Fifteen days after his preparations were seemingly thrown into disarray, Jon Rahm produced a grandstand finish to claim his first major title in the 121st US Open.
The Spaniard birdied the final two holes at Torrey Pines to complete a closing 67 and finish six under par, a shot ahead of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.
Oosthuizen, who also finished runner-up in last month's US PGA, bogeyed the 17th and needed to eagle the last for the second day running to force a play-off, but was unable to hole out from 69 yards having missed the fairway with his drive.
"There's some opportunities coming up with the way I've been playing that I'm optimistic that I can compete and contend," the six-time major winner said.
"There's nothing more fun for me than to be in it on the weekend. I've actually been playing well enough to have chances, and we have some good tournaments coming up the next couple of months.
"Afterwards I'll look back and reminisce when the season's over and I'll still have that Wanamaker trophy I'll be looking at, and I'm still looking to add a friend to it along the line.
"That win was very meaningful to me because I've been putting in a lot of work the last couple of years and getting nothing out of it, and so to have a moment like that is something that makes it worthwhile."
