California:
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell won the US Open, holding steady as Pebble Beach buffeted a bevy of golf's big names to claim his first major championship.
McDowell became the first European since England's Tony Jacklin in 1970 to lift the trophy - and he beat another European - unheralded Frenchman Gregory Havret - by one shot.
McDowell carded a three-over par 74 to claim the title yesterday with an even par total of 284. Havret posted a one-over 72 for 285.
South Africa's Ernie Els finished third with a 73 for 286. Woods and Masters champion Phil Mickelson shared fourth place on 287.
"To play steady and to withstand some tough holes the way Graeme did and to come out on top, he played some great golf," said Mickelson, who missed out on a chance to seize the world number one ranking from Woods and remained in search of a US Open title after five runner-up finishes.
No one was hit harder than overnight leader Dustin Johnson. His three-shot lead eveaporated with a triple-bogey seven at the second hole. That was followed by a double bogey and a bogey as he collapsed to an 82 that left him tied for eighth.
Havret, playing in his first US open, kept his poise admirably. But McDowell clung to a one-stroke lead over the last four holes and Havret couldn't find a birdie that he needed at the last.
When Havret failed to birdie, McDowell needed only to par the last and he laid up closed it out in regulation.
McDowell's only birdie of the day came at the par-three fifth, where he rolled in a putt from inside 10 feet.
He had four bogeys on the back, but on a day when bogeys abounded he did enough.
McDowell claimed the fifth US Open title to be decided at Pebble Beach. The others were won by a rollcall of golf's best - Jack Nicklaus in 1972, Tom Watson in 1982, Tom Kite in 1992 and Woods in 2000.
Woods, whose triumph here 10 years ago was by a stunning 15-shot margin, had appeared to shake off his recent troubles with a storming third round.
But when Johnson's spectacular meltdown opened the door, Woods couldn't walk through it.
Els briefly held a share of the lead early, but dropped four shots in the span of three holes from the ninth, a detour to the beach leading to a double bogey at the par-four 10th.
Mickelson's birdie at the opening hole proved to be his last. He closed with a 73.