With Shinnecock Hills playing brutally tough as it dried out in stiffening breezes and bright sunshine, the South African clinched his second U.S. Open crown with a gutsy performance over the closing holes.

In all, the 35-year-old needed only 24 putts for a closing one-over-par 71, including a remarkable 11 one-putts.

"These greens were unbelievably fast and drying out and getting bumpy," Goosen, winner in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, told reporters. "I don't think there was one slow putt out there, and it was so difficult to hit it soft.

"But to keep holing good putts was the key. Poa annua (grass) can be a little bit difficult to putt on, it can bounce around a little.

"I'm so happy to have had all these one-putts. You can easily go the wrong way on these greens."

Having gone into the last day two clear of the chasing pack, Goosen was overhauled by U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson with three holes to play.

However, the laidback Goosen refused to buckle. He made a clutch putt for birdie at the par-four 16th, soon after Mickelson had run up a double-bogey at the par-three 17th after three-putting from five feet.

CUSHION RESTORED

His two-shot cushion restored, Goosen made a good up and down from a greenside bunker to save par at the 179-yard 17th and then two-putted from off the edge of the green at the last to seal victory.

In celebration, he took off his cap and shook it at the hole.

"That was tough and actually quite painful once I was out there and playing with all the pressure," he said.

"Just before I teed off, when I was having lunch, they were saying on television that the average score out there was 78. So I knew I was in for a surprise.

"It was a tough grind. All you're trying to do is stick to a good game plan, and try and stay away from big numbers."

Three years ago, Goosen almost squandered his first US Open victory chance when he three-putted the 72nd green from 12 feet. The following day, he beat Mark Brooks in a playoff.

On Sunday, however, there was little chance of something similar happening with his red-hot putting display.

"Obviously this time, I knew that I could do it, but I scrambled a little bit on the back nine and had to hole a few good par putts," he said.

"I wasn't letting my guard down. I was just trying to stay focused until we finished this tournament off. I know what happened last time, it's not over till it's over."