The leader entering the third round was Tommy Jacobs, who shot 64 - tying the U.S. Open record of that time - in the second round. Jacobs carded a third-round 70 and held a 2-stroke lead over Venturi going into the final round.

It was a very hot week in the Washington, D.C., suburbs at Congressional Country Club, and following his morning 18 - in which he fired a 66 - Venturi was showing signs of dehydration. Between rounds he downed lots of fluids along with salt tablets. An on-site doctor told Venturi to withdraw - to play the afternoon 18, the doctor said, was risking heat stroke.

But Venturi did play, trying to keep cool by using cold compresses and ice packs. And as he staggered around the course that afternoon, Venturi kept making shots. He wound up shooting 70 to Jacobs' 76, claiming a four-stroke victory. As his final putt dropped into the cup, Venturi, the USGA history states, raised his arms and said, "My God, I've won the Open."

Venturi's win was certainly a surprise. He hadn't won on the PGA Tour in four years, and hadn't even qualified for the U.S. Open the previous three years. It was also something of a vindication for Venturi, who at the 1956 Masters, as an amateur, took a 4-stroke lead into the final round only to shoot 80 and lose.

But at the 1964 U.S. Open, against the odds - and against doctor's advice - Venturi achieved victory in a major championship.

Raymond Floyd played the U.S. Open for the first time this year, finishing tied for 14th.