1951 U.S. Open (golf)

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1951 U.S. Open
Tournament information
Dates June 14–16, 1951
Location Birmingham, Michigan
Course(s) Oakland Hills Country Club
South Course
Organized by USGA
Tour(s) PGA Tour
Statistics
Par 70
Length 6,927 yards (6,334 m)[1]
Field 160 players, 55 after cut
Cut 152 (+12)
Winner's share $4,000
Champion
United States Ben Hogan
287 (+7)
Oakland Hills Country Club is located in USA
Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills Country Club
Location in the United States

The 1951 U.S. Open was the 51st U.S. Open, held June 14–16 at the South Course of Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb northwest of Detroit. Ben Hogan won his second consecutive U.S. Open title, two strokes ahead of runner-up Clayton Heafner. Hogan missed the 1949 U.S. Open due to an automobile accident; this was his third title in his last three attempts.[1]

The South Course, dubbed "The Monster," played exceptionally tough for the first three rounds. No player shot had broke par, and Jimmy Demaret's 70 in the third round was the only score to equal par. Sam Snead owned the first round lead at 71 (+1), while Bobby Locke led after the second round at 144 (+4) and shared the lead with Demaret after the third at 218 (+8).

Two strokes back after a 71 in the third round on Saturday morning, Hogan played one of the finest rounds in U.S. Open history that afternoon. Even-par on the front nine, he birdied the 10th and 13th holes. After a bogey at 14, he responded with another birdie at 15. At the 72nd hole, Hogan hit his approach shot on the par-4 to 15 feet (5 m) and sank the birdie putt to post a 67 (–3), the lowest round of the week, one of two sub-par rounds for the round (and championship).[2] His 287 (+7) was two ahead of Heafner, who shot 69, the only other round under 70. At the trophy presentation, Hogan uttered the famous quote: "I'm glad I brought this course—this monster—to its knees."

This was the first U.S. Open that was notably toughened up by the USGA with narrow fairways and deep rough, attributing to "The Monster" nickname. The course also underwent a redesign by Robert Trent Jones prior to the championship, modifying the original Donald Ross design.[3]

The South Course previously hosted the U.S. Open in 1924 and 1937; the winning score in 1937 was 281, sixteen strokes less than in 1924.[3] It later hosted in 1961, 1985, and 1996, and the PGA Championship in 1972, 1979, and 2008.

Since Hogan repeated as champion in 1951, only Curtis Strange has won consecutive U.S. Open titles, in 1988 and 1989.

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Player Country Year(s) won R1 R2 R3 R4 Total To par Finish
Ben Hogan  United States 1948, 1950 76 73 71 67 287 +7 1
Lloyd Mangrum  United States 1946 75 74 74 70 293 +13 T4
Lew Worsham  United States 1947 76 71 76 73 296 +16 T14
Cary Middlecoff  United States 1949 76 73 79 73 301 +21 T24
Gene Sarazen  United States 1922, 1932 74 76 76 77 303 +23 T35
Craig Wood  United States 1941 76 72 82 77 307 +27 T47

Missed the cut

Player Country Year won R1 R2 Total To par
Billy Burke  United States 1931 77 77 154 +14
Lawson Little  United States 1940 76 79 155 +15
Tony Manero  United States 1936 77 79 156 +16
Sam Parks, Jr.  United States 1935 79 79 158 +18

Source:[4][5]

Final leaderboard

Saturday, June 16, 1951

Place Player Country Score To par Money ($)
1 Ben Hogan  United States 76-73-71-67=287 +7 4,000
2 Clayton Heafner  United States 72-75-73-69=289 +9 2,000
3 Bobby Locke South Africa South Africa 73-71-74-73=291 +11 1,500
T4 Julius Boros  United States 74-74-71-74=293 +13 700
Lloyd Mangrum  United States 75-74-74-70=293
T6 Al Besselink  United States 72-77-72-73=294 +14 387
Dave Douglas  United States 75-70-75-74=294
Fred Hawkins  United States 76-72-75-71=294
Paul Runyan  United States 73-74-72-75=294
T10 Al Brosch  United States 73-74-76-72=295 +15 187
Smiley Quick  United States 73-76-74-72=295
Skee Riegel  United States 75-76-71-73=295
Sam Snead  United States 71-78-72-74=295

References

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External links

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