San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - There was a little bit of irony in Webb Simpson's victory Sunday at the 112th U.S. Open Championship.

He became the fifth winner at The Olympic Club to rally and win the title. One of the previous four losers included Arnold Palmer.

Both Simpson and Palmer played collegiate golf at Wake Forest University. And Simpson was given the Arnold Palmer scholarship while he was there.

"He's meant so much to me. He allowed me to play at Wake four years," Simpson said of Palmer at the trophy presentation. "I've got to know him a little better through the Bay Hill tournament. But to win here with what happened to him, I hope he can smile and I hope he was watching."

Simpson has played Palmer's event at Bay Hill six of the last seven years with his best finish being a tie for 11th

Here's guessing Simpson will be in one of the featured groups next year with his new status as major champion.

SPIETH WINS LOW AMATEUR WITH BIG WEEKEND

Amateur Jordan Spieth already has plenty of accolades to his name despite the fact that he is only 18 years old.

The University of Texas freshman fashioned rounds of 69-70 on the weekend at the 112th U.S. Open.

No big deal you say?

Well that matched the third-best score on the weekend. He beat Phil Mickelson by 10 strokes over the final two rounds, and bettered three-time Tiger Woods by nine shots over the last 36 holes.

"I think driving the ball. I was more confident with my longer clubs," Spieth said of the difference between his first two rounds and his final two. "My fairway percentage went up maybe double. So that was probably the difference in the two days."

And with Beau Hossler's late struggles, Spieth claimed low amateur honors.

Spieth, a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, helped Texas win the national championship two weeks ago, then was an alternate after losing a playoff at his qualifier. He got into the field Monday night when Brandt Snedeker withdrew.

"I was running on some adrenaline from the national championship and then got a call late Monday night and kind of rushed out here," Spieth said. "So really I just wanted to play consistent golf. I kind of thought that I could give myself a chance at making a run at it. After two rounds I was, I wasn't able to do that."

NOTES:

* Former Masters champions Charl Schwartzel played the final two rounds through a nagging rib injury. He will take the next month off to recuperate.

* Tiger Woods tied for 21st and that was his second-worst finish at this championship behind his missed cut 2006.

* Woods had his second worst weekend in a major as he went 8-over for the last 36 holes. At Shinnecock in 2004, he went 9-over.

* Kevin Chappell's bogey-free 68 on Saturday was the only bogey-free round of the championship.

* With Dustin Johnson missing the cut, and Lee Westwood sharing 10th place, no player has ever won a U.S. Open after winning the week before.

* There was seven under par rounds on Sunday at the Olympic Club raising the total to 33 for the week.

* For the first time all week, the drivable par-four seventh was the easiest hole of the day. It played to an average of 3.50 strokes. For the week, the par-five 17th was the easiest as it averaged 4.71 strokes.

* As it was the previous two days, No. 6 was hardest hole as he was played in 4.51 shots. The sixth was the toughest all week, averaging 4.54 shots.

* The 113th U.S. Open will be contested on the East Course at Merion Golf Club next year. Merion has hosted more USGA Championships than any other course. David Graham won the last Open there in 1981. Lee Trevino and Ben Hogan won the other two U.S. Opens contested at Merion.

The Sports Network