Jacobs held the 36-hole lead after shooting a 64 (−6) in the second round,[7] tying the U.S. Open record at the time for a round, set by Lee Mackey in 1950.[8] In the third round on Saturday morning, he carded an even-par 70 and retained the lead after 54 holes, two strokes ahead of Venturi, who made up four shots with a 66 (−4). Masters champion Arnold Palmer had led after the first round,[9] but hopes of a grand slam faded with a 75 in the third.
Before the final round began on Saturday afternoon, Venturi was advised by doctors to withdraw from the tournament. He was suffering dehydration due to an oppressive heat wave and had to take treatments with tea and salt tablets in between rounds. To play the final round, doctors warned, was to risk heat stroke.[6] Venturi, however, ignored the advice and played on, then shot a 70 to Jacobs' 76 to claim a four-stroke victory. Venturi's score of 206 over the final 54 holes set a new U.S. Open record, as did his score of 136 over the last 36. The win was his first on tour in four years.
Future champion Raymond Floyd made his U.S. Open debut this year at age 21 and finished in 14th place. He played the final two rounds on Saturday with Venturi. This was the last time the championship was scheduled for three days (the final two rounds scheduled on Saturday); the next year it was expanded to four days, concluding on Sunday.
The Blue Course at Congressional was the longest in U.S. Open history to date, at 7,053 yards (6,449 m).[10]
A lack of rainfall in the previous six weeks reduced its effective length, and it played firm and fast.[11]
