On this date in 1963, Arnold Palmer shot 77-74 in the final rounds to fall into three-way U.S. Open playoff, and in 1975, he shot a final-round 73 in U.S. Open to finish T-9 in his final top-10 in the championship.  On this day in 2009, Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black G.Cse. at four under par, two ahead of Ricky Barnes, Phil Mickelson and David Duval. Rain forced having a Monday finish. It was one of Mickelson’s record six runner-up U.S. Open finishes. The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage this fall.

On this date in 1954, Arnold Palmer finished as low amateur in the Penn Open. In U.S. Open dates, on this date in 1971, Lee Trevino took down Jack Nicklaus in a playoff at Merion Golf Club, 68-71, to win his second U.S. Open. Trevino memorably goofed around with Jack using a rubber snake he had in his golf bag on the first tee and many thought it was a way to psyche out Jack before the playoff began. Lee always maintained it was an innocent goof and it was his great play that carried him through. 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.

On this date in 1964, Arnold Palmer shot 75-74 at the U.S. Open to tie for 5th behind Ken Venturi. And in 1966, Palmer lost an 18-hole U.S. Open playoff 69-73 to Billy Casper after his infamous collapse on June 19. On this date in 1982, Missouri/Kansas native Tom Watson hit a tremendous shot on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach, for a birdie, en route to winning the U.S. Open and spoil Jack Nicklaus’ effort at winning a record fifth U.S. Open. Watson had a bad result on this date in the U.S. Open 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.

On this date in 1955, one of the biggest upsets in golf history took place when Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan in an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open held on the Olympic Club Lake Course. Fleck shot 69 to Hogan’s 72, cementing his name in golf lore by defeating the mighty Hogan, who was foiled in trying to capture a record fifth U.S. Open, a record. Instead it was Fleck’s only major win. For Arnold Palmer, on this date in 1955, he won his first-ever U.S. Open money, $226.15. And in 1983, he completed his fourth U.S. Open held at Oakmont (T-60), which is where J.J. Spaun just won in dramatic fashion.

One of the special days in all of golf history took place on this day in 1960 when Arnold Palmer played his second 18 of the day, the final round, in 65 to overcome a seven-shot deficit and win his only U.S. Open, at Cherry Hills, in Colorado. View the “this day in golf history” home page photo and you’ll see the first hole at Cherry Hills from that Open, taken one day before Palmer’s final round heroics when he drove the first green and made birdie. He is in this photo, in orange shirt, alongside Cary Middlecoff, watching Jack Fleck tee off. In a generational classic, Ben Hogan had a chance for a fifth title but faltered in the final holes and ended four strokes back.

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.

Lee Trevino won his first U.S. Open on this date in 1968 on the East Course at Oak Hill C.C. in Rochester, N.Y. He tied the tournament scoring record and finished four shots ahead of second-place Jack Nicklaus. It was also the first PGA Tour win for Trevino, then 28. Also, on today’s date in 1974 was one U.S. Open that will live in golf infamy. Hale Irwin won the 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. And on this date for Arnold Palmer in the U.S. Open, in 1967 he shot a second-round 68 and would finish second to Nicklaus; in 1974 he shot a final-round 76 for a T-5; in 1977 he shot a first-round 70 and would finish T-19. In 1963 he won the Thunderbird Cl. in a playoff.

With the U.S. Open set for a survival-of-the-fittest type finish today at Oakmont, on this date in 1980, with the drama that few can match, Jack Nicklaus won his fourth U.S. Open, holding off Japan’s Isao Aoki at Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J. Nicklaus shot 63 in the first round then had to stay sharp the rest of the way with Aoki right on his heels all the way to the end, finishing second by two shots. Also, on this date in 1947, Sam Snead lost an 18-hole playoff to Lew Worsham in the U.S. Open at St. Louis C.C., 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 1952, Julius Boros won his first U.S. Open at Northwood Golf Club in Dallas. He would win again in 1963 and win the PGA in 1968. 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. One of the game’s great putters, Casper famously played the West Course’s par-3 third hole by laying up off the tee in the hole’s narrow opening to the green and got up and down for par all four rounds.

A U.S. Open champion will be decided in two days at Oakmont C.C. On this date in 1953, Ben Hogan won his fourth U.S. Open title, at Oakmont, to tie for the most ever with Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson. It was an incredible performance where he was five under par for 72 holes and won by six shots over Sam Snead. It was the second of three majors for the year. On this date in 1948, Arnold Palmer was the low amateur at the Ligonier C.C. Pro-Am, and in 1960 Palmer appeared on the Sports Illustrated cover with Dow Finsterwald and Ken Venturi.

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. And on this date in 1939, Byron Nelson won the 43rd U.S. Open at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, after two playoff rounds against Craig Wood and Denny Shute.

With the U.S. Open this week being played at Oakmont C.C., on this date in 1953, Arnold Palmer shot an 84 at Oakmont in his first-ever U.S. Open round. Also at Oakmont on this date, in 1962, Palmer cut his right-hand middle finger loading his car trunk pre-U.S. Open. And on this date in 1950, Ben Hogan memorably won the 50th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in a playoff with Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio after finishing four rounds with scores of 287. Hogan shot 69 in the playoff to Mangrum’s 73 and Fazio’s 75. The victory culminated Hogan’s comeback from a severe auto-bus accident in 1949 that nearly took his life.

Johnny Goodman won the U.S.. Open on this date in 1933 at one under par at North Shore C.C. in Illinois, making him the last amateur to win the championship and any major. Goodman was from Omaha, Nebraska, and won by a shot over the more heralded Ralph Guldahl. On this date in 1960, Arnold Palmer shot a second-round 66 at Oklahoma City Open and eventually finished 3rd.   

Lawson Little won the U.S. Open on this date in 1940 in a playoff with sentimental favorite Gene Sarazen at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. Little shot 70 in the playoff to Sarazen’s 73. Also, the intense sectional U.S. Open qualifying stage was held this week for the 121st U.S. Open later in June. And 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. Parks, an area native, won with a score of 299, 11 over par. Also, in 1970, Arnold Palmer received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Wake Forest. And in 2010, Palmer, Nicklaus, Player played an 19-hole scramble, The Big Three for Mountain Mission Kids School, Grundy, Va., raising a record $15 million.

The Curtis Cup, a match between American and Great Britain & Ireland women amateurs, ended on this date in the past. In 1952, at Muirfield in Scotland,  GB&I came out on top, 5-4. In 1980, at St. Pierre Golf & C.C. in Wales, it was the Americans emerging on top, 13-5. In that playing, the U.S. featured stars Patty Sheehan and Carol Semple. Also, 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.

This is the time of year for U.S. Open anniversaries, both men’s and women’s. With this month’s U.S. Open at Oakmont starting on the 12th, on this date in 1936, Tony Manero won the U.S. Open at Baltusrol in New Jersey. He was the surprise winner, by two shots over Harry Cooper. The name Tony Manero is known in Connecticut for the excellent restaurant he owned in Greenwich. Manero died at age 84 in 1989. Maja Stark won the women’s open on June 1 at Erin Hills. On this date in 1999, the U.S. Women’s Open ended at Old Waverly Golf Club with Juli Inkster setting a scoring record in winning by five shots.

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 at Worcester, Massachusetts, in a championship in which Jones’ sportsmanship was the legacy story. In Round 1, Jones called a penalty on himself that ended up by the final round being the difference from an outright victory and he and Macfarlane tying after regulation. They played a playoff that went 36 holes, with Macfarlane winning by one shot, on the final hole when Jones bogeyed. Because of the format the two played six rounds in three days.

The inaugural Ryder Cup ended on this date in 1927 with the United States team defeating Great Britain, 9½-2½, at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. Walter Hagen was American captain and Ted Ray led GB. The U.S. won the singles session 6.5 to 1.5 for the final tally. Players who went 2-0 for the Americans were Hagen, Johnny Golden, Johnny Farrell, and Al Watrous. Also, in 1949, Arnold Palmer lost a two-player team match; his opponents were Babe Zaharias and his father, Deacon, at Latrobe C.C. And in 1973, in Ashland C.C., Ohio, exhibition, Palmer tied the course record of 66. And with U.S.Open Sectional qualifying completed on Monday for this month’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, in 1979, Palmer shot 72-69—141 to advance through sectional qualifying in Charlotte to play at Inverness.

The U.S. Women’s Open was played over the weekend at Erin Hills. On this date in 2001, defending champion Karrie Webb won the Women’s Open again, at Pine Needles Lodge, by eight shots. Also on this date, Walter Travis, born in Australia but a United States citizen, became the first foreigner to win the Amateur Championship in 1904. Already a winner of three of the previous four U.S. Amateurs, Travis, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, won at Royal St. George’s over Edward Blackwell in the final, 4 & 3.