1962 U.S. Open (golf)
| Dates | June 14–17, 1962 |
|---|---|
| Location | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| Course(s) | Oakmont Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,894 yards (6,304 m) |
| Field | 150 players, 51 after cut |
| Cut | 150 (+8) |
| Prize fund | $73,800 |
| Winner's share | $17,500 |
 Jack Nicklaus
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| 283 (−1), playoff | |
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The 1962 U.S. Open was the 62nd U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh. Jack Nicklaus defeated 1960 champion Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole Sunday playoff that marked the beginning of their legendary rivalry. For Nicklaus, it was his first professional win, the first of four U.S. Open titles and a record 18 major championships. Though just 22, it was Nicklaus' sixth U.S. Open and tenth major, having played in four Masters. He had won the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961) and was the top amateur at the last two Opens, placing second to Palmer in 1960 and fourth in 1961.
Nicklaus earned $15,000 for his first professional win, and Palmer $8,000 as runner-up. Each received a playoff bonus of $2,500 from the Sunday gate receipts.
Only two of the six former champions in the field made the 36-hole cut, Palmer and defending champion Gene Littler.
Source:
Lengths of the course for previous major championships:
The first hole was a par 5 for the previous majors at Oakmont, set at 493 yards (451 m) in 1953.
Thursday, June 14, 1962
Defending champion Littler took the first round lead with a 69 (−2) before a record opening round gallery of 17,486, mostly following Palmer in the afternoon, paired with Nicklaus. The previous record was 13,916 in 1960 near Denver.
Friday, June 15, 1962
Palmer carded a 68 in the morning and Bob Rosburg a 69 to co-lead after 36 holes at 139 (−3), with Nicklaus three strokes back in a tie for fourth. Palmer and Nicklaus were paired together in the first two rounds. The second round attendance record was broken with 19,971 in the gallery, surpassing the previous mark of 15,225 set in 1961 near Detroit.
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