South Africa's Retief Goosen held his nerve to clinchthe U.S. Openfor a second time, edging outPhil Mickelson by two shots with a closing one-over-par 71.

The laid-backGoosen, winner in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma, finished at four-under 276, with U.S. MasterschampionMickelson alone in second place after a matching 71 in brutal conditions at Shinnecock Hills.

Goosen led by two going into the final day but was overhauledby Mickelson over the closing stretch, the left-handed American moving one stroke clear with back-to-back birdieson 15 and 16.

But Mickelson, bidding to become the sixth player to win the first two majors of the year, immediately fell back, running up a double-bogeyat the par-three 17th after three- puttingfrom five feet.

Goosen, playing in the group behind, restored his two-shot advantage with a birdie on 16 and parred the final two holes to seal the title.

"I made a few good pars coming in, which you need to do in the U.S. Open," the 35-year-old Goosen told reporters.

"When Phil started making a good run on the back nine, I knew I had to hang in there," added the South African, who needed only 24 putts Sunday, including 11 one-putts.

A disappointed Mickelson said: "I don't know what to say. I played some of the best golf of my life and still couldn't shoot par.