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McDowell Finishes Just Shy Of Second U.S. Open Title
Former Blazer finishes in second overall at 112th U.S. Open

	Former Blazer Graeme McDowell finished just short of winning his second career U.S. Open title, settling for second place instead.

June 17, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO - Former UAB men's golfer Graeme McDowell missed a 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole which would have forced a playoff, and closed play in second overall at the 112th U.S. Open at the Olympic Club.

McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, held a share of the lead with Jim Furyk at the start of the day. However, he missed the fairway on eight consecutive holes in one stretch but still gave himself a chance to tie after a birdie on the 17th.

Had McDowell sunk the long putt on No. 18, it would have forced an 18-hole playoff on Monday between him and Webb Simpson, who carded a final round 68 to finish play at 1-over par for the 72-hole event.

Instead, Simpson celebrated his first career major championship win, while McDowell was forced to settle for a second-place tie with Michael Thompson, an Alabama graduate, at two-over par 282.

McDowell, UAB's 2002 Haskins Award winner, opened the event with a 69 on Thursday, followed by a 72 on Friday, a 68 on Saturday and a 73 on Sunday. He was one of just five golfers in the 156-man field to have shot two rounds in the 60s.

UAB men's golf coach Alan Kaufman followed McDowell, a two-time All-American while at UAB, throughout the weekend, just as he did when McDowell claimed the 110th U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach in 2010.