Peter Jacobsen

Three months after undergoing successful surgery for a hip injury, Peter Jacobsen survived a 36-hole marathon on the final day to capture the 2004 U.S. Senior Open at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. Jacobsen either led or shared the lead for three of the four rounds of the championship, closing with rounds of 69 and 68 on Sunday to finish at 12-under-par 272. He won by one stroke over two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Hale Irwin and by two over Jay Haas and Tom Kite.

"I've played in USGA championships since I was 15 years old," said Jacobsen. "I have great respect for what the USGA means for the game, and for me to have won one of their championships and for me to be a part of that family is very special."

Jacobsen's straightforward par on the 72nd hole after Kite lost his fourth round lead was gratifying to the Senior Open's second youngest winner.

"It's something you dream about," Jacobsen. "It's a lot better than having to make a 25-footer downhill to win. I played probably six feet of break, and it was maybe 28 feet. I knew two putts would win, and that's all I was thinking about."

In the days leading up to the championship, Jacobsen wasn't even sure he could make it through the first two rounds physically. Lingering tightness in his left hip following an April 20th surgery for a torn labrum had forced Jacobsen to withdraw from the two previous majors on the Champions Tour.

"I almost didn't come," Jacobsen said. "I hate to tell you this, but I almost didn't come. I told my wife that if I can't play at the British Senior, then I'm going to withdraw from the U.S. Senior Open, too, because I need some time to stretch my hip out. I came to St. Louis, and boy, am I glad I did."

The championship opened on Thursday under overcast skies with the course softened by rains earlier in the week. First-rounds scores were low, with Jacobsen taking the early lead at 6-under-par 65 by one stroke over Craig Stadler and by two over Haas. Kite, playing in his fifth U.S. Senior Open, completed the first round at 2-under-par 69, while 1998 and 2000 U.S. Senior Open champion Irwin opened with an even-par 71.

Heavy rains early Friday morning postponed play for the day, forcing second-round play to Saturday, with the third and fourth rounds scheduled for Sunday.

Jacobsen continued his steady play in the second round on Saturday, posting a 1-under-par 70 for a two-round total 135. With three birdies in a five-hole stretch, Stadler returned a second-round 69 to catch Jacobsen at seven under par for a share of the lead. Jose Maria Canizares of Spain finished one shot back at 6-under par, sinking birdie putts on his final three holes for his second straight 68. At the close of 36 holes, 17 golfers were within five strokes of the lead, setting the stage for a potentially epic 36-hole final on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, Kite surged to the top of the leaderboard with a 6-under-par 65 that gave him a two-stroke lead over Jacobsen and Bob Gilder at the conclusion of the third round. This momentum would carry over into the final round, as Kite eagled the fourth and birdied the fifth, taking him to 13 under par and extending his lead to three strokes with 12 holes to play. However, Kite's round and his championship hopes soon fell apart, beginning at the 15th, where he missed a 6-foot putt for par. He then failed to get up and down from the greenside rough at 16. Tied for the lead with Jacobsen on the 18th tee, Kite hooked his drive into a fairway bunker. His second shot caromed off the steep lip of the bunker, bounding five feet sideways into the deep rough. He eventually found the green with his fourth, then two-putted for double bogey. By going four over par on the final four holes, Kite dropped to l0-under 274, and he would finish tied for third with Jay Haas.

Following Kite's collapse, Jacobsen solid approach to the final green left him with two putts for the championship.