GARY WOODLAND was inspired to his US Open triumph by the amazing golfer who earned him 15 million new fans.
Woodland, 35, halted the Major juggernaut Brooks Koepka to win by three shots at Pebble Beach.
Before his maiden Major triumph, the Kansas-born star was best known for a heart-touching video that showed him playing a practice hole with Special Olympics golfer Amy Bockerstette.
Amy, who has Down’s Syndrome, made an incredible par on one of the short holes at Scottsdale in Arizona, despite hitting her tee shot into a bunker and leaving herself a long putt.
The video has been viewed more than 15 million times.
Woodland offered to play the bunker shot and hit the putt for Amy. But each time she replied with the motto she has stamped on her golf balls, saying ‘I got this’ — and proved it.
Amy tweeted a message to Woodland before he set out in Sunday’s final round saying: “You got this.”
And she was right again as he saw off four-time Major winner Koepka, who surged into contention with a scintillating start of four birdies in the opening five holes.
England’s Justin Rose, who began the day just a shot off the lead chasing a second US Open title, faded badly — a back nine of 39 leading to a three-over-par 74 and a share of third place on seven under.
But Woodland admitted Amy’s message came to mind as he made a sensational 30-yard chip across the 17th green to save par, and when he sunk a 30-foot birdie putt on the last.
At his press conference he proudly held up his iPhone, with Amy’s message of congratulations on it.
Woodman said: “Amy’s attitude is phenomenal. Life’s not always going to be bells and whistles.
“There are going to be bad things, and ups and downs, the only thing you can control is your attitude.
“If you do that, good things will happen. When we played, Amy kept telling me ‘I’ve got this, I’ve got this’. And I told myself that a million times out there. She’s meant everything for me from a mental standpoint.
“The world needs more of her in it. Her attitude, her love for life, her love for the game and her positive energy is so contagious.”
Woodland could not wait to get home after his win — not to show off the US Open trophy, but to organise a birthday party for son Jaxson, who will be two later this week.
He is also keen to ease the workload on wife Gabby, who is due to give birth to twin girls in August.
Woodland is a popular winner and provides a welcome contrast to win machine Koepka, 29, with his all-business attitude.
The big-hitting Woodland was a college basketball star and only started to take golf seriously when one of his opponents gave him the runaround and he realised he was never going to make it to the NBA.
He won the first of his four US Tour titles in his first year on the circuit eight years ago but did nothing in the Majors until he teamed up with English coach Pete Cowen last year.
Woodland finally posted a couple of top tens heading into Pebble and it all came right as a closing 69 held off the charging Koepka to earn a £1.8million payday.
His 13 under total was also one better than Tiger Woods managed when he famously destroyed the field on this course in 2000.
Woodland added: “I had three putts to win, so I was just trying to get it down there close.
“It’s great to be in this position, because I was probably a little behind some of the guys out here.
“That gets frustrating, because my whole life I’ve been able to compete and win at everything I’ve done.
“I was averaging 90 per cent for free throws in basketball, until that one match told me this wasn’t going to work.
“I switched to golf but haven’t been able to win as much as I’d like to. It’s taken a while but I think we’re trending in the right direction.”
COACH Pete Cowen is fast becoming golf’s Major guru.
The Yorkshireman, who shuns the limelight, left for San Francisco airport early to get his flight to Manchester before driving to his golf academy near Rotherham.
If it had not been for a delay he would have missed seeing Gary Woodland become his SEVENTH Major winner, following in the footsteps of Brooks Koepka, Henrik Stenson, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Danny Willett and Louis Oosthuizen.
Cowen said: “I did the warm-up with Gary and he said he’d never felt more at ease with his swing. That’s my job done then.
“It’s like a racehorse trainer, you do your work on the gallops you can’t do anything when they’re racing.
“I wouldn’t have got to see the final holes if my flight hadn’t been delayed for 30 minutes.
“I was in the lounge by myself, Billy No Mates.
“It’s awkward when you’re coaching the first two. You’re thinking to yourself ‘I can’t lose here.’”
Cowen started working with Woodland in December as his ex-coach, Butch Harmon was retiring.
He added: “I never thought I’d be coaching these top Americans. I was based only in Europe.
“I think they like hearing things in simple terms. There’s no b*****t from a Yorkshireman!”
PEBBLE BEACH runner-up Brooks Koepka is out to bag The Open next month — with the help of some local knowledge.
The American star has won four of the last nine Majors he has played and boasts top-two finishes in the last four.
But after seeing his bid to become the first player in 114 years to win three US Open titles in a row ended by Gary Woodland, Koepka turned his attentions to Portrush.
The 29-year-old, who has Ricky Elliott on his bag, said: “I’ve never been to Ireland but Portrush is my caddie’s home town so we are looking forward to it.”
Three late bogeys derailed Justin Rose’s US Open hopes as he came home joint-third. The Brit, 38, said: “I’m proud I gave myself a chance.”
Turkish Airlines now operate daily flights from Gatwick to the golf hub of Antalya – and carries golf clubs free.
