Arnold Palmer rallies to win U.S. Open at Cherry Hills | June 18, 1960 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments
Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.
Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.
For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.
No. 11 — June 18, 1960
Cherry Hills Country Club hosted the 1960 U.S. Open, which back then saw the third and final rounds played on the final day. Arnold Palmer was tied for 15th after three rounds, seven strokes back of leader Mike Souchak. He caught Souchak to win by two strokes, firing a final-round 65. Palmer birdied Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 to zoom up the standings. Still marked by a plaque is Palmer driving the green on No. 1, a 346-yard par 4, considered a monster drive for its day. It was his first and only U.S. Open win and one of seven in golf’s majors with four wins in The Masters and two in the British Open.
— Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian