Had golf fans been told ahead of the 2010 US Open that it would be a Northern Irishman who would become the first European to lift the trophy since 1970, they would have been forgiven for assuming that Pebble Beach would prove to be the site of Rory McIlroy’s coronation as a superstar.
Rory McIlroy had arrived at the big time the previous month by securing his first PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. It was a promising sign for the youngster, who had missed the cut at The Masters earlier in the year.
But rather than McIlroy, it was his countryman who ended up triumphing at Pebble Beach and sparking a remarkable run for the Europeans in the US Open.
Graeme McDowell was in good form himself as he ventured across the Atlantic. McDowell had won the Wales Open a couple of weeks before the second major of the year – it would be the first of two victorious weeks for McDowell at Celtic Manor in 2010.
How Graeme McDowell became the first European to win the US Open since 1970
He was a top 50 player in the world at the time. But his best finish in a major before the US Open had come at the PGA Championship the previous year when he finished in a tie for 10th.
McDowell ended the first day two shots off the lead after posting a level par round of 71 on the iconic golf course. It was Paul Casey, Brendon de Jonge and Shaun Micheel who led the way. Remarkably, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson would not make a single birdie between them on Thursday.
It seemed that McDowell had taken charge of the tournament on Friday. His 68 left him two shots clear of Mickelson, Ernie Els, Ryo Ishikawa and Dustin Johnson.
Friday would prove to be the end of the line for McIlroy however, with the starlet missing the cut which fell at seven over par.
McDowell did not do a great deal wrong during the third round. However, bogeys on 16 and 17, as well as an amazing round of 66 from Johnson, meant that McDowell went into the final round three shots off the lead.
That lead would evaporate within two holes on Sunday.
A triple bogey on the second for Johnson brought McDowell back into a tie for the lead. Elsewhere, Els managed to also get to three under par at one stage on Sunday before falling away.
McDowell also stumbled across the line. The fifth hole saw his only birdie of the final day, before he went on to make four bogeys to open the door for Grégory Havret, the Frenchman who had previously missed the cut in two of the three majors he had played in his career.
McDowell was able to hold on and become the first player from the continent since Tony Jacklin to lift the US Open trophy.
Graeme McDowell’s win inspired a run of dominance for the Europeans in the US Open
Incredibly, Europe would only have to wait another 12 months for another winner. McIlroy won his maiden major title at Congressional before Justin Rose and Martin Kaymer emerged victorious in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
McDowell admitted, in comments reported by BBC Sport, a feeling of imposter syndrome after his win, suggesting he was not sure if he belonged in a list which included ‘Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Tiger Woods’.
But with his victory at Pebble Beach, as well as his win over Hunter Mahan to seal the decisive point at the Ryder Cup several months later, 2010 was the year McDowell proved that he absolutely belonged among the very best.