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OAKMONT. — Dustin Johnson ended years of misery at the majors with a come-from-behind win in the US Open golf tournament at Oakmont, but he was given a huge fright late on over a potential rules violation.

The 31-year-old American on Sunday closed with a 69 for a four-under total of 276, three strokes clear of Scott Piercy (69), Jim Furyk (66) and Shane Lowry (76).

They were the only players to finish under par. Sergio Garcia (70) and Branden Grace (71) both ended level.

The victory was sweet for a player who bore the scar tissue of multiple near misses at the majors, most notably at last year’s US Open when he three-putted the final green to hand the win to Jordan Spieth.

Johnson was the third straight first-time winner of a major tournament after Jason Day won the PGA Championship last year and Danny Willett took the Masters in April.

But it was a perplexing final few holes for him after officials informed him at the 12th that he could be penalised for a potential rules violation back on the fifth green when his ball moved slightly as he prepared to putt.

As it turned out, the last few holes went his way. He finished with a birdie at the last and his margin was such that the victory could not be overturned even if he were penalised.

The United States Golf Association then announced that the penalty stroke would be applied.

“Feels good. Feels really good. Feels well deserved.

“I’ve had a lot of opportunities that I didn’t quite get it done. So this one’s definitely really sweet,” Johnson said. — AFP.