Hubert Green won the first of his two major titles, one stroke ahead of runner-up Lou Graham, the 1975 champion.

[1][3][4] Green began the final round with the lead, but 11 players were within three shots.

Graham made a charge on the back nine, collecting birdies at 12, 14, 15, and 16 en route to a 68 (−2) and a 279 (−1) total.

[5] Green decided to play on, then proceeded to hit his drive into a tree—which probably saved it from going out of bounds.

This was the first time that the television broadcast of the U.S. Open covered all 18 holes of the final round.