The US Open takes place at Oakmont Country Club next week and it’s safe to say the course has left its impression on many a golfer over the years, including a certain Arnold Palmer.
Palmer – winner of seven majors, including one US Open in 1960 – is one of the iconic figures of the game of golf and had the career to back up that iconic status.
Nevertheless, as with all careers in sport, Father Time catches up with everyone and so it proved for Palmer as he played his last ever US Open at Oakmont in 1994.
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Having not entered the tournament since 1983, Palmer opted in for the event at Oakmont and sadly missed the cut.
However, in what are now iconic and emotional scenes just after the 18th, Palmer did an interview which showed just how much he loved the game of golf before bowing out.
Arnold Palmer breaks down in emotional interview after his final US Open
It will come to all the greats of the game but for someone like Arnold Palmer, playing his last ever US Open was always going to be emotional.
This is a golfer who played in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and then the 90s, spanning a remarkable career over five decades, in which he won a professional event in all of but the 90s.
Indeed, in an interview shared by the US Open golf X channel earlier this year, Palmer’s iconic final interview at Oakmont was telling.
“That was pretty tough you know. When you’ve played here as long as I have. Just have to compose myself. It’s been 40 years and when you walk up the 18th and you get an ovation like that, I guess it says it all,” Palmer admitted.
Arnold Palmer’s US Open record at Oakmont Country Club
With Oakmont being so tough and on the circuit for the US Open, few players have much experience around there unless you stick around like Palmer did.
Palmer played in four US Opens at Oakmont, each with differing results.
He missed the cut in 1994 as described above, but in 1973 he did finish in T4.
His first two attempts, in 1953 and 1962, couldn’t have been anymore different as Palmer missed the cut in 53 – his first ever US Open – before going on to finish T2 in 62.
In fact, it was in 1962 that Palmer came closest to winning at Oakmont, as he battled with Jack Nicklaus only to lose to the Golden Bear in a playoff.
It’s safe to say, then, that Oakmont is going to be tough for this year’s players.
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