US Open – 20 Top Triumphs and Upsets to Remember

#3: Local son Francis Ouimet (center) beat the odds to come out on top at the Country Club in the 1913 US Open.

In 1913, America was treated to one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of sports. 20-year-old American Francis Ouimet won the US Open at the Country Club at Brookline, Massachusetts, taking down a couple of legends of the game in the process.

Ouimet, a Massachusetts native and sporting goods store employee, was a keen amateur golfer and had played the Country Club many times. After being knocked out of the US Amateur in early September, he was invited to participate in the upcoming US Open, which had been postponed in order to accommodate British superstars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray. Ouimet accepted, setting up one of the most stunning major triumphs ever.

Improbably, Ouimet found himself tied for the lead with Vardon and Ray through 54 holes. After Friday’s final round, all three men signed for their 79s, leading to just the sixth playoff in the tournament’s history.

On Saturday, scoring conditions remained tough; Vardon shot a 77, while Ray finished with a 78. Ouimet, on the other hand, finished with a one-under 72 to win over the two biggest stars of the day, proving that David and Goliath stories really can happen in a sport as unpredictable as golf.

Next: 2000: Tiger Woods