Rogers ran into trouble in the middle of his round, fell back, and although he finished tied for third was never a factor over the second half of the final day. That left Watson and Nicklaus to battle it out.

And battle they did, each leading at different points. Nicklaus was playing a couple groups in front of Watson, and when he parred the 72nd hole to complete a round of 69, he got into the clubhouse at 284. That was 4-under par, which was tied with Watson for the lead.

Watson was starting the 17th as Nicklaus finished the 18th, and Watson's tee ball on the par-3 was off-target. His ball came to rest in deep rough on a downslope with the green running away from him toward the hole. It appeared to be a desperate situation, with bogey looking likely and double-bogey a distinct possibility.

Nicklaus was being interviewed by the 18th green by one of the broadcast announcers who, knowing of Watson's predicament, said that it appeared Nicklaus was going to win.

Watson had other plans. As he was sizing up the extremely delicate chip, Watson's caddie, Bruce Edwards, said to Watson, "Get it close." To which Watson replied, "I'm not going to get it close, I'm going to make it!"

And that's what Watson improbably did, plopping the ball up with a sand wedge. The ball ran toward the hole, hit the flagstick, and dropped into the cup. Watson jumped into an excited sprint and pointed at caddie Edwards, as if to say, "I told you so."

Nicklaus said afterward that a golfer could drop 1,000 balls in the position Watson's was in on the 17th and not get any of them close, much less get one in the hole.

Watson went on to birdie the final hole, too, to finish at 282, two strokes ahead of Nicklaus. It was Watson's first (and only) U.S. Open victory, and the sixth major championship win of his career.

It was the 18th time Nicklaus finished second in a major.

The low amateur was Nathaniel Crosby, son of legendary entertainer Bing Crosby. Bing Crosby was the founder of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the PGA Tour.