Amateur Francis Ouimet, age 20, won his only U.S. Open title in an 18-hole playoff, five strokes ahead of Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.

[6][7][8] In the Saturday playoff round, all were tied at even-par 38 at the turn, then Ouimet had a bogey-free back nine 34 for 72 (−1), Vardon was second with 77, and Ray came in third with a 78.

[1][3] It was widely hailed as a stunning upset over the strongly-favored Britons and increased the popularity of the game in the United States.

Ouimet's victory was the first of eight wins by amateurs at the U.S. Open; Bobby Jones won four and the last was Johnny Goodman in 1933, 92 years ago.

The tournament inspired the Mark Frost book The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf (2002).