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1960 U.S. OPEN
WINNER: Arnold Palmer
A dozen players had legitimate
chances to win, including 47-year-old
Ben Hogan and 20-year-old amateur
Jack Nicklaus, but in the end, it was
Arnold Palmer who was crowned
king. With one round to play at Den-
ver's Cherry Hills, Palmer stood in
15th place, seven shots back. After a
sportswriter pal told him he was too
far behind to win, Palmer grabbed his
driver at the 346-yard, par-4 first hole,
drove the green and two-putted for
birdie. He birdied five of the next six
holes, going out in 30. When his final
putt for 65 dropped, Arnie flung his
visor toward his "Army" and flashed
that trademark Palmer grin.
1982 U.S. OPEN
WINNER: Tom Watson
While playing Pebble Beach in the
1960s as a Stanford student, Tom
Watson would fantasize that he and
Jack Nicklaus were competing head-
to-head for the U.S. Open title. In
1982, fantasy turned into reality. Wat-
son withstood a furious Nicklaus
final-round charge, and when the
Golden Bear finished at 4-under par,
Watson needed two pars to tie. At the
par-3 17th, Watson hit his 2-iron a
shade too hard, and his ball landed in
thick rough. "Get it close," said his
caddie, Bruce Edwards. "Hell, I'm
going to make it," responded Watson.
Indeed he did, knocking his sand
wedge into the cup. Another birdie
at 18 gave Watson his only U.S. Open
championship title.
1999 U.S. OPEN
WINNER: Payne Stewart
Best known for his velvety swing
and fancy pants, Payne Stewart
fought a stirring duel with Phil Mick-
elson, who sported a beeper that
waited to sound at any time, directing
Lefty to dash off the course to attend
the birth of his first child. After a see-
saw tussle that involved Mickelson,
Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and some
unusually misty weather, Stewart had
to hole a 20-footer at 18 to make par
and seal the victory. He rammed the
putt home and punched the air in
stunned ecstasy.
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