U.S. OPEN : Janzen Makes Chip Off the Old History Book : Golf: His shot on 16th hole regains control and sends him to a two-stroke victory over Stewart. Winner’s score ties Nicklaus’ record.

It was on a different hole, on a different course, but Lee Janzen’s chip shot out of the rough for a birdie Sunday in the U.S. Open was reminiscent of a similar famous shot.

Janzen’s shot at the par-three 16th hole at Baltusrol Golf Club gave him a two-stroke lead over his playing partner and closest pursuer, Payne Stewart, and Janzen went on to win the U.S. Open by the same margin.

In 1982, Tom Watson sank a memorable chip shot out of the rough on the par-three 17th hole at Pebble Beach to break a tie with Jack Nicklaus and win the Open.

Watson was in the interview room after completing his round Sunday--he finished in a tie for fifth--when Janzen made his decisive shot.

“To heck with the interview, let’s see the replay,” Watson said.

When asked if Janzen’s shot reminded him of his own? Watson smiled and said, “Very poignantly, it reminded me of what happened at Pebble Beach. I’m happy for him. He’s a fine player.”

Janzen had a 72-hole score of 272, eight under par, tying Nicklaus’ U.S. Open record set on this same course in 1980. Janzen’s four rounds under par--67, 67, 69, 69--equaled Lee Trevino’s Open record set in 1968 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.

Moreover, Janzen, 28, is the youngest winner of the U.S. Open since Andy North won in 1978. North was also 28 at the time.

Even though Janzen had a two-stroke lead over Stewart, the 1991 Open champion, going to the par-five, 542-yard 18th hole, the edge wasn’t safe.

After his drive found the rough and Stewart’s was in the fairway, Janzen decided to lay up with a sand wedge, rather than try to carry a shot over a creek that is 350 yards from the tee.

“I debated about going over the water with a seven-iron, but that would have been the dumbest decision in the history of golf,” Janzen said.

After laying up, Janzen hit a four-iron that stopped eight feet behind the cup. Stewart’s second shot went into a greenside bunker. He got up and down for a birdie.

Janzen needed only to two-putt to win, but he sank his birdie putt.

“I could have hit it with my shoe,” Janzen said. “I knew it was going in.”

Janzen had a modest goal at the outset of the tournament--merely to make the cut.

Now he’s the U.S. Open champion. He earned $290,000.

Janzen was choked with emotion after his round. “I woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach, and it hasn’t gone away yet,” he said.

Stewart, 37, was a gracious loser. “I didn’t play as well as I would have liked to, but all the credit in the world goes to Lee Janzen,” he said. “The man, he just stood up there and he did it. Like I told you yesterday, he’s going to be around a long time. He’s a true champion.”

Asked what it means to him to win the U.S. Open, Janzen said: “To perform at my most absolute best the one important week of the year is just incredible. A lot of guys have better games than I do, but to come through like this is probably the over-achievement of my life.”

Janzen was asked if he gave himself any chance to win at the outset of the Open.

“My caddie and I had a little joke. I usually tell him I have no chance, and those are the weeks I play my best. More than anything it’s to take the intensity off,” Janzen said.

The final round of the Open evolved into match play between Janzen and Stewart when others failed to seriously challenge them.

Janzen had a one-shot lead over Stewart going into the final round. He still had a one-shot advantage after nine holes, but his tee shot on the par-four 10th hole landed in the rough, behind a tree.

Remarkably, Janzen’s second shot went through the trees and onto the green. He managed to par the hole and cling to his one-shot lead.

Stewart drew even on the 13th hole when Janzen three-putted. However, Janzen regained the lead when he made an 18-foot putt for a birdie while Stewart had to settle for par on the 14th hole.

Janzen still had a one-stroke lead going to the par-three, 216-yard 16th hole.

His tee shot landed in the front rough, about 30 feet from the cup. Stewart was on the green with his shot.

Janzen then used his sand wedge to get his decisive birdie and Stewart barely missed a 30-foot birdie putt.

“My putt was within a roll of being perfect,” Stewart said. “The pace was off just six inches, or not even that far.”

Janzen was asked if he was aware of Watson’s famous chip shot in the 1982 U.S. Open.

“I saw it on television at home, and I jumped up so high I hit a ceiling fan,” said Janzen, who was 17 at the time.

Janzen had a one-under-par 69 and Stewart finished with an even-par 70. Both struggled over the first 10 holes.

Stewart had hit only two fairways with his tee shots and Janzen four.

But they weren’t being challenged. Australian Craig Parry and Paul Azinger finished in a tie for third, five shots behind Janzen.

Janzen said he might have been destined to win, citing his shot that went through the trees on the 10th hole and his four-iron, third shot on the 18th.

Asked if he expects his life to change now that he is a U.S. Open champion, Janzen said:

“I know it’s going to change. I don’t know how yet, but I’m just going to wait and see. I’m not going to place any expectations on me to become a consistent majors winner. I’m going to enjoy this.”