1994 U.S. Open (golf)

1994 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1994 U.S. Open was the 94th U.S. Open. The golf tournament was held June 16–20, 1994, at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh. Ernie Els won his first major title on the second sudden-death hole to defeat Loren Roberts, after Colin Montgomerie was eliminated in an 18-hole playoff.

Els shot a third-round 66 to take a two-shot lead going into the final round. At the start of the round, Els was the beneficiary of a controversial ruling. After he hit his opening drive into deep rough, tournament officials ruled that a broadcast truck was in his line of play. He was allowed to take a drop in a spot where escape was much more likely, but still ended up with a bogey on the hole. Afterwards officials admitted that the ruling was wrong, and Els should have been forced to play from his original location. Roberts and Montgomerie both recorded a 70 in the round to challenge Els. Roberts could have won the championship outright, but he missed a par putt on the 18th. Els needed par on the last to hold off Roberts and Montgomerie, but he hit his drive into the rough and made bogey from there, forcing a three-way playoff.

All three players struggled as the playoff began. Montgomerie recorded double-bogey at the 2nd, 3rd, and 11th and fell out of contention. Els began the playoff bogey-triple bogey, while Roberts double-bogeyed the 5th. Roberts had an one-stroke lead over Els on the 16th, but he bogeyed the hole to fall into a tie. Els and Roberts both carded a 74, while Montgomerie finished with a 78 and was eliminated. After halving the first extra hole, they headed to the 11th where Roberts found a greenside bunker on his approach while Els safely hit the green. After Roberts' par putt lipped out, Els two-putted for par and the championship.

Arnold Palmer played in his final U.S. Open this year. Palmer had not played in the Open since 1983, but received an exemption by the USGA to play in his home state. Incidentally, his first U.S. Open in 1953 was also played at Oakmont.