But Micheel got closer with his escape and when Karlsson missed his 15-footer, the Swede conceded the match.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

But former USPGA champion Micheel got back to all square with some solid golf and was one up after 18 holes.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

Micheel moved two ahead with a birdie at 20 but Karlsson got back to all square with a scrappy bogey at 27.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

Micheel's approach at 36 ricocheted off the grandstand into a greenside bunker, but Karlsson was unable to take advantage and followed him in.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

Masters champion Mike Weir lies second on level par, with Open champion Ben Curtis one over and USPGA winner Shaun Micheel two strokes back.

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Karlsson, like Casey a debutant at the event, went ahead after Micheel bogeyed the first and he doubled his lead with an eagle three at the fourth.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

Since 1958, when it switched from a matchplay to a strokeplay event, the USPGA has had a host of unheralded winners such as Rich Beem, Shaun Micheel, Mark Brooks, Steve Elkington and Wayne Grady.

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It remained nip and tuck down the final stretch, with Micheel edging ahead again with a birdie at 33, and Karlsson had to hole a six foot putt at 35 to keep the game alive.

BBC: SPORT | Golf | Casey crushes Monty to make final

Micheel, the 2003 US PGA champion, was first home with a 69 after mixing five birdies with three bogeys, while the 29-year-old De Jonge, playing in his first US Open, was helped by holing out with a wedge for an eagle at the par-five 14th.

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