The 1994 US Open at Oakmont was historic for two reasons, firstly it was the final US Open in which Arnold Palmer would compete and secondly it was the first play-off in the US Open since 1913 to feature two foreign born players and an American. Just as in 1913 one of Britain's leading players was to feature prominently along with a bright, new young talent from South Africa. Ernie Els was 24 years old and had won nine tournaments worldwide including the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic, his six-win season in 1992 on the Sunshine Tour (including South African Open, PGA and Masters) had made him the heir-apparent to Gary Player. He came to Oakmont off the back of a tie for 8th at the 1994 Masters and top 7 finishes in the 1993 US Open and Open Championship, he wasn't one of the favourites but he was tipped for major success in his career.
Els began his championship with a fine 2-under-par 69 in baking heat of the Pittsburgh summer to put himself in a group of four players tied for second place including Hale Irwin and Jack Nicklaus, one stroke behind Tom Watson.
The second day of the 94th United States Open belonged to the Scot Colin Montgomerie, 65 strokes moved him into sole possession of the lead going into the weekend at 6-under-par for the championship. Monty had won five times on the European Tour and had finished in a tie for third place in the 1992 US Open at Pebble Beach, he was 30 years old and seen as a contender to win majors and become the successor to Sandy Lyle as a major champion in Scotland. Montgomerie's achievements on that steamy Friday at Oakmont were somewhat overshadowed by Arnold Palmer's final ever round in the US Open along with a series of events all taking place on a remarkable and surreal summer day in the United States of America.
Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and was idolized by the golfers and fans in the state. He had played in 31 US Open championships but none since 1983 and had received an exemption from the USGA to play in his home state for the 1994 US Open. Palmer's iconic career was defined by his seven major championships including one US Open, his most famous defeat coming at Oakmont in 1962 in (as luck would have it) an 18-hole play-off to Jack Nicklaus. It was an emotional afternoon in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
On the same day the FIFA World Cup was opening in Chicago, the New York Rangers were celebrating their first Stanley Cup win in 54 years (they haven't won it since), the Houston Rockets were playing in the NBA Finals fifth game against New York Knicks and OJ Simpson was on the run (car chase) from the LAPD on a charge of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. Five unique events from coast to coast in the United States of America which somewhat overshadowed the fact that Scotland's Colin Montgomerie stood on the verge of becoming the first British winner of the US Open in 24 years.
The third round saw Monty stumble to a 73 and Ernie Els and Loren Roberts pounce with rounds of 66 and 64 respectively. Els held the lead after Saturday at 7-under-par, two strokes clear of Frank Nobilo and three clear of Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and the aforementioned Loren Roberts, or the "boss of the moss" as he was known. Roberts had won his first title at Bay Hill in March of 1994 and had finished in the top five of the most recent PGA Championship and Masters Tournament.
The play-off was a scrappy affair in comparison to the four days of the championship proper and Els got off to a shocking bogey-treble bogey start to fall three behind Roberts after two holes. The South African fought back though, making birdies at 3, 7 and 9 to tie Roberts after 9 on 2-over-par, Montgomerie was four adrift on 6-over-par. A double-bogey at the 11th buried the Scots hopes and left Els and Roberts to battle for the title, and a bogey from Els at 12 gave the American the lead with just 6 to play. A bogey from Roberts at the 16th saw the pair draw level again and they both birdied 17 to set up a sensational finale to the play-off. They parred the 18th and went into extra holes, both made par at the 10th before Roberts bogeyed the 11th and allowed Els to two-putt for his first major title. For so long the 1994 US Open Championship was about birdies but the final day became a battle to avoid making the most bogeys, and in the end Roberts made one more than Els at the crucial moment.
Els began his championship with a fine 2-under-par 69 in baking heat of the Pittsburgh summer to put himself in a group of four players tied for second place including Hale Irwin and Jack Nicklaus, one stroke behind Tom Watson.
The second day of the 94th United States Open belonged to the Scot Colin Montgomerie, 65 strokes moved him into sole possession of the lead going into the weekend at 6-under-par for the championship. Monty had won five times on the European Tour and had finished in a tie for third place in the 1992 US Open at Pebble Beach, he was 30 years old and seen as a contender to win majors and become the successor to Sandy Lyle as a major champion in Scotland. Montgomerie's achievements on that steamy Friday at Oakmont were somewhat overshadowed by Arnold Palmer's final ever round in the US Open along with a series of events all taking place on a remarkable and surreal summer day in the United States of America.
Arnold Palmer was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and was idolized by the golfers and fans in the state. He had played in 31 US Open championships but none since 1983 and had received an exemption from the USGA to play in his home state for the 1994 US Open. Palmer's iconic career was defined by his seven major championships including one US Open, his most famous defeat coming at Oakmont in 1962 in (as luck would have it) an 18-hole play-off to Jack Nicklaus. It was an emotional afternoon in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
On the same day the FIFA World Cup was opening in Chicago, the New York Rangers were celebrating their first Stanley Cup win in 54 years (they haven't won it since), the Houston Rockets were playing in the NBA Finals fifth game against New York Knicks and OJ Simpson was on the run (car chase) from the LAPD on a charge of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. Five unique events from coast to coast in the United States of America which somewhat overshadowed the fact that Scotland's Colin Montgomerie stood on the verge of becoming the first British winner of the US Open in 24 years.
The third round saw Monty stumble to a 73 and Ernie Els and Loren Roberts pounce with rounds of 66 and 64 respectively. Els held the lead after Saturday at 7-under-par, two strokes clear of Frank Nobilo and three clear of Hale Irwin, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and the aforementioned Loren Roberts, or the "boss of the moss" as he was known. Roberts had won his first title at Bay Hill in March of 1994 and had finished in the top five of the most recent PGA Championship and Masters Tournament.
At the start of the Sunday's final round, Els was the beneficiary of a controversial ruling. After he hit his opening drive into deep rough, tournament officials ruled that a broadcast truck was in his line of play. He was allowed to take a drop in a spot where escape was much more likely, but still ended up with a bogey on the hole. Afterwards, officials admitted that the ruling was wrong, and Els should have been forced to play from his original location. Roberts and Montgomerie both recorded a 70 (–1) in the round to challenge Els. Roberts could have won the championship outright, but he missed a par putt on the 18th. Els needed par on the last to hold off Roberts and Montgomerie, but he hit his drive into the rough and made bogey from there, forcing a three-way play-off. It the first three-way play-off at the U.S. Open in 31 years, when Julius Boros defeated Bob Charles and Palmer in 1963.
The play-off was a scrappy affair in comparison to the four days of the championship proper and Els got off to a shocking bogey-treble bogey start to fall three behind Roberts after two holes. The South African fought back though, making birdies at 3, 7 and 9 to tie Roberts after 9 on 2-over-par, Montgomerie was four adrift on 6-over-par. A double-bogey at the 11th buried the Scots hopes and left Els and Roberts to battle for the title, and a bogey from Els at 12 gave the American the lead with just 6 to play. A bogey from Roberts at the 16th saw the pair draw level again and they both birdied 17 to set up a sensational finale to the play-off. They parred the 18th and went into extra holes, both made par at the 10th before Roberts bogeyed the 11th and allowed Els to two-putt for his first major title. For so long the 1994 US Open Championship was about birdies but the final day became a battle to avoid making the most bogeys, and in the end Roberts made one more than Els at the crucial moment.
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