| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 16–18, 1960 |
| Location | Cherry Hills Village, Colorado |
| Course(s) | Cherry Hills Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,004 yards (6,404 m)[1] |
| Field | 150 players, 55 after cut |
| Cut | 147 (+5) |
| Prize fund | $60,720[2] |
| Winner's share | $14,400 |
| Champion | |
 Arnold Palmer | |
| 280 (−4) | |
&sq=Albert Einstein&lang=en&file=File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png)
&sq=Albert Einstein&lang=en&file=File:USA_Colorado_relief_location_map.svg)
The 1960 U.S. Open was the 60th U.S. Open, held June 16–18 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. Arnold Palmer staged the greatest comeback in U.S. Open history, erasing a seven-stroke deficit during the final round to win his only U.S. Open title.[3][4][5] It is remembered as a crossroads for the three primary contenders in the final round: Palmer, Ben Hogan, and amateur Jack Nicklaus, three of the greatest players in the history of golf.[6][7]
Having already won the Masters, Palmer was half-way to the single-season Grand Slam with his win at Cherry Hills. His quest ended three weeks later at the British Open, when he lost to Kel Nagle by one stroke at St Andrews. Two weeks later, he finished five strokes back in a tie for seventh at the PGA Championship, the only major that eluded him for his career. This was Palmer's only victory at the U.S. Open; he finished second four times, including three losses in playoffs in 1962, 1963, and 1966.
This was the third major championship at Cherry Hills, which previously hosted the U.S. Open in 1938 and the PGA Championship in 1941. The U.S. Open returned in 1978 and the PGA Championship in 1985. The average elevation of the course exceeds 5,300 feet (1,620 m) above sea level.
- ^ Claassen, Harold (June 19, 1960). "Palmer takes Open as Ben Hogan fades". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. 2, Sports.
- ^ "U.S. Open history: 1960". USGA. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "Palmer's sensational 65 takes National Open". Pittsburgh Press. June 19, 1960. p. 1, section 1.
- ^ Garrity, John (May 9, 2010). "The fortunate eyewitnesses to the 1960 U.S. Open..." GOLF.com. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Wind, Herbert Warren (June 27, 1960). "Destiny's new favorite". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
- ^ McCabe, Jim (June 14, 2010). "Three eras intersected at 'wildest Open ever'". Golfweek. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Jenkins, Dan (June 19, 1978). "There's never been an Open like it". Sports Illustrated. p. 38.