The “shot of his life” capped a brilliant week for Corey Pavin, who won the 1995 US Open at Shinnecock in Southhampton, New York.
Battling Greg Norman for the championship, Pavin took out his four wood on the 18th green. He was 209 yards from the hole and that distance separated him from his first major championship.
Pavin delivered one of the best pressure shots in tournament history, landing the ball short of the green and it ran up toward the hole.
"I just tried to gather myself and make a good swing,” Pavin, who was 35 in ’95, said then. “I was trying to hit a low draw, and I knew I'd hit a good shot. I just took off running then because I wanted to see it. I knew it would get pretty close."
Two putts and a par later and the US Open title was Pavin’s.
"I was tired of hearing those questions," Pavin said of his first and lone win in a major. "It kind of wears on you. I was trying my hardest and doing my best. But I had faith it would happen and finally it did."
