GOLF Play-Off After U.S. Open Tie

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 5

GOLF Play-Off After U.S. Open Tie

<N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

OAKMONT (Pennsylvania), June 17

A. Palmer, the British open champion, and J. Xickiaus tied for first place in the United States Open Golf Championship yesterday. They wil] play off today.

Palmer needed a birdie 3 at the final hole for victory. He missed his putt from 10ft, and had to be content with a par 4. Nicklaus pulled up two strokes on Palmer in the final round with a two-under-par 69. Palmer took 71. and both players finished on 283 for four rounds. The play-off is over 18 holes. Nicklaus, aged 22, a former Walker Cup player, turned professional only seven months ago. Palmer, and the thick-set Nicklaus, who has yet to win a tournament as a professional, had the record crowd on its toes throughout the final nine holes. Final 18 Holes 'Nicklaus completed the final 18 holes—the second round of the day—in a two-under-par 69 But, Palmer, in spite of putting worries, stayed with him. The Masters champion needed a birdie 3 on the final hole to win. Palmer drove mightily into long grass to the left of the green and chipped out to within 10ft of the pm. He a;-neared to have the title in his pocket, but hit his putt too firmly and the ball rolled 4ft beyond the hole. He sunk his second putt safely to tie with Nicklaus. The lone Australian in the final rounds, B. Crampton, finished with 75 and 81 today for a four-round total of 304—20 over par. Palmer will be favoured over his rival in tomorrow’s duel, which could bring him the second leg in his bid for an unprecedented professional "grand slam.” Palmer could win the Masters, United States and British opens and United States P.G.A. titles in a single year. B. Hogan won three of them in 1953, but failed to play in the P.G.A, Palmer and Nicklaus, two of the biggest hitters in modern golf, were paired in the opening two rounds of the tournament. During this stretch. Palmer had an edge, with 71, 68. to Nicklaus’s 72. 70. Today's battle for the sixtysecond open, played in sweltering heat over the Oakmon’s awesome string of furrowed sand traps and rolling table-top greens, developed into a two-man battle in the afternoon after other challengers had fallen behind. P. Rodgers made a strong bid for victory but took one over scores on the sixtyninth and seventieth holes for a 72 and a total of 285. This tied him with R. Nichols, who had shared the lead with Palmer at the 54hole mark. Nichols finished with a 73, after going over par on two of the last four holes. A record crowd of nearly 25.990, shouting encouragement to their local hero. Palmer, added to the intense pressure of the rigorous, excitement-loaded 36 - hole trial. Coming into the finishing holes, with a television audience looking on. both Palmer

and Nicklaus had to sink good-sized pressure putts. On the seventeenth, where he had an eight-footer for a birdie. Palmer paused and turned around, asking for '■quiet.” Then he missed. Asked later what he thought about playing Nicklaus tomorrow. Palmer said: ”1 wish it were somebody else. I thought I was through with him yesterday.” Nicklaus. the 1959 and 1961 United States amateur champion, had closing rounds of 72 and 69. On the morning round, he drove well but failed to get the putt down on several birdie opportunities. In the afternoon he had three birdies. “I thought I played well.” he said. “I was especially pleased with my chipping—l'm not a very good chipper.” The defending champion. G. Littler finished poorly, with rounds of 72. 75, for 290 G. Brewer had a last round of 69 for 287, followed by South Africa's G. Player and T. Jacobs at 288. The best round of the tournament was turned in by an amateur. D. Beman, former United States and British champion, who tied Hogan's 1953 competitive course record with a 67. But he had a morning round of 89 and finished at 293. J. Nicklaus. 72. 70. 72, 69—283; A. Palmer. 71. 68 . 73, 71—283; R. Nichols. 70, 72. 70, 73—285; P. Rodgers, 74. 70. 69, 72—285; G. Brewer. 73. 72. 73. 69—287: G. Player (South Africa). 71, 71, 72. 74—288; T. Jacobs. 74, 71. 73, 70—288; G. Littler, 69. 74. 72. 75—290; W. Maxwell 71, 70, 75. 74—290; D. Ford. 74. 75, 71, 70—290.