This Day in Golf History: June 17

Will J.J. Spaun’s heroic U.S Open victory Sunday at Oakmont C.C. become as iconic as two other U.S. Opens that ended on this date at Oakmont? It will take some doing. One was the 1962 event that ended in a playoff between Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, won by Jack, 71-74, for his first major, in his rookie season. The second was in 1973 when Johnny Miller shot a phenomenal final-round 63 to win by one over John Schlee. Nicklaus and Palmer tied for fourth in that one. Another U.S. Open finish on this date was in 1961 when Gene Littler won his only major. Palmer shot 70s in Rounds 3 and 4 that year to finish T-14. In 1966: Palmer shot a second-round 66 at the U.S. Open. Also at Oakmont, in 1994, Palmer finished his U.S. Open career at the 94th championship, missing the 36-hole cut.