Virtual U.S. Open: Palmer, Boros and other challengers

Gary Player, 1965 (1957-1966), -1.05

Tom Watson, 1982 (1974-1983), -1.05

As with Arnold Palmer, the careers of these two Hall of Famers were so glorious that it seems impossible that each only won one U.S. Open.

Player actually made a serious run at the championship in his 1958 debut at Southern Hills. Hobbled by an opening-round 75 that left him four strokes off the pace, he recovered with rounds of 68, 73 and 71 to finish second, although never able to close on the winner, Tommy Bolt.

At Bellerive in 1965, he survived a test that baffled many of the game’s greats, including Arnold Palmer, who missed the cut. Jack Nicklaus survived for four rounds but finished back in 32nd place, 17 strokes out of the lead.

The one man who managed to stay with Player was Australian Kel Nagle, who matched his score of two-over 282 for 72 holes. In the playoff, Player led all the way and won by three strokes.

Watson’s 1982 victory at Pebble Beach is memorable for his pitch in from the rough at 17 to beat Nicklaus by two. He was well-positioned to repeat one year later at Oakmont, birdieing four of the first six holes on Sunday to build a three-stroke lead over Seve Ballesteros and Larry Nelson.

Tom Watson held his three-stroke advantage through the front nine, but rain delayed the conclusion of play until Monday morning. When it resumed, Watson’s bogeys at the 10th, 12th, and 17th opened the door for Nelson, who played the back nine under par to beat him by one.

In 1987 at Olympic, Watson again had a chance at a second title. But a 45-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole barely missed, denying him entry into a playoff with Scott Simpson, who took the championship.