U.S. Open: Ranking the 25 Most Dominant Performances in History
By Bill Felber
10. Jack Nicklaus, 1967, Baltusrol, -2.87
The 1967 U.S. Open presented one of those classic matchups golf fans frequently hope for but rarely get. At Baltusrol, Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer – along with defending champion Billy Casper — trailed surprise leader Marty Fleckman, an amateur, by one stroke through three rounds. But when Fleckman blew to a closing 80, the outcome quickly came down to a head-to-head battle between the reigning greats, Nicklaus and Palmer.
Palmer momentarily took command when Nicklaus bogeyed the second hole. But Jack recovered to string birdies at three, four and five, and built a four-shot lead through the turn.
It was five strokes by the 14th hole, and even though Palmer birdied the 7th and 18th Nicklaus made his advantage stand up to win by four. Jack came to the final hole, a par 5, needing a birdie to set the Open scoring record. He drove into the rough, pitched out, then drilled one of the iconic shots of his career, a 230-yard 1-iron to within 22 feet.
Naturally he made the putt to grab the record, and just as naturally he later downplayed it. “Records just come,” he said. “What you’re here for is to win a golf tournament.”