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Lucas Glover held off thrilling late charges by fellow Americans Phil Mickelson and David Duval at Bethpage Black to win the 109th US Open.

Five strokes ahead of the field overnight with compatriot Ricky Barnes, Glover closed with a three-over-par 73 at a blustery and overcast course to triumph by two shots.

The 29-year-old, whose only previous US Tour victory came at the 2005 Disney Classic, kept his composure in nerve-jangling conditions to post a four-under total of 276.

"It was a test of patience today," a beaming Glover said after pocketing the winner's cheque for $1.35 million.

"It was tough. The golf course played fantastic but it was just hard today."

Tour rookie Barnes, who slid out of contention with five bogeys in seven holes from the fifth, had to settle for a share of second place after signing off with a 76.

Also at two under were three-times Major winner and crowd favourite Mickelson, who carded a topsy-turvy 70, and former world number one Duval, after a 71.

England's Ross Fisher eagled the par-five 13th to close to within a stroke of the lead before bogeying two of the last four holes for a 72 and fifth place at one under.

Mother Nature finally stepped aside after a rain-soaked week at Bethpage to allow the golf to dominate as the year's second Major came alive on the back nine.

Left-hander Mickelson spectacularly eagled the 13th to move into a tie for the lead with Glover at four under, striking a superb second shot to four feet and coolly knocking in the putt.

Roared on by huge galleries all week at his first Major since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer last month, Mickelson pumped his left fist in celebration.

His challenge faded, however, as he bogeyed the 15th and the par-three 17th, where his tee shot ended up in rough just short of the green.

Duval, bidding for his first title anywhere in the world since 2001, joined Glover atop the leaderboard with three consecutive birdies from the 14th.

But after ramming in an eight-footer on the 16th green to get to three under par he slipped back with a bogey at the tricky 17th, where his par putt horseshoed out from four feet.

Glover, who held a slender one-shot cushion with three holes to play, stumbled at the uphill par-four 15th after finding the first cut of rough on the right and three-putting for a bogey.

But the world number 71 immediately recovered with his only birdie of the day at the 16th, rolling in a six-footer to regain the outright lead at four under.

Moments later, Duval's bogey on 17 gave Glover a two-stroke cushion - but when overnight co-leader Barnes lined up a birdie putt on the last it seemed as if the winner might left needing to hold his slippery four-footer.

Barnes's putt somehow stayed up, however, giving Glover the luxury of two putts for the title.

Earlier in the day defending champion Tiger Woods had threatened to make himself a factor, but failed to make the most of his birdie opportunities as he closed with a one-under-par 69 to share sixth place at level-par 280.

"I gave myself a chance going into today," the American world number one said. "As well as I hit it all day today, to miss that many putts ... I've missed them all week, so that's just the way it is."

Reuters