On this date in 1928 at Olympia Fields Country Club, Johnny Farrell defeated Bobby Jones by a shot to win a 36-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open.
A pair of U.S. Open playoffs ended on this date. In 1963, Julius Boros defeated Arnold Palmer and Jacky Cupit at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, and in 1975, John Mahaffey lost to Lou Graham at Medinah Country Club near Chicago.
One of Phil Mickelson’s record six runner-up U.S. Open finishes took place on this date in 2009 when he, Ricky Barnes and David Duval placed two strokes behind Lucas Glover at Bethpage State Park Black Course on Long Island.
On this date in 1965, Gary Player of South Africa defeated Australia’s Kel Nagle in an 18-hole playoff at Bellerive to win an 18-hole U.S. Open playoff and at age 29 complete the career Grand Slam.
Tom Watson had good and bad results on this date in the U.S. Open in back-to-back years. In 1982 at Pebble Beach, he chipped in on No. 17 for a birdie and birdied the final hole as well to beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots. But in 1983, in a rain-delayed finish, Larry Nelson edged him by one shot due to holing a 40-foot putt on No. 16 at Oakmont.
One of the most shocking results in major history took place on this date in 1955 when Jack Fleck upset Ben Hogan in an 18-hole playoff at the Olympic Club to win by three shots. It would have been Hogan’s fifth U.S. Open, a record, but instead was Fleck’s only major.
One of the most pivotal U.S. Opens concluded on this day in 1960 when Arnold Palmer shot a final-round 65 to come back from seven shots behind and beat amateur Jack Nicklaus by two at Cherry Hills in Denver. In a generational classic, Ben Hogan had a chance for a fifth title but faltered in the final holes and ended four strokes back. The “this day in golf” photo on the home page shows Palmer with Cary Middlecoff on the first tee at Cherry Hills watching Jack Fleck tee off in the second round.
Here in mid-June, we encounter many dates on which the U.S. Open concluded. Of several, two in back-to-back years were in 1961 when Gene Littler won his only major and in 1962, when the playoff between Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer ended in a Nicklaus victory for his first major, in his rookie season.
Today’s date in 1974 is one that will live in golf infamy. Hale Irwin won the U.S. Open Championship with a score of seven over par in the famous Massacre at Winged Foot that took down Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, among others. It was Irwin’s first of three U.S. Open victories, this one by two over runner-up Forrest Fezler.
On this date in 1947, Sam Snead lost an 18-hole playoff to Lew Worsham in the U.S. Open at St. Louis Country Club, 69-70. An infamous moment took place on the final hole when both players had short putts for par to extend the playoff. After Snead ran his first putt up close, he thought he was out and was set to go right into his routine and putt. But Worsham protested he thought he might be out. But after a measurement, it was determined Snead indeed did have the honor. But perturbed at the delay, he missed and Worsham made his putt and won.
On this date in 1959, Bill Casper won the U.S. Open for the first time, at Winged Foot Golf Club, edging Bob Rosburg by one shot.
On this date in 1953, Ben Hogan won a fourth U.S. Open title and his second of three majors for the year at Oakmont Country Club, a six-shot victory over Sam Snead.
Ben Hogan won his first of four U.S. Opens on this date in 1948, shooting 68-69 in the final two rounds at Riviera Country Club to beat Jimmy Demaret by two shots.
On this date in 1950, Ben Hogan, the 1948 champion, won his second U.S. Open, the 50th overall, at Merion Golf Club, miraculously winning 16 months after his horrific auto collision that nearly took his life.
The last amateur to win a major, Johnny Goodman of Omaha, Nebraska, won the 1933 U.S. Open at North Shore Country Club on this date. He won by a shot over the more heralded Ralph Guldahl.
The intense sectional U.S. Open qualifying stage was held this week for the 121st U.S. Open later in June. On this date in 1934, Olin Dutra completed a comeback from eight shots behind after two rounds to win by one shot at the Merion Cricket Club.
One of the many surprise winners in U.S. Open History won on this date in 1935 at Oakmont when club pro Sam Parks Jr. beat long-hitting Jimmy Thomson by two shots.
On this date in 1900, the Open Championship ended at St. Andrews with J.H. Taylor of England winning for the third time, with Harry Vardon, for once, being totally dominated by finishing eight strokes back in second.
The U.S. Women’s Open will conclude today at the Olympic Club. On this date in 1999, the championship ended at Old Waverly Golf Club with Juli Inkster setting a scoring record in winning by five shots.
1902
The 1902 and 1931 Open Championships ended on this date with Scot Sandy Herd beating James Braid and Harry Vardon by one shot at Royal Liverpool for the former year, and The Silver Scot, Tommy Armour, winning by one shot in 1931 at Carnoustie. Also on this date, Bobby Jones lost the 1925 U.S. Open in a playoff by one shot to Willie Macfarlane.