Golf World UK - August 2017

August 2017Golf World 77

The championship swung on the 7th hole, where
Palmer faced a 12-foot birdie chance that would have
pulled him level. Nicklaus faced a birdie putt of his
own, but at twice that length. It was a putt that only
he expected to make, a putt that duly dropped.
“Arnold had a look on his face like, ‘Oh, God,
now what do I do?’” recalled Nicklaus. “That was
where I think the tournament ended for Arnold.”
Nicklaus’ two-shot lead expanded to four on the
8th, where he birdied and Palmer bogeyed. Birdies
on 13 and 14 further dispirited Palmer and his
supporters. The only question for Nicklaus as he came
to the par-5 18th hole was whether he would break
Hogan’s US Open record of 276 set in 1948.
He set a new mark, despite having to hit a 1-iron
from 238 yards for his third shot, one of the most
majestic swings of his career. White Fang did the rest
as Nicklaus sank a 22-foot birdie to shoot 65 and
finish at five-under 275, four ahead of Palmer.
With darkening skies, McKay interviewed the
winner and runner-up together greenside. “He did
everything well,” conceded Palmer. “Drove well, hit
his irons in close and putted exceptionally well and
made a shambles of the rest of us in the tournament.”
The runner-up was a patient bystander as the
champion went over his play for the TV audience,
including the long putt on 18, until McKay set up a
replay of Nicklaus’ birdie at the 4th. “Jim, I looked at
these things all day,” Palmer said. “I’m going to excuse
myself and go to Latrobe. Thank you very much.”
Regardless of the altitude that Palmer’s plane
travelled at on the way home, his heir was in a higher
place and climbing.

As Byron Nelson

watched the 1967 US

Open unfold from his

commentary post in

an ABC Sports

television tower at

Baltusrol Golf Club,

hehadmorethana

passing interest in

the amateur

threateningtosteal

the show.

Nelson knew more

about Marty Fleckman

than almost anyone,

having had

instructed him for

several years.

“My coach at the

University of Houston

said,‘Iknowyou

wanttobeagreat

player, how would

youliketohave

Byron Nelson be

your teacher?’”

Fleckman recalled.

“I was astounded.

Coach arranged for

me to meet Byron at

aPro-AminOdessa,

Texas , in 19 6 4, and

Iestablishedavery

close relationship with

him.Hewaslikea

second father to me.”

And Nelson had

reason to be proud

ofhispupil,whotook

thefirst-roundlead

atBaltusrolwitha67,

stayed in contention

with a second-round

73andregainedthe

leadbyastrokeover

Billy Casper, Jack

Nicklaus and Arnold

Palmerwithathird-

round 69.

Fleckman was the

first amateur to lead

theUSOpenthrough

54 holes since

Johnny Goodman

in1933–thelast

amateurtowinthe

championship. In

addition to having

a famous mentor,

Fleckman, 23, had

the credentials,

having won the 1965

NCAA individual title

and being on three

Houston NCAA

championship teams.

It wasn’t a shock

that the long-hitter

played so well going

intothefinalround.

But Sunday was

neverlikelytobea

walk in the park.

He bogeyed the

opening three holes,

andthingsdidn’tget

any better. While

Nicklaus and Palmer

duelled, Fleckman

shot 80 to finish tied

18th.Hechalkedup

the humbling

afternoon as a

valuable piece of his

golf education and

won the prestigious

Northeast Amateur

the following week.

Late that year, after

turning pro and

earning his tour card,

he won the Cajun

Classicinhisfirststart

asamember–afeat

onlyhalfadozen

players have achieved.

That quick victory

wasn’taspringboard

to greater success

though. “I was so

awed by having

Byron Nelson as

myteacher,”hesaid.

“Itriedtocopy

everything he did.

Ikindoflostsightof

whoIwas,andasa

result paid the price.”

Fleckman finished

60th on the 1968

moneylisttokeep

exempt status but in

12 subsequent

seasons he ranked

inside the top 100

only once. Plagued

byabadrightelbow

too, he had just 12

top-10 finishes in 223

tournaments

following his victory,

before turning to

teaching. Now 73,

he is the long-time

director of

instruction at

BlackHorse Teaching

Centre in Cypress,

Texas. And he has

no regrets. “I try

nottolookinthe

past,” he said. “I live

in the present and

look forward to

the future.”

THE AMATEUR WHO

ALMOST STOLE THE SHOW

Goingintothefinalday,the1967USOpenwasledby

anunknownamateur,withArnieandJackgivingchase.

COURTESY OF BALTUSROL GOLF CLUB

US OPEN

Battle over, Palmer

congratulates Nicklaus on his

incredible victory.