June 17, 1962

The king of golf, playing on his home turf, can't hold back the advances of his young challenger. In a playoff for the U.S. Open at the Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, about 40 miles from Arnold Palmer's hometown of Latrobe, Arnie's Army watches its hero lose by three strokes to 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus.

Nicklaus quickly takes command, grabbing a four-stroke advantage after six holes. But when Palmer puts on one of his patented charges, birdieing nine, 11 and 12, the difference is down to a stroke. But Nicklaus maintains his composure and finishes with a par-71, while Palmer comes in at 74.

Not only does Nicklaus outdrive Palmer, he also continues to outputt him. Nicklaus, considered the best young golfer since Bobby Jones, doesn't three-putt today and only does so once for the entire 90 holes. Palmer three-putts three times to run his tournament total to 10.

"I never play conservatively," Nicklaus says. "You only lose that way." In winning his first professional tournament (Nicklaus turned pro the previous November), he becomes the youngest U.S. Open winner since Jones in 1923. He will win the tournament three more times.