John Senden tried his guts out but once again Australia’s charge towards a major golf championship failed as American Webb Simpson won the US Open at the Olympic Club on Sunday.
Simpson prevailed by a shot over 2010 champion Graeme McDowell and bolter Michael Thompson.
It is now six years since Geoff Ogilvy won the US Open at Winged Foot, the last Australian to win a major and the only one in the last 17 years.
While Senden looked a genuine chance midway through the round, he faltered late and ended up tied for 10th, four shots off the pace.
Adam Scott was the next best Australian, just one stroke further back in a tie for 15th.
Major championship debutant Alistair Presnell can be pleased with his tie for 29th at nine-over while Jason Day (+15, T59) and Rod Pampling (+19, 70th) rounded out the Australian tilt.
With 11 holes to play Senden was outright third at two-over par, three off the lead but one shot shy of the eventual winning mark.
The Queenslander had impressively negotiated the brutal opening six holes in even-par, one of only three players on the final day to go bogey-free through that stretch.
But four bogeys and just one birdie over the last 11 holes thwarted any chance of being the ninth straight first-time major champion – the honour instead going to Simpson.
Simpson was also the 15th different champion in the last 15 majors, highlighting how deep the talent goes in world golf and why it is so hard for Australia’s golfers to prevail on the biggest stage.
“I got through six holes all right, birdied seven but then had a soft bogey on eight,” Senden said.
“I played well from that point on but I just made a few mental errors on the back nine.
“I had my chances this week and all day I was thinking just stay patient and all I had to do was get a little bit hot to put something together and make a run for the lead.
“But I didn’t drive it well enough on the back nine and coming out of the rough is just so difficult. You can’t afford to do it if you want to win the golf tournament. You have to be hitting great golf shots all day.”
Despite the disappointment of not finding a way to win Senden remained upbeat, with the top-10 finish his best at the event and good enough to guarantee a start in the 2013 US Open.
“I’m happy with the week, especially after mental battles on course in the last month,” he said.
“At the Players, in Spain and at Memorial I wasn’t quite with it so I did some work last week with Triggsy (coach Ian Triggs) in Dallas and we turned it right around.
“I’m pretty happy and now I have to build on it.
“I’m heading back to Australia for a break and then really looking forward to the John Deere Classic and the British Open.”
Scott was left to rue a poor opening round of 76 as he closed better than most over the final three days with three straight 70s.
“The intensity wasn’t there the first day like it was the last three,” said Scott.
“The grind that you really have to have from the start wasn’t there and if I was to critique the week I’d like to have upped the intensity right from the get go,” Scott said.
