Billy Casper, the 1959 champion, staged one of the greatest comebacks in history by erasing a seven-stroke deficit on the final nine holes to tie Arnold Palmer; he then prevailed in an 18-hole playoff to win the second of his three major titles.

Irwin was entering his senior year at Colorado, where he was also an all-conference defensive back for the Buffaloes in football.

Miller was a San Francisco native and junior merit member of the Olympic Club entering his sophomore year at BYU; he finished tied for eighth and was the low amateur by three strokes.

[6] It was the penultimate appearance at the U.S. Open for four-time champion Ben Hogan; he finished twelfth at age 53.

Sam Snead, 54, failed to qualify for the U.S. Open for the first time in thirty years;[7] he had played in every edition since 1937, but never won.

Palmer shot 39 (+4) on the inward nine, Casper 32 (−3), and the two tied at 278 (−2), seven strokes ahead of solo third-place finisher Jack Nicklaus, the 1962 champion.

Four-time champion Hogan, age 53, shot even par in the final round to finish alone in 12th place and received a standing ovation from the thousands on the hillside overlooking the 18th green.