On this date in 1911, John McDermott made history by becoming the first American-born champion of the U.S. Open when he defeated George Simpson and Mike Brady in a playoff at Chicago Golf Club.
The 61st Open Championship ended on this date in 1926 with Bobby Jones winning his first title, at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, two strokes ahead of Al Watrous.
The 50th Open Championship ended on this date in 1910 with James Braid winning for his fifth and final time, by four strokes over Sandy Herd at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
One of Arnold Palmer’s rough days in golf took place on this date in 1963. He lost the second of three U.S. Open playoffs in his career. Julius Boros won at The Country Club in Massachusetts, shooting 70. Jacky Cupit was second with 73 and Arnold third with 76.
The rain-plagued 2009 U.S. Open ended on this date at Bethpage State Park Black Course on Long Island, with Lucas Glover winning his only major to date by two shots over Phil Mickelson, Ricky Barnes and David Duval.
One of golf history’s milestones took place on this date in 1965 when South African Gary Player defeated Australian star Kel Nagle, 71-74, in a playoff at Bellerive Country Club west of St. Louis to win the U.S. Open. The victory completed the career Grand Slam for Player at age 29. He had led by two shots after 54 holes over Frank Beard and Nagle, but Nagle shot 69 to Player’s 71 to force the playoff. Player led by three shots after nine holes of the playoff and kept that advantage to the end.
Of the many times the U.S. Open ended on this date, here are some of the highly memorable winners: Alex Smith winning a playoff in 1910 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club; Tom Watson pitching in on 17 in 1982 at Pebble Beach; Ken Venturi surviving searing heat at Congressional in 1964; Arnold Palmer losing a playoff to Billy Casper in 1966 at the Olympic Club; Larry Nelson making a bomb at 16 in 1983 at Oakmont to win over Watson on a Monday; Curtis Strange winning a playoff in 1988 at The Country Club over Nick Faldo; Lee Janzen shooting sub-70 all week at Baltusrol in 1993; Ernie Els winning a playoff in 1994 at Oakmont; Retief Goosen taking the title in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills; Graeme McDowell surviving over Gregory Havret at Pebble Beach in 2010. Elsewhere, Bobby Jones also won the 1930 Open Championship on this date at Royal Liverpool.
One of golf history’s unfathomable results took place on this date in 1955 when major underdog Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan in an 18-hole playoff by three shots, at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, thereby denying Hogan of a record fifth U.S. Open victory.
Today’s date in golf is memorable in the sport for what happened on the day, not known by the date itself. It was 60 years ago that Arnold Palmer won his only U.S. Open, at Cherry Hills Country Club, knocking off a seven-shot deficit with a round to go by shooting a 65 and winning a generational battle that included Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus. It was Arnold’s 19th PGA Tour victory and third overall major. He would be in contention for many more U.S. Open titles but never win again, losing three playoffs. The upside from 1960 was his elevation to a global golf superstar.
Of the many U.S. Opens that ended on this date, two happened in back to back years 1961 and 1962. In 1961, Gene Littler won his only pro major at Oakland Hills, and in 1962, the legendary playoff between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus was played on this day at Oakmont, with Nicklaus winning his first major by three shots as a rookie.
The USGA hopes it will be able to hold the U.S. Open September 17-20, postponed from this coming weekend at Winged Foot because of the global health crisis. On this date in 1974 the notorious U.S. Open at Winged Foot, called a “massacre” because of the 7-over-par winning score, came to a merciful halt with Hale Irwin winning his first of three U.S. Opens by two shots over Forrest Fezler. The 36-hole cut came at 13 over par.
On this date in 1947, Sam Snead had one of his four runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open. He played Lew Worsham in a playoff at St. Louis Country Club, and led by two with three holes to go. But Worsham birdied 16 and Snead bogeyed 17. On the 18th, a controversial finish on the putting green was part of a Snead three-putt bogey as Worsham saved par to win the playoff 69-70. It was Worsham’s only major victory.
The USGA hopes it will get to conduct the U.S. Open this September at the outstanding Winged Foot Golf Club, having postponed it from this coming week due to the health crisis. On this date in 1959, Billy Casper won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot for his first of two National Opens. He finished a shot ahead of Bob Rosburg.
A few legendary figures in golf won majors on this date. In 1895, J.H. Taylor won a second straight Open Championship, this at St. Andrews, beating Sandy Herd by four shots. The following year, Taylor had a third straight title halted by Harry Vardon, who won at Muirfield in a 36-hole playoff. And in 1953, Ben Hogan won the U.S. Open by six shots over Sam Snead at Oakmont, taking the title for a fourth time.
One of the U.S. Open championships that concluded on this date was Byron Nelson’s 36-hole playoff victory over Craig Wood and Denny Shute at Philadelphia Cricket Club.
A pair of Open Championships ended on this date, with the champion on each occasion winning for the fourth time. In 1903 at Prestwick, Harry Vardon won by six shots over his younger brother Tom. And in 1909, J.H. Taylor won at Royal Cinque Ports, also by six shots, over James Braid and Tom Ball.
On this date in 1904, The Open Championship was ended at Royal St. George’s Golf club with Jack White the winner by one shot over the legendary twosome and future five-time winners James Braid and J.H. Taylor.
On this date in 1898, Harry Vardon won his second Open Championship, at Prestwick GC, by one shot over Willie Park Jr.
On this date a pair of men’s majors ended. The 39th Open Championship ended in 1899 with Harry Vardon winning for the third time, by five shots over Jack White. And in 1935, surprise winner Sam Parks Jr. won the U.S. Open at Oakmont at a whopping 11 over par, by two shots over long-hitting Jimmy Thomson.
On this date in 1900, the Open Championship was completed at the Old Course in St. Andrews, won by J.H. Taylor by eight strokes over Harry Vardon. It was Taylor’s third of five Open victories.