Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer, 31, of Ligonier, Pa., made a record comeback in the final round to win the Championship. He tailed Mike Souchak, the 54-hole leader at 208, by seven strokes entering the last round. Palmer birdied six of the first seven holes, was out in 30, and finished with a 65. Palmer had a score of 72-71-72-65-280 at the par-71 Cherry Hills Country Club near Denver, Colorado. Jack Nicklaus of Columbus, Ohio recorded the lowest score ever made by an amateur in the Open with his 71-71-69-71 - 282 to take second place. This was the highest finish by an amateur since John Goodman won the Championship in 1933.

Besides his record comeback, Palmer set one other record and tied a third. His 65 was the lowest score ever in the fourth round by a winner. His 30 on the first nine tied the mark for the lowest nine-hole score in an Open set by James B. McHale, Jr., an amateur, in 1947. Souchak, the 36-hole leader with a record 68-67-135, tied for third at 283 with E. J. (Dutch) Harrison, Ted Kroll, Dow Finsterwald, Julius Boros and Jack Fleck. Ben Hogan made a gallant try for an unprecedented fifth Open victory. Needing only pars (5 and 4) on the final two holes for a score of 280, Hogan went 4 over par with a 6 and a 7. He finished in a tie for ninth at 284 with Jerry Barber and amateur Don Cherry. The three-day gallery, estimated at 43,878, was a USGA Championship record, as was the opening-day crowd of 14,067.

The total prize money, announced originally as $50,000, was increased by a bonus to $60,720 in the Championship proper. In addition, $1,300 was awarded in 13 Sectional Qualifying Championships to make the gross a record $62,020. Two other records were established. Art Wall, Jr. recorded the lowest 36-hole score in Sectional Qualifying history with 63-65-128 at the Twin Hills Country Club, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The entry reached a new high of 2,453. Fifty-six Districts held local qualifying rounds and there were 13 Sectional Qualifying Championships, all at 36 holes.