| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 14–17, 1962 |
| Location | Oakmont, Pennsylvania |
| Course(s) | Oakmont Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 6,894 yards (6,304 m) |
| Field | 150 players,[2] 51 after cut |
| Cut | 150 (+8) |
| Prize fund | $73,800[1] |
| Winner's share | $17,500 |
| Champion | |
 Jack Nicklaus | |
| 283 (−1), playoff | |
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The 1962 U.S. Open was the 62nd U.S. Open, held June 14–17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, a suburb northeast of Pittsburgh. Jack Nicklaus defeated 1960 champion Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole Sunday playoff that marked the beginning of their legendary rivalry. For Nicklaus, it was his first professional win, the first of four U.S. Open titles and a record 18 major championships. Though just 22, it was Nicklaus' sixth U.S. Open and tenth major, having played in four Masters. He had won the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961) and was the top amateur at the previous two Opens, placing second to Palmer in 1960 and fourth in 1961.
Nicklaus earned $15,000 for his first professional win, and Palmer $8,000 as runner-up. Each received a playoff bonus of $2,500 from the Sunday gate receipts.[3][4]
Only two of the six former champions in the field made the 36-hole cut, Palmer and defending champion Gene Littler.
- ^ "U.S. Open history:1962". USGA. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Gundelfinger, Phil (June 14, 1962). "Nation's top golfers attack soggy Oakmont fairways". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 32.
- ^ Gundelfinger, Phil (June 18, 1962). "Nicklaus Defeats Palmer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
- ^ Gundelfinger, Phil (June 14, 1962). "Field of 150 tees off in 62nd Open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 35. Retrieved June 19, 2012.