's up from last year's final-round coverage -- by 29% -- when the event's finish wasn't close and, more importantly, it didn't run in East Coast primetime.

But compared to two previous West Coast U.S. Opens that has similar primetime schedules -- in 2008 and 2010 -- NBC's Sunday coverage was down. It was down 22% from 2008 and 4% from 2010.

Of course, the decreased prime time rating compared to 2008 and 2010 can be attributed to Game 3 of the NBA Finals being broadcast at the same time. Both events took a hit in having to compete with one another.

For all your news and updates in the run-up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.

U.S. Open Golf 2012: Webb Simpson Rises To No. 5 In World Rankings With Open Win

2012-06-18T21:42:29Z

Following his win on Sunday at the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, Webb Simpson has risen nine places to the No. 5 spot in the World Rankings. This is Simpson's third career professional victory as his previous best finish at a major was a tie for 16th at the 2011 U.S. Open.

The top-four golfers remained in tact though as big name players such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Luke McDonald failed to make a dent. Graeme McDowell on the other hand was capable of turning a strong outing this weekend into tangible results in the rankings, as he rocketed 10-spots from the No. 21 ranking all the way to the No. 11 spot.

For all your news and updates in the run-up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.

2012 U.S. Open Golf Results: Exciting Weekend Ends With Webb Simpson At Top

2012-06-18T13:32:53Z

The U.S. Open at The Olympic Club was meant to be a grueling course, to the point where a lot of people expected that it would take only an even par game to win it all. That prediction ended up being too kind, with the eventual winner Webb Simpson finishing with a +1 after an exciting Sunday.

It started off with a lot of expectations for guys who weren't Webb Simpson, though. A 'superstar' trio of players matched together on the first day of the tournament -- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson -- was supposed to provide the biggest match-up of the Open. Unfortunately for those three, it never worked out that way. The Olympic course did its business, especially to Watson and Mickelson who were both pushing high scores right from the start. Watson didn't even make the first cut, while Mickelson made it only barely and was out shortly thereafter.

Meanwhile, less famous names like David Toms, Michael Thompson and Jim Furyk were doing steady work to keep themselves up at the top of the leaderboard. Tiger Woods had his chances and started off the tournament with strong play but couldn't seem to keep a lead for himself, never managing to pull away from the heart of the pack at the top.

Woods eventually succumbed to the course as well, though he was the only one of his trio to make it as far as Sunday's final round, he had a bad round which doomed him to finish out of the money. Instead, it was a late rush by Webb Simpson that would win the day and the Open.

Going into Sunday, the leaderboard had a slew of names near the top, with Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell being top dogs. Simpson hadn't done a whole lot in the tournament up until that point, and as late as Saturday had only 125/1 odds on him to win it. He was one of the first to go on Sunday but put up a spectacular final round, ending up at two under par. As he waited, players ahead of him started to slide left and right and by the end of the day, his great final round was able to hold and he ended up $1.4 million richer and the U.S. Open champion with a score of +1.

Par for the course at the Olympic Club, which promised excitement at the beginning and delivered from start to finish.

You can find the final leaderboard here at USOpen.com.

For more 2012 U.S. Open coverage, be sure to stay with SB Nation Minnesota's StoryStream. For more golf coverage, check out SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. And for full event coverage, visit USOpen.com.

2012 U.S. Open Golf Prize Money: Webb Simpson Takes Home $1.4 Million After First Major Win

2012-06-18T12:55:53Z

It's good to be Webb Simpson right now. After winning his first ever Major, the 26 year old also took home a nice chunk of change from the U.S. Open. Simpson will be taking home $1.4 million, twice as much as the two players who tied for second place.

Absent of course from the money list this time around is anyone from the 'superstar' trio that started the U.S. Open looking like the absolute favorites. None of Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson or early favorite Tiger Woods did much of anything of note in the tournament, with two of them not even making the cut to Sunday. In one of the more widely reported money related stories, 17 year old Beau Hossler missed out on the payout by one stroke as well.

Here's the full list of money winners and their payouts from this year's Open:

1 Webb Simpson (+1): $1,440,000
T2 Michael Thompson (+2): $695,916
T2 Graeme McDowell (+2): $695,916
T4 Jason Dufner (+3): $276,841
T4 Padraig Harrington (+3): $276,841
T4 David Toms (+3): $276,841
T4 John Peterson (+3): $276,841
T4 Jim Furyk (+3): $276,841
9 Ernie Els (+4): $200,280
T10 John Senden (+5): $163,594
T10 Kevin Chappell (+5): $163,594
T10 Casey Wittenberg (+5): $163,594
T10 Retief Goosen (+5): $163,594
T10 Lee Westwood (+5): $163,594

For all your news and updates in the run up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.

U.S. Open Championship Winner 2012: Webb Simpson Becomes Surprise Winner

2012-06-18T02:35:22Z

Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk held the lead headed into Sunday. but it was Webb Simpson who had to play the waiting game at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Simpson fired a two under par 68 pm Sunday and had to wait out the field as Furyk and McDowell finished, but it was enough for his third PGA Tour win and first Major.

The 26 year old became a professional in 2008 and has finished in the top 10 four times previously this year, but his career breakthrough came with a spectacular final round on Sunday. Simpson finished at one over par for the tournament and a stroke ahead of McDowell and Michael Thompson. Thompson fired the best round on Sunday by hitting a three under 67.

For all your news and updates in the run up to the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic, visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.

U.S. Open Golf 2012 Tee Times And Pairings For Sunday: Co-Leaders Graeme McDowell And Jim Furyk In Final Group

2012-06-17T16:46:59Z

With as many as seven golfers within three strokes of the lead, Sunday's final round at the 112th U.S. Open is shaping up to be one for the ages.

And with only two players, 54-hole leaders Graem McDowell and Jim Furyk, currently the only two golfers below par, the USGA's initial goal of seeing an even-par winner this year seems like a very plausible scenario.

McDowell and Furyk will pair up for the final grouping of the afternoon, and will tee off on the first hole at 5:10 p.m. CST. After a day three low 67 on Saturday, a fast-charging Lee Westwood remains right on McDowell and Furyk's heels, and will tee off in the second-to-last group with Fredrik Jacobson at 5:00 p.m.

The early favorite after looking strong through the first two days, former champ Tiger Woods certainly did not benefit from a woeful 75 on Saturday and has been placed in a 3:50 p.m. timeslot that is eight groups away from the leaders. Woods remains in the hunt being just five shots off the pace, but will likely need to card a round in the mid 60's to ascend the leaderboard.

Here are the tee times and pairings for Sunday's final round:

All times are Central

11:20 a.m.: Stephen Ames; Joe Ogilvie
11:30 a.m.: Bo Van Pelt; Jason Bohn
11:40 a.m.: Jason Day; Simon Dyson
11:50 a.m.: Jesse Mueller; J.B. Park
12:00 p.m.: Michael Allen; Keegan Bradley
12:10 p.m.: Rod Pampling; Matthew Baldwin
12:20 p.m.: K.T. Kim; Zach Johnson
12:30 p.m.: Davis Love III; Nicholas Thompson
12:40 p.m.: Kevin Streelman; Alistair Presnell
12:50 p.m.: Marc Warren; Morgan Hoffmann
1:00 p.m.: Darron Stiles; Hiroyuki Fujita
1:10 p.m.: Francesco Molinari; Jeff Curl
1:20 p.m.: Rickie Fowler; a-Patrick Cantlay
1:30 p.m.: Ian Poulter; Matteo Manassero
1:40 p.m.: Branden Grace; Phil Mickelson
1:50 p.m.: Bob Estes; Charl Schwartzel
2:00 p.m.: K.J. Choi; Nick Watney
2:10 p.m.: Steve Stricker; Robert Karlsson
2:20 p.m.: Jonathan Byrd; Alex Cejka
2:30 p.m.: a-Jordan Spieth; Angel Cabrera
3:40 p.m.: Steve LeBrun; Hunter Mahan
2:50 p.m.: Raphael Jacquelin; Kevin Na
3:00 p.m.: Scott Langley; Adam Scott
3:10 p.m.: David Toms; Michael Thompson
3:20 p.m.: Aaron Watkins; Charlie Wi
3:30 p.m.: Sergio Garcia; Justin Rose
3:40 p.m.: Padraig Harrington; Hunter Hamrick
3:50 p.m.: Casey Wittenberg; Tiger Woods
4:00 p.m.: Matt Kuchar; Martin Kaymer
4:10 p.m.: Retief Goosen; John Peterson
4:20 p.m.: Jason Dufner; a-Beau Hossler
4:30 p.m.: John Senden; Kevin Chappell
4:40 p.m.: Webb Simpson; Nicolas Colsaerts
4:50 p.m.: Blake Adams; Ernie Els
5:00 p.m.: Lee Westwood; Fredrik Jacobson
5:10 p.m.: Jim Furyk; Graeme McDowell

For a full, live leaderboard, visit USOpen.com.

2012 U.S. Open: Live Updates, TV Schedule, Watch Online And More

2012-06-17T16:26:02Z

The final day of the 2012 U.S. Open Championship is upon us, and a number of big names remain well within striking distance entering the final 18 holes of play.

Sunday's action will get underway at 11:20 a.m. CST as Joe Ogilvie and Stephen Ames will become the first pairing of the day to hit the impressive Olympic Club layout one last time. Television coverage will begin at 2:00 p.m. on NBC with a one-hour 'Live At The Open' lead-in show before the full tournament coverage kicks off at 3:00.

Throughout the afternoon, USOpen.com will be live streaming holes No. 8 and No. 18 for viewers to watch online, while NBCSports.com will also be supplementing its coverage with a live stream of its own. Both online streams will be available starting at 3:00 p.m. CST and will last until the final pairing has left the course.

Be sure to stay locked with the full USOpen.com leaderboard throughout Sunday's thrilling final round for live updates.