The US Open’s first play-off was at Myopia Hunt in 1901 when Willie Anderson (Scotland) beat Alex Smith (Scotland) by one stroke after an 18-hole play-off.
The only men to win two play-offs are Willie Anderson (Scotland) 1901, 1903 and Bobby Jones 1923, 1929.
The only men to both win and lose in a play-off are: Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Lloyd Mangrum , Ben Hogan , and Jack Nicklaus.
Arnold Palmer uniquely lost all three play-offs he was involved in, while Bobby Jones appeared in a record four play-offs, winning two and losing two.
Despite winning seven Majors in his career, Sam Snead never won the US Open even though he finished second or joint second on four occasions. The nearest he came to winning the title was in 1947 when he went into an 18-hole play-off with Ken Worsham and with three holes to play, Snead led by two shots. Worsham won each of the last three holes to snatch the title from Snead who missed a two-and-a-half foot putt at the last. |