With Jason Day unable to repeat his third round heroics, young American Jordan Spieth claimed the US Open at Chambers Bay to be on track for the mystical calendar year Grand Slam.
The 21-year-old Texan shot a one-under 69 to win by one stroke over Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen in a tense final round.
Spieth, finishing at five under for the tournament, becomes the youngest US Open champion since Bobby Jones in 1923 and the sixth player to win the Masters and US Open in the same season.
Next month, he'll be at St Andrews looking for the third leg of the Grand Slam at The Open Championship.
"Can't win 'em all unless you win the first two," Spieth said. "We're going to go to St Andrews looking for the Claret Jug. I believe we can get it done if we get the right prep in."
Jason Day's third round 68, completed after he had collapsed on the green during the previous day with vertigo, represented one of the most courageous rounds in major golf history.
He was in a tie for the lead early in the final round but eventually his superhuman effort of the previous day caught up with him and he limped to a closing 74 – still good enough for a tie for ninth.
The Open, in Washington State, was a bonanza for Australians with three in the top 10 and five in the top 20.
Adam Scott shot up into a share of fourth after a blistering 64 while major rookie and compatriot Cameron Smith maintained his nerve to also tie for fourth, shooting 69-68 on the last two days.
The ever reliable John Senden tied for 14th while former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy continued his return to form with a share of 18th, capped off with a last day 67.
Playing in the final group, Johnson had a chance to win with a four metre eagle putt on the last hole but he failed to even force an 18-hole playoff when he three-putted to hand Spieth the title.
"I'm in shock. I feel bad for Dustin," Spieth said.
Spieth looked a certain winner after making a birdie on the 16th hole, taking a three-shot lead, but lost it a hole later when he missed the par-three green and then missed a short putt to take a double bogey.
He then birdied the last before Johnson's collapse.
Scott is now confident he is headed back to his best form.
“I needed to make a run today. I played really well and I took advantage of some of the holes playing a bit shorter and didn't have any disasters.
“I hit a few good shots and took advantage of them. It's kind of what I needed to even think about having a chance.
“I feel like I had nothing to lose today and everything to gain,” Scott said.
“I knew I was playing well and I just couldn't quite put it all together the first three days. And I really wanted to today – it was a big effort for me.
“To be honest, it's the kind of round I needed to get things going for me this year, hopefully.”