1985 U.S. Open (golf)

1985 U.S. Open (golf)

The 1985 U.S. Open was the 85th U.S. Open. The golf tournament was held June 13–16, 1985, at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Andy North won his second U.S. Open title by a stroke over runners-up Dave Barr, Tze-Chung Chen, and Denis Watson.

Tze-Chung "T.C." Chen had a historic beginning to the U.S. Open. In his first three rounds, he established a new course record at Oakland Hills with a 65, made the first double-eagle in U.S. Open history, and established both 36 and 54-hole scoring records. Heading into the final round, he owned an one-stroke advantage over Andy North, who shot 65 in the second round and 70 in the third. Chen increased his lead over North to four shots after just four holes of play. But on the 5th, disaster struck for Chen as he suffered one of the biggest single-hole blowups in tournament history. His approach shot found the greenside rough, and when he attempted to chip out he accidentally double-hit the ball. Assessed a stroke penalty, Chen then 3-putted for a quadruple-bogey 8. Unnerved by the mistake, Chen proceeded to bogey the next three holes, and North took an one-stroke lead over Dave Barr at the turn. Chen recovered with a birdie at 12, and after North bogeyed 9, 10, and 11, he found himself back in a share of the lead. North, however, would be the last man standing. He birdied 13 while Chen bogeyed 14 and 17 and Barr bogeyed his final two holes to finish at 280. With a two-stroke lead heading to the 18th, North two-putted for bogey and a one-stroke victory.

In the final round North hit only four fairways and recorded just one birdie. For the tournament, he had just nine birdies, the lowest by a champion in post-World War II U.S. Open history. He finished at 1-under 279, the only golfer to finish under-par. It was his first PGA Tour win since the 1978 U.S. Open, and would be his last on tour.

Jack Nicklaus missed the cut, snapping a streak of consecutive U.S. Open cuts made at 21.