Best U.S. Open Wins in PGA TOUR History
For over a century, the U.S. Open has been the setting of golf’s greatest moments. Different timeless courses throughout the sport’s history have hosted the celebrated major stateside, which called for different heroics from a wide array of golfing legends over the years. That said, let’s recount the highest of highs that the U.S. Open has delivered.
Nitrobetting is here to help turn your golf bets from bogeys to birdies. This time, let’s count down the five greatest wins in the history of the PGA TOUR’s U.S. Open and how those victories have shaped the enduring legacy of the widely-celebrated major tournament (in chronological order).
Top 5 Best U.S. Open Wins of All-Time
Francis Ouimet (1913)
Golf’s popularity in the United States would likely not have taken off had it not been for the storybook performance from then-amateur Francis Ouimet. The 1913 U.S. Open was held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, which also happens to be where Ouimet lived nearby and also served as a caddy on the Country Club’s course.
Ouimet threw his hat into that year’s U.S. Open and stunned the world, beating two former majors winners Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in a wet and grueling 18-hole playoff. Following Ouimet’s win, participation in golf tournaments in America skyrocketed nearly ten-fold. A movie starring Shia LaBeouf titled “The Greatest Game Ever Played” perfectly portrays Ouimet’s landmark moment as well.
Ben Hogan (1950)
Four-time U.S. Open champion Ben Hogan will often be remembered for his second win at the major back in 1950. After a near-fatal car crash derailed his momentum and threatened his life, Hogan played his heart out in Merion in a comeback for the ages.
Still bandaged and ailing from his injuries, Hogan battled his way to a three-way playoff against George Fazio and Lloyd Mangrum and winning the playoff in four strokes. This was all set up by a dazzling 1-iron shot followed by a daunting par in the 18th hole of regulation; with the latter 1-iron stroke being one of Hogan’s claim-to-fame moments.
Tom Watson (1982)
In another inspiring story about a local hero, Stanford graduate Tom Watson was thrilled to have the 1982 U.S. Open take place in Pebble Beach, where he spent countless hours practicing his craft. He couldn’t have asked for a better challenge than Jack Nicklaus, who was already a four-time U.S. champion at the time.
Watson and Nicklaus were tied heading into the 17th hole of the final round, with the former looking to deal the final blow in that hole. Watson chipped in a phenomenal birdie to take the lead in the 17th and would also sink a birdie in the final hole to beat Nicklaus in what many fans regard as the most thrilling finale to any U.S. Open in history.
Tiger Woods (2000)
By the turn of the millennium, Tiger Woods had already won The Masters and the PGA Championship. He then had his sights on the 2000 U.S. Open, which also happened to be hosted in Pebble Beach where Watson became a myth. And boy did the future Hall-of-Famer roar loud and maim his competition at that.
Woods dominated the field by winning a whopping 15 strokes. As of this writing, no golfer has even come close to a double-digit margin of victory, with Willie Smith’s 11-stroke win way back in 1899 being the only other instance of this rare feat. Tiger’s patented fist pump in celebration after a win has never looked as good as when he made U.S. Open history that year.
Tiger Woods (2008)
Arguably even more amazing than Woods’ 2000 U.S. Open victory was his third and final win at the major in 2008. Woods literally had to play on one leg after tearing a ligament in the first round of the tournament in Torrey Pines. And yet, he endured the pain and ended up batting it out with Rocco Mediate in an 18-hole playoff that would still not be decided after 18 holes of extra action.
A sudden-death playoff was set, and Tiger pounced on Mediate’s blunder in the 19th hole to win his 14th-career major tournament agonizingly and dramatically. It would take over a decade until Woods will have another historic moment by winning the 2019 Masters well past his prime, and it’s unbelievable moments such as these that prove why Woods is widely regarded as the greatest golfer to ever live.
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