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Memorial, U.S. Open exemption slip away from Levin

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TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND - JULY 16: Steve Surry of England hits a shot during round one of the 138th Open Championship on the Ailsa Course, Turnberry Golf Club on July 16, 2009 in Turnberry, Scotland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

DUBLIN, Ohio – Not only did Spencer Levin fail to pick up his first PGA Tour win on Sunday, he guaranteed himself an early wake-up call for the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Columbus on Monday.

Levin, the 54-hole leader, closed the Memorial Tournament with a 3-over 75 to tie for fourth on 5 under par.

The Californian appeared in control of the tournament until the 13th hole, when Levin followed a bogey at the par-3 12th with a double-bogey 6.

Blocked out after his tee shot to the right struck a tree, he pitched out to the fairway, leaving 40 yards for his third. He chipped his shot into the bunker. Three shots later, Levin had played himself out of the tournament.

‘To make 6 there was tough,’ he said. ‘That was a buzz kill. If I would’ve just somehow got that ball on the fairway on 13, it was probably going to be a different story.’

Instead, Levin’s story left him four shots behind Tiger Woods and two shots away from securing a spot in the U.S. Open.

Had Levin tied Andres Romero and Rory Sabbatini for second at 7 under par, he would have finished inside the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The top 60 in the ranking on June 11 are exempt into the U.S. Open. Levin would have been safe.

Levin now has a 7:20 a.m. tee time at Scioto CC to try to play his way into the U.S. Open.

‘I’m going to try and go get some sleep,’ he said. ‘I didn’t get any sleep last night, so I’ve got to try and go get some sleep today.’