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(CNN) — Justin Rose became the first English golfer in 43 years to win the U.S. Open on Sunday as Phil Mickelson failed to conjure up a 43rd birthday present for himself.

The American finished as runner-up at the tournament for the sixth time, while the 32-year-old Rose ended his long wait for a major title as he triumphed by two shots after a tense final round in Pennsylvania.

Mickelson needed to birdie the last hole to force a playoff — which no-one had managed during the final round — but he ended up dropping a shot and tying for second with Australia’s Jason Day.

World No. 3 Rose, who moved to Britain from South Africa as a five-year-old, launched himself onto the golf scene when he finished fourth at the 1998 British Open as the leading amateur.

However, he missed the cut in his first 21 tournaments as a professional and took time to find his way after losing his father and mentor Ken to cancer in 2002.

Historic club to host U.S. Open

A golf coaching dynasty

David Graham’s 1981 U.S. Open victory

Trevino: Merion win changed me

Recreating golf’s most iconic photograph

Tour stars on God and golf

“There’s always a lesson to be learned in every tournament whether you win or lose,” said Woods, who had been seeking his fourth U.S. Open win and 15th major overall.

“I’ll look back at the things I did right and the things I did wrong. I did a lot of things right. Unfortunately I did a few things wrong as well.”

Second-ranked Rory McIlroy also had a miserable week, and ended it by breaking a club after making a quadruple bogey during his closing 76 — which left him a shot behind Woods in a tie for 41st.

“What you don’t want to do as a golfer is follow one mistake with another, and that’s what I did,” said McIlroy, who won the first of his two mjaors at the 2011 U.S. Open.

“I think that’s what this tournament does to you. At one point or another it’s got the better of you, and it definitely did this weekend.”

Veteran South African Ernie Els finished tied for fourth with Americans Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner and Billy Horschel, with the British Open champion closing with 69.

Mahan had been in contention for his first major title but he faded on the home stretch, with a double bogey at the 15th before dropping shots at his last two holes to card 75.

Dufner shot 67 for the equal best score of the final day — which was matched by 10th-placed Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.

Michael Kim was the leading amateur as he finished in a tie for 17th on 10-over 290.

The 19-year-old, born in South Korea but raised in San Diego, suffered a double bogey at his last hole as he signed for a 76.

(CNN) — They’ve mirrored each other at Merion. And now it looks like both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy won’t be in contention on the final day of the U.S. Open.

Woods shot a six-over-par 76 Saturday on Merion’s unforgiving East Course and McIlroy, second only to Woods in the world rankings, carded a 75.

They were paired together for the third straight day, hitting identical 73s in first round and 70s in the second.

While the top-ranked duo were only four shots behind co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel through two rounds, McIlroy had slipped a further two shots behind the clubhouse leader, Australia’s Jason Day, and Woods was seven shots behind Day.

Read: Woods plays through pain

Historic club to host U.S. Open

David Graham’s 1981 U.S. Open victory

Tour stars on God and golf

It got worse after Mickelson, a five-time U.S. Open runner-up, completed his round and took a one-stroke overall advantage. McIlroy drifted to nine shots behind and Woods 10.

It means Woods’ wait to end his five-year drought at majors appears set to continue.

Woods, bothered by a left arm injury he sustained en route to winning The Players Championship last month, raised hopes among his fans when he struck a birdie on the first hole.

Woods, though, wouldn’t hit another birdie for the rest of the round. Instead he registered seven bogeys.

McIlroy, in search of a third major, wasn’t much better, hitting one more birdie than Woods.

Read: Mickelson makes grade

The low scores at Merion have failed to materialize, and Sergio Garcia needed 10 shots to complete the par-4 15th hole. Despite the disastrous hole, he still managed to match McIlroy and shoot a 75 which left him tied for 44th with defending champion Webb Simpson.

Garcia said he was heckled in the first round and a fan blurted out, “fried chicken” before he teed off at his first hole Saturday. It was a reference to the “fried chicken” jibe Garcia directed at Woods last month.

Garcia issued a public apology and left Woods a note this week leading into the tournament.

Day, the 2011 runner-up, ended the third round in eighth place after a two-under-par 68.

He was overtaken by the late groupings as Mickelson carded 70 to be one-under 209 after 54 holes.

Trevino: Merion win changed me

A golf coaching dynasty

Mickelson finished birdie-bogey, having dropped shots at 3 and 5 before recovering them at 10-11.

“I’ve had opportunities in years past, and it has been so fun, even though it’s been heart-breaking to come so close a number of times and let it slide,” said the four-time major winner, who turns 43 on Sunday.

“But I feel better equipped than I have ever felt heading into the final round of a U.S. Open. My ball striking is better than it’s ever been. My putting is better than it has been in years, and I feel very comfortable on this golf course. I love it.”

His fellow veteran Stricker matched that 70 to be tied for second alongside Ryder Cup teammate Hunter Mahan and South Africa’s 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, who both shot 69.

Former world No. 1 Luke Donald had been in the lead but the Englishman dropped a shot at 17 and double-bogeyed the final hole to fall back to 211 alongside compatriot Justin Rose — who matched his 71 — and Horschel.

Horschel, playing his first major as a pro having missed the cut as an amateur back in 2006, played the difficult closing holes in par to sign for a 72.

American Rickie Fowler carded the best round of the day, a four-birdie 67 which moved him up to ninth — one shot ahead of leading amateur Michael Kim.

Kim, born in South Korea but raised in San Diego, had been in a tie for third after firing four birdies in six holes but a horrendous finish — bogey, double bogey, bogey — meant he ended with a 71, five shots behind Mickelson.

He is seeking to become the first amateur to finish in the top 10 since 1971, and the first to win the U.S. Open since 1933.

(CNN) — “I love Merion, and I don’t even know her last name,” legendary golfer Lee Trevino was once memorably quoted when asked about the venue for this week’s U.S. Open.

“Supermex” had good cause for his admiration of the famous inland links near Philadelphia, having won the 1971 edition of the tournament after a playoff with Jack Nicklaus, no less.

Nicklaus, who went on to win a record 18 major titles, described Merion’s championship East Course as “Acre for acre, maybe the best test of golf in the world.”

Current No. 1 Tiger Woods is another big fan. “You have to be so disciplined to play that course,” he said after a recent practice round.

So what is it about the Merion which evokes such praise — and what will await Woods and his rivals when they bid for major glory this week? Thursday’s opening round was disrupted by the arrival of predicted bad weather, but there is much more at the Pennsylvania venue to challenge the world’s top golfers.

Historic club to host U.S. Open

Tour stars on God and golf

Tour stars on God and golf

CNN’s Living Golf has gone behind the scenes at the iconic venue to provide the definitive guide to the magic of Merion and all its charms.

Wicker wonders

Foremost among them are the famous red wicker baskets which are positioned above the pin sticks in place of conventional flags — a peculiarity these days, though more common earlier in the history of golf.

They first appeared at Merion in 1915, three years after the course opened in September 1912.

The historical origins of the baskets and indeed the reason for them remain unclear, but by the time the 1916 U.S. Amateur Championship was hosted — the first major event on the course — they were still in place and have remained ever since.

The green staff even have a special machine into which each individual wicker basket flag can be gathered up each night in the “wicker cart.”

When a move to replace “the wickers” with standardized flags was mooted, the outcry was loud and clear.

But, according to Trevino, they add to the challenge facing the golfers, particularly in breezy conditions.

“Generally when we stand out in the middle of the fairway we can see which way the flag is blowing so we have some idea of how to play the wind,” he told CNN.

“But with the wicker baskets, no!”

The toughest of five courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, Bethpage Black joined the U.S. Open roster in 2002 after the USGA decided to bring its flagship tournament to a public venue. Green fee: $130 weekdays, $150 weekends.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened for play in 2007, this 7,165-yard, par 72 stunner on the shores of Puget Sound hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur. It will host its first U.S. Open in 2015. Green fee: $219.

Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2011 and will host the U.S. Open in 2017. The 7,823-yard, par 72 course is a walking-only course, with neither motorized nor pull carts allowed. Green fees: $200.

Jack Nicklaus said: “If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. It’s possibly the best in the world.” Green fees: $495.

Pinehurst No. 2 hosted a PGA Championship in 1936, a Ryder Cup in 1951 and its second U.S. Open in 2005. Next year, it will become the first venue to host a U.S. Open and a U.S. Women’s Open in subsequent weeks. Stay-and-play packages from $488.

Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines after hobbling his way around the course with a knee injury, then dispatching Rocco Mediate on the first sudden-death playoff hole. Green fee: $183.

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U.S. Open courses you can play

A golf coaching dynasty

Golf’s billion dollar pioneer

Whoever emerges the winner this Sunday evening will be presented with a wicker basket to commemorate their win along with the championship trophy.

One-iron wonder

In 1950, the legendary American golfer Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open at Merion — just 16 months after suffering terrible injuries in an automobile crash which nearly claimed his life.

By a curious twist, and for the only time, the wicker baskets were not used that year.

Perhaps they did not want to upset Hogan — who had the unfair reputation of being a ruthless and aloof winning machine — on his courageous comeback trail.

So when he came to play his second shot to the testing par-four 18th in the final round, he would have seen a flag blowing in the far distance over 200 yards away.

Struggling with pain from his still-healing injuries and knowing he needed to find the small green with his shot to have any real chance of joining two other golfers in a playoff, Hogan selected a one-iron club — which hits the ball far and low if hit correctly.

Ever the perfectionist, Hogan’s strike was pure perfection and brought gasps from the galleries as it arrowed its way to the heart of the green.

Two putts for a par were enough and he won the next day’s 18-hole playoff against Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio.

The drama of the moment was captured for posterity by famous Sports Illustrated and Life Magazine photographer Hy Peskin. It is rated one of the best sports photos of the 20th century.

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That club used by Hogan now resides in the U.S. Golf Association Museum as one of its prized exhibits.

Iconic winners

Hogan would be near the top of any list of all-time great golfers, but call it coincidence, the best of the best have filled the honors board at Merion.

The 1916 U.S. Amateur was the first tournament for a 14-year-old Bobby Jones. He returned in 1924 to win the event, but his victory in 1930 is best remembered.

In the days before the U.S. Masters and PGA Championship, the majors were considered to be the U.S. and British Opens and the British and U.S. Amateur Championships.

Jones, the dominant golfer of his era, amateur or professional, arrived at Merion in September 1930 needing to win the U.S. Amateur to complete the set in the same calendar year.

In the 36-hole final, played to a matchplay format, he thrashed his unfortunate opponent Eugene Homans, watched by a massive crowd. A reporter labeled the feat as the “Grand Slam” — a term which has stuck. It was to prove Jones’ final tournament as he retired from competition aged just 28 to practice law, although he was the driving force behind founding the Masters at Augusta.

Olin Dutra won the first U.S. Open to be staged at Merion in 1934, Hogan’s 1950 heroics have gone down in golfing folklore, while Nicklaus famously led the United States to victory there in the Eisenhower Trophy (the World Amateur Team Championship) in 1960.

His four-round total of 269 is considered one of the greatest displays in the history of the game, but when Nicklaus returned to Merion for the U.S. Open at the peak of his powers in 1971 he found Trevino barring his way to victory.

They both tied in 280 level par after four rounds on a course Trevino described as holding “a lot of trouble and with a lot of tall grass.”

David Graham’s 1981 U.S. Open victory

Recreating golf’s most iconic photograph

Few gave him much chance in the playoff, but with a round of 68 to Nicklaus’ 71 he claimed his second U.S. Open and his words “had beaten the best” giving him the belief he “really belonged” in very elite of golf.

David Graham claimed the fourth staging of U.S Open at Merion in 1980 and was in awe of his place in golfing history, becoming the first Australian to win the tournament.

“Bobby Jones won there, Trevino, Hogan won there and then this little kid from Australia comes along and wins,” he told CNN.

Hogan phoned him after his victory and they had lunch. “He liked international players, he congratulated me on winning. It was cool,” Graham said.

Anyone for cricket

Coming from Australia, Graham would acknowledge that while golf is a popular sport, cricket is a national obsession as it is in England — the two battling for supremacy for the famous Ashes.

When the original Merion club was founded in 1865 — a playground for the rich society elite of Philadelphia — the British influence was still strong, so cricket was the chosen sport for the country club setting, while tennis also became popular.

In 1896, a golf club was formed from the membership and a course built on existing grounds.

The Merion East Course came later — completed in 1912 and built on land acquired near Ardmore.

It was designed by one of the club’s members, Scotsman Hugh Wilson — who had never done such a job before.

Scottish roots

He went back home to find inspiration from Scotland’s famous coastal links courses, and it was he who introduced the wicker baskets.

North Berwick Golf Course, near the border of England, has a strong resemblance to Merion, particularly the 15th and 17th holes.

The style of the bunkers is also different from that commonly found in the United States and according to Trevino are devilishly difficult. They are nicknamed the “white faces of Merion” and with good reason.

“The Scottish-type bunkers are unbelievable because you think you might be in the bunker, then all of a sudden you’re in the lip of it and you can’t find your ball, I mean it’s hiding in there!” Trevino told CNN.

Trevino believes that despite its short length by modern standards, the combination of the bunkers, small greens and forbidding rough will leave Tiger and co. with a very real test.

“That’ll be the toughest little 7,000-yard golf course you’ll ever see.”

Lunch tee

One of other challenges facing the players will be the unusually close proximity of the dining patio to the first tee.

Nerves jangling at the start of an important round, the players can almost hear the tinkle of cutlery and glasses as the members tuck in to some fine cuisine.

“It almost feels like you’re teeing off in a carport because the first tee is just outside the door there,” Trevino said.

“That’s the way all the courses used to be. If you go over to Scotland and if you shank a ball out of a bunker, then you’ll break the biggest window in the world in a dining room.

“That’s the way they built it — they had a lot of property, they didn’t waste it. Now you’re building golf courses on 500 acres and nine holes covers five miles!”

Merion, hosting the U.S. Open for the fifth time, takes up a mere 120 acres.

All about tradition

As Trevino and others have suggested, it is a course absolutely dripping with traditional influence and none more so than the clubhouse, which was once a farmhouse.

Players will use a changing room full of big metal lockers and period features.

Photos and old scorecards adorn the walls and there is a massive trophy case — appropriate for a club which has hosted more USGA events, 18 in all, than any other in the United States.

The last was the 2009 Walker Cup amateur competition, where the likes of Rickie Fowler helped the United States to victory over Great Britain and Ireland.

Once on the course, players and caddies will have to do without yardage markers, while golf carts are prohibited even for members.

Graham has nothing but praise for the work of the club in preserving its culture and heritage.

“They’ve done such a superb job with their museum, they’re very cognizant of the club’s tradition and they do what Augusta National does. At all costs they protect the integrity of the club,” the 67-year-old said.

“Certain (U.S.) Opens, like the one at Pebble Beach, is a little special and certainly the Open at Merion was special, especially for me.”

Doubtless, whoever writes their name into the roll of honor under 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson will take away similar thoughts and join a list of special greats.

Living Golf is CNN’s monthly golf program. Click here for showtimes, videos and features.

(CNN) — Butch Harmon could hardly believe what he was seeing.

Two of the most recognizable faces on the planet were casually shooting the breeze as they swept down the fairway in Florida.

While the White House press pack fumed outside the gates, President Obama enjoyed a leisurely 18 holes with the world’s number one golfer Tiger Woods.

If ever there was a powerhouse pairing, this was it.

“It was really amazing,” renowned golf coach Harmon told CNN’s Living Golf show about that momentous February day when he had a greenside view.

A golf coaching dynasty

Mathew Goggin of Australia hits his second shot on the first hole during a continuation of the first round of the 113th U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, on Friday, June 14. Rain delayed the round on June 13.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits from a bunker on the 15th hole on June 14.

Luke Donald of England walks with caddie John McLaren on the 17th hole on June 14.

Tiger Woods of the United States putts on the 14th hole on June 14.

Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain hits his second shot on the 17th hole on June 14.

England’s Ian Poulter tees off at the second hole during the first round on Thursday, June 13.

Roger Tambellini of the United States hits his second shot from a bunker on the first hole on June 13.

Bill Haas of the United States ponders a putt on the 10th hole on June 13.

Ryan Yip of Canada hits his second shot out of a bunker on the 10th hole on June 13.

On the fourth hole, Aaron Baddeley of Australia tees off on June 13.

Lucas Glover of the United States tees off on the 11th hole on June 13.

The gallery takes in the U.S. Open from the 17th hole at Merion Golf Club on June 13.

Steve Stricker of the United States tees off on the 13th hole on June 13.

Rain begins to fall and play is suspended on June 13.

A man looks out over the 18th hole after play was suspended during a storm on June 13.

People traverse the 18th fairway during a weather delay on June 13.

Jason Day of Australia, Rickie Fowler of the United States and Matteo Manassero of Italy play on the 17th green on June 13.

Scott Stallings of the U.S. shoots from a bunker on the 15th hole on June 13.

On the 17th hole, Padraig Harrington of Ireland makes his second shot on June 13.

Cheng-Tsung Pan of Taiwan tees off on the 11th hole during on June 13.

Dustin Johnson of the U.S. tees off on the 18th hole on June 13.

Phil Mickelson of the U.S. watches his shot from the tee of the second hole on June 13.

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U.S. Open: The best photos

The famous wicker basket flagsticks will be on full view again at the 2013 U.S. Open on the East Course at Merion.

The history of golf at the Merion club dates back to 1896, with the East Course being completed in 1912.

Merion is regarded as one of the most picturesque courses in world golf, and this sunset view from the 10th tee takes in the ninth green with the fourth green in the background.

Merion’s trophy cabinet reflects its staging of 18 USGA events and a host of important tournaments.

Ben Hogan plays his famous one-iron approach to the final green in the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion. It is acknowledged as one of the greatest shots in golfing history and he went on to win the tournament in a playoff.

The U.S. Open trophy is paraded next to the plaque on the 18th hole which marks the point from which Hogan played his famous shot.

The club used by Hogan is on public display in the USGA museum, having been stolen but then found by a collector.

A plaque in the clubhouse is dedicated to the course’s designer, Scotsman Hugh Wilson, who was a member at Merion.

A commemorative stone on the par-four 12th on the East Course marks the hole on which the great Bobby Jones completed golf’s first “grand slam” in 1930 by winning the final of the U.S. Amateur.

Players will take aim at the wicker basket targets rather than the conventional flags, making it harder to judge the wind direction.

The wicker basket flagsticks are gathered up each night by a special machine before being put out the next morning.

Leading PGA Tour professional Rickie Fowler (left) was among the victorious American Walker Cup team which beat Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the last major event to be staged at Merion in 2009.

The legendary Lee Trevino won the U.S. Open at Merion in 1971 after beating Jack Nicklaus in a playoff. He has fond memories of the unique course.

The changing room at Merion has a old-fashioned qualities, with massive metal lockers as the main feature.

Players will tee off at the U.S. Open right in front of the dining patio in the clubhouse.

When the original Merion club was founded in 1865, it was used for the traditional British sport of cricket.

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The Magic of Merion

“If you’d have told me 20 years ago that a black man would be the President of the United States I would have said you’re crazy.

The toughest of five courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, Bethpage Black joined the U.S. Open roster in 2002 after the USGA decided to bring its flagship tournament to a public venue. Green fee: $130 weekdays, $150 weekends.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened for play in 2007, this 7,165-yard, par 72 stunner on the shores of Puget Sound hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur. It will host its first U.S. Open in 2015. Green fee: $219.

Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2011 and will host the U.S. Open in 2017. The 7,823-yard, par 72 course is a walking-only course, with neither motorized nor pull carts allowed. Green fees: $200.

Jack Nicklaus said: “If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. It’s possibly the best in the world.” Green fees: $495.

Pinehurst No. 2 hosted a PGA Championship in 1936, a Ryder Cup in 1951 and its second U.S. Open in 2005. Next year, it will become the first venue to host a U.S. Open and a U.S. Women’s Open in subsequent weeks. Stay-and-play packages from $488.

Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines after hobbling his way around the course with a knee injury, then dispatching Rocco Mediate on the first sudden-death playoff hole. Green fee: $183.

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U.S. Open courses you can play

Recreating golf’s most iconic photograph

Trevino: Merion win changed me

“In this day and age with the multimedia stuff all over the world, he didn’t want it to show up on YouTube.

“I said to this one secret service guy, ‘I actually went on YouTube to look at the president’s swing and it was terrible, you actually might want some of these shots because they’re better than the ones you have. These look pretty good!’ “

The President and a clutch of his closest friends bunkered down at The Floridian for a weekend’s vacation — his erstwhile secret service detail, naturally, in tow — on the invitation of the resort’s owner, Jim Crane.

Crane, owner of the Houston Astros baseball team, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk joined Obama for one of his two rounds on the Sunday, and making up the numbers just happened to be a 14-time major winner.

Not that Woods is a stranger to the President. The 37-year-old delivered a speech at Obama’s inauguration back in 2009, though he has always tried to stay away from politics throughout his career.

Read: Tiger tops highest-paid list

But whether Woods is a Democrat, Republican, or apolitical, the invitation to play with the President is not one to be ignored, according to Harmon.

“In all honesty it doesn’t matter what your politics are, if you get the chance to play golf with the President — which is the highest honor in our country — whether you voted for him or not or agree with the politics, it’s a great honor.

“When the President drove up and he instantly went right over and said, ‘Tiger it was great to see how well you played at Torrey Pines when you won the (Farmers Insurance Open) tournament.’

“He was into it, he wanted to play with Tiger, he was asking about his swing. It was great, it was fun to watch, and it was fun to see it and fun to be part of it.”

The Harmons have a rich history of rubbing shoulders with Washington power brokers.

Historic club to host U.S. Open

Tour stars on God and golf

Tiger Woods regains the No. 1 spot in world golf rankings with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday, March 25. Here, he plays a shot at the tournament in Orlando on Sunday, March 24. Check out what Woods has been up to since the last time he was the top-ranked golfer nearly 2½ years ago:

Woods appears dejected after losing to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the 2010 Ryder Cup competition in Wales in October 2010. That month, he lost his No. 1 ranking to Westwood, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks. He had taken a break from golf earlier that year after reports of marital infidelities emerged in late 2009.

Woods misses a putt at the Frys.com Open in October 2011. That month, he dropped out of golf’s Top 50 players list for the first time in almost 15 years. Woods reportedly lost millions in endorsements after sponsors ended their ties with him in the wake of a sex scandal.

Woods misses the U.S. Open in July 2011, citing knee and Achilles tendon injuries. Here, he plays in the tournament in 2008.

Woods plays at the 2011 Emirates Australian Open in Sydney in November 2011. That year, he remained the highest-paid American athlete on Sports Illustrated’s “Fortunate 50″ list.

Woods drops his caddy of 12 years, Steve Williams, in July 2011. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it’s time for a change,” Woods said. Here, the two share a laugh during a practice round two months before Williams was let go.

After a nearly three-month break, Woods returns to golf at the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.

Woods hits out of the bunker on the ninth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship in August 2011. He failed to make the cut at the PGA championship for the first time in his career.

Woods plays his tee shot on the 18th hole at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2011. The previous month, Woods landed Rolex as a sponsor despite not having won a major tournament in nearly two years. “Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him,” the high-end watchmaker said.

Woods lines up his putt at the Honda Classic at PGA National in March 2012. He shot a 62, his lowest final round as a professional, at the Honda Classic, but he tied for second in the tournament.

Woods earns his first win since November 2009 at the Chevron World Challenge, a non-PGA tour event, in December 2011.

Woods signs autographs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2012. His win there marked his first PGA tour victory since September 2009.

Woods drops the ball on the 15th fairway during the final round of the ATT National in July 2012. He overtook Jack Nicklaus for second place on the all-time PGA Tour list with his victory at the ATT National.

Woods hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. He lost his title the previous year as the world’s top-paid athlete, dropping to third place on Sports Illustrated’s “Fortunate 50″ list.

Woods hits the ball on the 18th hole during the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. He became the first PGA Tour participant to earn $100 million when he finished third and won more than $500,000 at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Woods and champion skier Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook in March 2013. Vonn recently divorced Thomas Vonn, who was also her coach, and Woods split up with his wife, Elin Nordegren, in 2010.

Woods tosses his ball to his caddie at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. He started the new year in fine form by winning his 75th PGA Tour title in the Farmers Insurance Open.

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Photos: Tiger Woods — from highs to lows

Claude Snr. was the last club professional to win a major championship when he secured the Masters title in 1948.

His four sons Butch, Craig, Bill, and Dick all became golf professionals and had a keen eye for teaching, just like their father.

And from a young age they knew that Claude’s golfing prowess opened some pretty special doors.

Read: ‘Fried chicken’ jibe ‘hurts’ Woods

“My father played with so many presidents himself,” Harmon explained. “He played with Eisenhower and he played with Ford, Nixon, and I got to play with a lot of them too when I was younger.

“I think if my father was still alive he’d be very proud of all of us. He’d be proud of the four sons, he’d be proud of his grandson because in reality we’re just carrying on what he taught us and what he did and we’re a very proud family.

“He had the greatest eye I think of anyone that’s ever taught and he saw things that other people didn’t see and quickly, he knew how to fix them, he’d watch you hit five or six balls and he’d know exactly what you were doing wrong.”

It was that wisdom passed down from father to son that led Harmon to believe that the 13-year-old kid presented to him in 1993 could go on to be one of the greatest players the game had ever seen.

Woods’ father Earl had noted the work Harmon had done with Greg Norman and asked if he could bring his son over to hit some balls. The session was filmed by Butch’s young son Claude.

“You’ve seen the footage, he’s a tall skinny kid in tennis shoes hitting balls and you just saw this natural talent that this kid had,” Butch said.

“I asked him so many different kinds of questions about how do you do this? Why do you do that? He didn’t know it at the time but I was giving him an examination, trying to find out really what ticked in his head, what he knew about golf.

“The kid was special, he was just a special person you could see it. It was no surprise to me that he turned out to be who he was.”

(CNN) — It’s another slap heard around the world, albeit a legal one this time.

Two years after Wendi Deng made headlines for forcefully defending her husband — News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch — from a pie-throwing intruder in Britain’s Parliament, she and their relationship are in the news again.

Murdoch is filing for divorce from Deng, his third wife, a spokesman for the media mogul confirmed Thursday.

It’s not known what precipitated the split to end the marriage that began in 1999. Speculation, though, has swirled for months about the state of the couple’s relationship.

The Chinese-born, Yale-educated Deng was very accomplished in her own right pre-Murdoch, even though critics jabbed her as a “gold digger” through her marriage to the media mogul.

2011: Murdoch’s wife’s defense skills

Murdoch: I think we’re ok

Media titans Malone, Murdoch face off

Read more: Profile — Rupert Murdoch, the last press baron

While her 82-year-old husband runs one of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world — one that includes 20th Century Fox, Fox television (including Fox News and FX), Sky news service, HarperCollins publishing and many newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Britain’s Times and several publications in his native Australia — Deng had stayed largely out of the public eye.

That was until July 2011. She was sitting behind Murdoch in Parliament in London, while he testified about his company’s involvement in a phone-hacking scandal that rocked Britain.

Comedian Jonnie Marbles came at Murdoch with a shaving-foam pie. Deng leaped into action, lunging at Marbles and smashing his hand with her own.

“Mr. Murdoch,” said parliamentarian Tom Watson, who minutes earlier had been particularly critical of the media titan, “your wife has a pretty good left hook.”

Social media erupted in response to what soon became known as “the slap heard round the world” and earned her the sobriquet “tiger wife.” The reaction was particularly strong on Chinese microblogs, where many hailed Deng’s reaction as a moment of pride for Asian women.

“The harder she slapped, the more we can tell how eager she was to protect her husband … she is still a woman who longs for love,” wrote one person under the handle MissQccc.

Read more: How Murdoch bounced back from ‘humble day’

Chinese-born daughter of a factory engineer

So who is Wendi Deng?

She has talked about growing up “very, very poor” in a small town in China, as the daughter of a factory engineer.

(CNN) — It started with an overnight flight and a thunderstorm — it finished with a place at the top end of the leaderboard.

Phil Mickelson would dearly love to win the U.S. Open having finished as runner-up on five separate occasions, but not even the lure of Merion was enough to keep him away from his daughter’s eighth-grade graduation.

The four-time major champion missed the practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday to be with daughter Amanda in California before flying through the night on his private jet to Philadelphia.

Arriving in at 4.15am Thursday morning, Mickelson easily made his 7.11am tee time and produced his lowest round in the U.S. Open since 1999 with a three-under 67.

Read: Golf’s ‘wicker men’

David Graham’s 1981 U.S. Open victory

Recreating golf’s most iconic photograph

Tour stars on God and golf

“I loved having an early tee time,” he told reporters following a rain-delayed round.

“I wish we did not have the delay because it made it a long day but the golf course is playing about as easy as it could, but Merion is fighting hard.

“It’s one of the best I’ve seen for a US Open. It’s soft but we are having a hard time getting under par.”

Mickelson, 42, also insists his preparation for the tournament has not been undermined by spending time back in California.

He added: “When I was here the week before I was able to do all the work I needed, the last part was getting my game sharp so being able to do that in nice weather on a good practice facility was advantageous.”

A three hour and 32 minute rain break meant an inauspicious start to the 113th U.S. Open, being hosted by Merion for the first time in 32 years.

The morning starters managed just 111 minutes of play before torrential rain hit the course and forced play to be suspended.

Read: No formal apology

Meanwhile, Spain’s Sergio Garcia revealed he was heckled by “a couple of guys” during his opening round of 73.

A golf coaching dynasty

Historic club to host U.S. Open

Trevino: Merion win changed me

Garcia’s jibe last month that he would invite Tiger Woods round for “fried chicken” during the U.S. Open led to an immediate and unreserved apology from the Spaniard, who denied it was racially motivated.

Woods took to Twitter to register his disappointment with the remarks, calling them “wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate.”

The two men shook hands on Monday and Garcia has sent Woods a note, but the Spaniard confirmed he had yet to hear from the World No.1.

Read: God’s Golfers

Woods teed off alongside the two men directly below him in the rankings — 2011 winner Rory McIlroy and Masters champion Adam Scott.

Woods, 37 has not won a major since he won the U.S Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 where he defeated Rocco Mediate on a playoff while playing with a broken leg.

A 15th major victory would take him to within three of all-time record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus, whose final triumph came at the 1986 Masters at Augusta.

Amongst the early finishers, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker all ended on one-over for the day after rounds of 71.

San Francisco (CNN) — Calling it “the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone,” Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday unveiled an operating system for iPhones and iPads that will radically overhaul how users’ touchscreens look.

Critic: iTunes Radio a Pandora knockoff

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a handful of new products Monday at WWDC 2013, his company’s annual conference for its developers. Click through this gallery for highlights from past WWDCs.

Steve Jobs, then Apple’s interim CEO, gave the keynote address in May 1999 at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, typically a launching pad for products. That year Jobs announced a new Powerbook computer.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated a preview of Apple’s forthcoming Mac OS X operating system during his WWDC keynote address in May 2000.

At this WWDC, Jobs announced that Apple’s Mac OS X would be pre-installed along with Mac OS 9 in all new Mac computers.

At the 2002 WWDC, Jobs presided over a theatrical mock funeral for Apple’s OS 9 operating system, complete with casket, fog and organ music. “It’s been a good friend,” he said.

At WWDC 2003, Jobs unveiled the new Power Mac G5 desktop computer as well as iPhoto, iMovie and other software tools. That year Apple also pre-screened the Pixar movie, “Finding Nemo.”

Jobs posed here with a new flat-panel display, the first 30-inch model designed for the personal computer. He also announced the 2005 release of OSX Tiger.

Jobs opened his 2005 WWDC keynote by using a computer with an Intel processor, representing Apple’s switch from IBM to Intel for its processing chips.

Attendees eyed a new Apple Mac Pro desktop computer at the WWDC in 2006 in San Francisco. Jobs kicked off the conference with announcements of a new Mac Pro desktop computer and a forthcoming Mac OS X Leopard operating system.

This WWDC marked the launch of the original iPhone, which had been unveiled at an event in January of that year. The phone went on sale in the United States three weeks later, on June 29.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs launched the iPhone 3G, and compared it to other phones, at the 2008 WWDC. He also introduced the App Store, which would open to the public the next month and has served more than 50 billion downloads to date.

Apple Senior Vice President of iPhone Software Scott Forstall wore a lab coat and safety goggles while demoing a science app for the iPhone at the WWDC in June 2009. Jobs, suffering from cancer, was on medical leave at the time. That year Apple kicked off the conference by unveiling the iPhone 3GS.

Jobs, looking alarmingly thin, introduced the iPhone 4 during his keynote address at the 2010 WWDC.

Jobs returned from another medical leave to deliver the WWDC keynote address on June 6, 2011, when he introduced Apple’s iCloud storage system. The Apple co-founder died four months later.

Tim Cook gave his first WWDC keynote at the 2012 conference, where he announced new models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops.

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Highlights from Apple’s WWDC

A look at Apple’s new operating system

Apple unveils new MacBook Pro

Can Apple still innovate?

Predictions for Apple’s smart TV

So here’s a look at what to expect from WWDC 2013. Apple’s keynote begins Monday at 1 p.m. ET.

A new iOS

The safest bet for WWDC is that Apple will introduce iOS 7 to the world.

San Francisco (CNN) — Calling it “the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone,” Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday unveiled an operating system for iPhones and iPads that will radically overhaul how users’ touchscreens look.

Critic: iTunes Radio a Pandora knockoff

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a handful of new products Monday at WWDC 2013, his company’s annual conference for its developers. Click through this gallery for highlights from past WWDCs.

Steve Jobs, then Apple’s interim CEO, gave the keynote address in May 1999 at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, typically a launching pad for products. That year Jobs announced a new Powerbook computer.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated a preview of Apple’s forthcoming Mac OS X operating system during his WWDC keynote address in May 2000.

At this WWDC, Jobs announced that Apple’s Mac OS X would be pre-installed along with Mac OS 9 in all new Mac computers.

At the 2002 WWDC, Jobs presided over a theatrical mock funeral for Apple’s OS 9 operating system, complete with casket, fog and organ music. “It’s been a good friend,” he said.

At WWDC 2003, Jobs unveiled the new Power Mac G5 desktop computer as well as iPhoto, iMovie and other software tools. That year Apple also pre-screened the Pixar movie, “Finding Nemo.”

Jobs posed here with a new flat-panel display, the first 30-inch model designed for the personal computer. He also announced the 2005 release of OSX Tiger.

Jobs opened his 2005 WWDC keynote by using a computer with an Intel processor, representing Apple’s switch from IBM to Intel for its processing chips.

Attendees eyed a new Apple Mac Pro desktop computer at the WWDC in 2006 in San Francisco. Jobs kicked off the conference with announcements of a new Mac Pro desktop computer and a forthcoming Mac OS X Leopard operating system.

This WWDC marked the launch of the original iPhone, which had been unveiled at an event in January of that year. The phone went on sale in the United States three weeks later, on June 29.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs launched the iPhone 3G, and compared it to other phones, at the 2008 WWDC. He also introduced the App Store, which would open to the public the next month and has served more than 50 billion downloads to date.

Apple Senior Vice President of iPhone Software Scott Forstall wore a lab coat and safety goggles while demoing a science app for the iPhone at the WWDC in June 2009. Jobs, suffering from cancer, was on medical leave at the time. That year Apple kicked off the conference by unveiling the iPhone 3GS.

Jobs, looking alarmingly thin, introduced the iPhone 4 during his keynote address at the 2010 WWDC.

Jobs returned from another medical leave to deliver the WWDC keynote address on June 6, 2011, when he introduced Apple’s iCloud storage system. The Apple co-founder died four months later.

Tim Cook gave his first WWDC keynote at the 2012 conference, where he announced new models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops.

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Highlights from Apple’s WWDC

Apple unveils new MacBook Pro

Has Apple lost its cool factor?

(CNN) — Tiger Woods will be reunited with his former caddy at next week’s U.S. Open after the world’s top three golfers were paired together in the opening two rounds in Pennsylvania.

The dream trio of Woods, Rory McIlroy and Masters winner Adam Scott will tee off from the first hole at the Merion Golf Club on Thursday at 1:14 p.m. local time and then at 7:44 a.m. on the 11th hole on Friday, the United States Golf Association said.

It prompted the slumping McIlroy to take to twitter, writing “Decent group for the first 2 rounds at Merion I see….”

Woods split with his caddy, Steve Williams, in 2011 in a move that left the New Zealander in “shock.” Williams was beside Woods for 13 of his 14 major titles but now works with Scott.

Historic club to host U.S. Open

A golf coaching dynasty

Read: Woods doesn’t regret firing Williams

Williams later in 2011 apologized for making a racist remark aimed at Woods and this year reportedly said Woods should have been disqualified for an illegal drop at the Masters.

There’s more intrigue because Woods is firmly against anchored putting — while anchored putting helped Scott claim his first major at Augusta in April.

Last month, golf’s governing bodies ruled that the use of anchored putters will be banned from 2016.

Although he is the world No. 1, Woods hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open. World No. 2 McIlroy, meanwhile, missed the cut at last month’s PGA Championship in Wentworth, England, the flagship event on the European Tour.