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Noted South Carolina Gamecocks fan, Columbia native Dustin Johnson wins 2016 US Open

There was no coughing this one up.

By Sydney Hunte
U.S. Open - Final Round Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

You know what’s cool? Watching South Carolina Gamecocks alumni or fans come up big on some of the world’s biggest stages. Brad Guzan, former Gamecocks goalkeeper, has the United States in the semifinals of Copa America (where they’ll take on Lionel Messi and Argentina on Tuesday). Today, noted, big-time Gamecocks fan Dustin Johnson, who attended Dutch Fork High School in Irmo and Coastal Carolina (we forgive him), won the 2016 US Open, his first major tournament victory.

Last year’s US Open ended in disappointment for Johnson. Trailing by a stroke and needing to sink an eagle to win, he missed, then two-putted his way to a bogey to give Jordan Spieth back-to-back major championships. This time, he closed.

This year’s event wasn’t without controversy, however: Johnson faced the possibility of a one-stroke penalty since his ball allegedly moved while addressing the ball earlier in the day. (This is what it means for non-golf experts, like me.) In the end, it wouldn’t matter as Johnson finished four shots clear of the field. (Which became three after he was penalized.)

Congrats to Dustin Johnson. By the way, he’s still with the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, so that’s a plus either way. And, he's a Gamecocks fan! Did we mention that?

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