This Day in Golf History: July 15

On this date in 1961, after nearly winning the Open Championship in his first try in 1960, Arnold Palmer won the first of two straight Opens, at Royal Birkdale, by one shot over Dai Rees. Also, the U.S. Women's Open is not immune to the occasional out-of-the-blue winner that sometimes occurs in the men's Open. On this date in 1979, Jerilyn Britz was the women's winner at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn. The Minnesota native was 36 and had turned pro just five years earlier. The victory, by two over Debbie Massey and Sandra Palmer, was Britz' first and she would win just one more tour event, the Mary Kay Classic the next year 1980 when she beat defending champion Nancy Lopez in a playoff.