He is the player who won the US Open despite shooting 13 over par in the highest winning score ever recorded

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The US Open is widely regarded as the year’s most challenging major. Traditionally, lightning-fast greens and thick rough make winning the championship extremely difficult.

Oakmont will host the 2025 US Open, and talk around the course’s ‘insane’ greens has already emerged. What’s more, back in 2016, Phil Mickelson said Oakmont was the hardest course he’s ever played.

2024 venue Pinehurst also provided a stern test. The Donald Ross design saw the world’s best players tackle treacherous turtleback greens. Bryson DeChambeau would eventually clinch victory with a score of six under.

Unsurprisingly, there have been several over-par winning scores in the US Open, and none were bigger than Olin Dutra’s 13-over-par victory in 1934.

Highest ever US Open winning score

Merion Golf Club, the scene of Justin Rose’s first major win, was the stage for Dutra’s history-making victory.

Eight shots back after 36 holes, Dutra produced a stunning turnaround to finish one shot clear of Gene Sarazen. Dutra’s comeback win was the largest 36-hole turnaround in the competition’s history until Arnold Palmer broke the record in 1980.

Scot Bobby Cruickshank appeared in control of the tournament at two over through 36 holes. However, a 77 in round three saw Sarazen hold the lead heading into the final round. Sarazen would shoot 76 to finish at 14 over.

Dutra’s US Open victory was his second major title after he won the PGA Championship in 1932.

• READ MORE: Why Tiger Woods withdrew from his first ever US Open after only playing five holes on day two at Shinnecock Hills

The other times the US Open has been won with an over-par score

Looking back at more recent editions of the US Open, over-par scoring has become a rare occurrence.

Seven years ago at Shinnecock Hills was the last time an over-par score won the championship. Brooks Koepka finished one-over to seal back-to-back titles.

Before that, Rose’s win at Merion (one over) was the last time a score above par was enough to seal victory. Webb Simpson won at the same number in 2012 at the Olympic Club.

Five years before Simpson’s win in San Francisco, Angel Cabrera won at five over (Oakmont) and in 2006, Geoff Ogilvy won with an over-par score after Phil Mickelson crumbled on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot.