Gene Littler shot a final round 68 for 281 (+1) to win his sole major title, one stroke ahead of runners-up Bob Goalby and Doug Sanders, the 54-hole leader.

[4][5][6] Amateur Jack Nicklaus tied for fourth at age 21, the second of his three consecutive top-4 finishes at the U.S. Open.

Defending champion Arnold Palmer made the cut on the number at 149 (+9),[2][7] then shot even-par twice and climbed into a tie for 14th place, eight strokes behind Littler.

Four-time champion Ben Hogan also tied for 14th, the only time since 1940 that he was outside the top ten at this major.

With a birdie at 13 combined with a Sanders bogey at the same hole, Littler was two strokes ahead.