1959 U.S. Open (golf)


The 1959 U.S. Open was the 59th U.S. Open, held June 11–14 at the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, a suburb northeast of New York City. Billy Casper won the first of his two U.S. Open titles, a stroke ahead of runner-up Bob Rosburg on the West Course. It was the first of Casper's three major titles, which included the 1966 U.S. Open and the Masters in 1970.

Final round

Casper began the final round with a three-stroke lead over Ben Hogan, age 46, who struggled to a 76 and fell to 8th place. Rosburg made a run at Casper's lead when he holed out a bunker shot for birdie at 11 and made a putt for another birdie at 12 to draw even with Casper. A three-putt at the 13th meant Rosburg had to birdie the last to force a Monday playoff. His approach shot fell on the front of the green, short, and he two-putted to finish a stroke back. Casper's final round 74 was enough. The difference for Casper proved to be his putting; he needed only 114 putts over 72 holes with 31 one-putts and just one three-putt.
This U.S. Open was the first to be played over four days; thunderstorms and heavy rain delayed third round play on Saturday morning and the final round was postponed to Sunday.
The final round at the U.S. Open was first scheduled for Sunday in 1965.
Charlie Sifford, the pioneering African-American golfer, played in his first major championship, two years before the PGA of America allowed African-Americans to play on the PGA Tour; he finished in 32nd place.
Amateur Jack Nicklaus, 19, played in his third straight U.S. Open but missed the cut for the second time with two rounds of 77. He would place second the following year in 1960 to Arnold Palmer and win the first of his four titles in 1962 in a playoff over Palmer. After 1959, Nicklaus made 25 consecutive cuts at the U.S. Open, through 1984, also at Winged Foot.

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Missed the cut

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Round summaries

First round

''Thursday, June 11, 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo Par
T1Ben Hogan69–1
T1Dow Finsterwald69–1
T1Gene Littler69–1
T1Dick Knight69–1
5Hillman Robbins70E
T6Cary Middlecoff71+1
T6Arnold Palmer71+1
T6Billy Casper71+1
T6Gary Player71+1
T6Don January71+1
T6Mike Souchak71+1
T6Lionel Hebert71+1
T6Ted Kroll71+1
T6Don Fairfield71+1
T6Bo Wininger71+1

Second round

''Friday, June 12, 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo Par
1Billy Casper71-68=139–1
T2Arnold Palmer71-69=140E
T2Gary Player71-69=140E
T2Ben Hogan69-71=140E
T5Mike Souchak71-70=141+1
T5Doug Ford72-69=141+1
T7Ernie Vossler72-70=142+2
T7Dow Finsterwald69-73=142+2
T9Jay Hebert73-70=143+3
T9Claude Harmon72-71=143+3
T9Gene Littler69-74=143+3

Third round

''Saturday, June 13, 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo Par
1Billy Casper71-68-69=208–2
2Ben Hogan69-71-71=211+1
T3Sam Snead73-72-67=212+2
T3Bob Rosburg75-70-67=212+2
T3Arnold Palmer71-69-72=212+2
T6Claude Harmon72-71-70=213+3
T6Mike Souchak71-70-72=213+3
T6Doug Ford72-69-72=213+3
9Ernie Vossler72-70-72=214+4
10Lionel Hebert71-74-70=215+5

Final round

Sunday, June 14, 1959
PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo ParMoney
1Billy Casper71-68-69-74=282+212,000
2Bob Rosburg75-70-67-71=283+36,600
T3Claude Harmon72-71-70-71=284+43,600
T3Mike Souchak71-70-72-71=284+43,600
T5Doug Ford72-69-72-73=286+62,100
T5Arnold Palmer71-69-72-74=286+62,100
T5Ernie Vossler72-70-72-72=286+62,100
T8Ben Hogan69-71-71-76=287+71,350
T8Sam Snead73-72-67-75=287+71,350
10Dick Knight69-75-73-73=290+10900

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