This Day in Golf History: June 21

On this date in 1971, Lee Trevino took down Jack Nicklaus in a playoff at Merion Golf Club, 68-71, to win his second U.S. Open. Trevino memorably goofed around with Nicklaus with a rubber snake he had in his golf bag on the first tee and many thought Trevino’s intention was to psyche out Jack before the playoff began. Lee always maintained it was an innocent goof about a toy snake that had made its way into his bag and it had been his great play that had carried him through.