30 years ago, Palmer played in final U.S. Open at Oakmont; Els reigned
The 124th U.S. Open starts Thursday morning at Pinehurst.
Thirty years ago, South African Ernie Els won the national championship at famed Oakmont Country Club, another historic venue in the USGA anchor rotation that will host the event again in 2025 for a record 10th time.
Els, who has back-to-back wins on the Champions Tour this season, was just 24 when he overcame Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie in an extended playoff to win the 94th Open.
The win holds a special place for Els, known as “The Big Easy.” It was the first of his four major championship wins.
“To shoot 3-over in the playoff … it was a miracle,” Els told the PGA Tour Champions. “Anything could have happened. Somehow, I prevailed after 92 holes.
“Biggest win of my life. No question. Not even close.”
Sweltering heat in June of ‘94 made it a challenge for an elite field that included Latrobe legend Arnold Palmer who, at 64, played his final U.S. Open.
Late Tribune-Review sportswriter Rick Starr wrote it was so hot, “the USGA could have sold shade.”
Els earned his first victory on U.S. soil in a grueling week.
Els, Roberts and Montgomerie all finished at 5-under 279 after 72 holes and went to an 18-hole, Monday playoff.
Montgomerie shot 78 and was eliminated, but Els and Roberts battled to remain tied after matching 74s on the hard A sudden-death playoff began on No. 10 and, after a pair of pars, Els sealed the win with another par on No. 11.
The event finished on June 19, two years and two days before the birth of Scottie Scheffler.
Palmer, who didn’t play the weekend, hadn’t played in the U.S. Open since 1983, but received a special exemption to play in front of his Western Pennsylvania brethren.
He received a two-minute standing ovation as he walked up the 18th fairway.
Palmer’s press conference was brief and included long pauses as he tried to compose himself, dabbing his redrimmed eyes with a towel.
“I think … as I said many times recently … the whole experience,” Palmer said when asked what was the most fun part of the Open. “I suppose … the most important thing is the fact that it has been … as good as it has been to me.”
Palmer played his last Open round with Greensburg native Rocco Mediate.
“That ovation chilled me,” Mediate said. “I’ll remember (the round) forever.”
Friday of the ‘94 Open kept company with some other notable happenings in the word of sports, so much in fact that ESPN made a “30 For 30” about that day.
The police chase of O.J. Simpson held America’s attention while they watched Palmer’s last Open, the New York Rangers winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 years, the U.S hosting the World Cup in soccer, the New York Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals, and Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 30th home run of the season, tying Babe Ruth’s record for the most homers before June 30.
Some of these events were split-screened on television as police tailed Simpson’s white Bronco during a lowspeed chase on a Los Angeles freeway.
1994 U.S. Open
Winner: Ernie Els (-5), in an 18-hole playoff, and two holes of sudden death Winner’s share: $320,000 Runner-up: Loren Roberts, Colin Montgomerie (-5) Cutline: 147 (+5) First-round leader: Tom Watson (-3) Second-round leader: Colin Montgomerie (-6) Third-round leader: Ernie Els (-7) Fast facts: This was the last U.S. Open for ABC Sports, which televised the tournament since 1966. NBC took over until 2014, when Fox Sports grabbed the broadcasting rights. NBC regained the Open in 2020. … Oakmont played to a yardage of 6,946 yards. The 2016 Open there saw the venue stretched to 7,254 yards, with hundreds of trees wiped out. … Loren Roberts shot 64 for the low round of the week.
