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Three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin has football to thank

Search any Top-10 list of U.S. Open moments and you’ll find an infamous celebration made by a former Buffs cornerback. Despite having won the event in 1974 and 1979, Hale Irwin needed a special exemption just to get into the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club. Four strokes back of leaders Mike Donald and Billy Ray Brown entering Sunday, Irwin capped off a final round 67 with one of the best putts in U.S. Open History.

That putt was good enough to land him in an 18-hole playoff with Mike Donald the following day.