Looking Back - The Top Five Most Memorable Moments at Congressional Country Club

~ Memories Galore - Numerous golfing legends, including Ernie Els, have created fond memories at Congressional Country Club, one of the nation's most popular, top-tier courses. But, which memories truly stand out the most? ~

For the past fifty years, Congressional Country Club, site of the 2011 U.S. Open, has hosted a variety of professional and amateur major championships, including the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, as well as dozens of PGA TOUR tournaments.

However, of all the championships that have been contested at Congressional, which five will likely stand the test of time and remain engraved in peoples' memories for years to come?

The following five championships - and champions - will arguably continue to be remembered well into the future, far more than any other events that have been held at Congressional in the past.

1964 U.S. Open - Ken Venturi Defeats Dehydration, Heat, and....Congressional

By the time the U.S. Open was contested in 1964, Ken Venturi had already claimed ten PGA TOUR titles. But, unfortunately, he was more well-known for his heartbreaks in major championships, including his runner-up finishes at the 1956 and 1960 Masters, than for his tournament successes.

Yet, all of that changed during one scorching afternoon in Bethesda, Maryland. While battling 100 degree temperatures and severe dehydration, Venturi still managed to play 36 holes during Sunday's finale (the last year in which 36 holes were contested on a Sunday during the U.S. Open).

With third and final round scores of 66 and 70, Venturi finished the tournament at two-under-par - enough to defeat Tommy Jacobs by a commanding four strokes.

It was truly a miracle that Venturi even finished the tournament, let alone won it, as he had been ordered by a doctor, who had been following him throughout Sunday's action, to stop playing altogether.

While avoiding doctor's orders and constantly consuming salt tablets to relieve his dehydration, Kenturi ultimately played two of the best rounds of his entire career.

Although he would never capture another major championship, Venturi's awe-inspiring play at Congressional, and endurance in spite of all sorts of obstacles, remains among the most memorable performances in major championship history.

1997 U.S. Open - Ernie Els Captures Second U.S. Open Victory in Four Years

For the third consecutive year, Tom Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion, found himself in a familiar setting - in the final pairing of the final round at the U.S. Open, with a chance to obtain a second major championship.

Similarly, Colin Montgomerie, one of the most successful golfers in European Tour history, was focused on capturing his very first major championship in order to finally silence his critics, who believed he would never win a significant tournament, once and for all.

In the meantime, Ernie Els was in position to create his own success story. By winning a second U.S. Open in just four years, Els would become the first golfer of the decade to earn two U.S. Open titles - and would further prove why he was the number one ranked golfer in the world.

Neither golfer would have guessed that their destinies would be decided on one hole though - the 72nd hole of the tournament.

By bogeying one of the most challenging finishing holes in all of golf, Montgomerie and Lehman both conceded the tournament to Els, who played steadily and intelligently throughout the final round.

With a final tournament score of four-under-par, including a final round of 69, Els proved that tenacity and endurance truly do pay dividends during the National Open.

Heartbreak. Humility. Courage. Such words would best describe the theatrics of the 97th playing of the United States Open. For such reasons alone, the 1997 U.S. Open will be remembered as one of the most significant tournaments hosted at Congressional - for decades and decades to come.

1976 PGA Championship - Dave Stockton Earns Second PGA Championship Victory

To this day, Dave Stockton is well-renowned within the golfing community as one of the most talented putters in the history of the game, comparable with the likes of Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus.

Few individuals actually realize that Stockton was one of the most competitive and successful golfers of the 1970s though, a decade in which he acquired two major championships - the 1970 and 1976 PGA Championships.

The 1976 PGA Championship was held at Congressional; it was actually the first championship to be contested at the course since Venturi's dramatic U.S. Open victory.

Yet again, the weather was a factor throughout the week as golfers were forced to encounter ever-increasing temperatures and humidity and still manage to play to the best of their abilities.

In spite of the weather, Stockton managed to finish the tournament at one-over-par, with scores of 70, 72, 69, and 70, to defeat four-time major champion Raymond Floyd and 1967 PGA Champion Don January by one stroke.

Although the victory did not propel Stockton to further major champion success, he still finished his career with ten PGA TOUR wins - and captained the 1991 Ryder Cup team to a dramatic victory during the most regarded and compelling Ryder Cups in the history of golf.

1995 U.S. Senior Open - Tom Weiskopf Finally Overtakes Jack Nicklaus for Major Championship Glory

Throughout Tom Weiskopf's PGA TOUR career, golf fans were far more interested in his close calls and runner-up finishes than in his 16 PGA TOUR victories, which included the 1973 British Open.

Far too often Weiskopf played brilliantly in all four major championships, only to watch fellow competitors like Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Johnny Miller walk away with trophies.

He finished runner-up in the Masters Tournament on four separate occasions. During dozens of other tournaments and major championships, he achieved top-ten and top-five finishes while Watson and Nicklaus continued to acquire more and more victories.

However, during one week, Weiskopf finally stared down his nemesis - Jack Nicklaus - and won. For four rounds at Congressional, throughout the 1995 U.S. Senior Open, Weiskopf played to his full potential and earned his long-awaited national title.

With rounds of 69, 69, 69, and 68, Weiskopf was simply no match for anyone, even two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Nicklaus.

While defeating Nicklaus by four strokes for his second major championship victory, Weiskopf proved to himself - and to his critics - that he still had the game to play head-to-head against the greatest golfer of all time...and win.

To this day, the 1995 U.S. Senior Open still remains one of Weiskopf's finest career achievements.

2009 AT&T National - Tiger Woods Wins as Tournament Host

Throughout the past century, certain PGA TOUR tournaments have been associated with some of the game's greatest champions. From Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill tournament to Jack Nicklaus's Memorial Tournament, a select few golfing champions have been privileged with opportunities to host their own tournaments.

In 2007 Tiger Woods joined the likes of Palmer and Nicklaus as the host of one of the TOUR's newest tournaments - the AT&T National, contended at Congressional.

Although he did not win the first two versions of the tournament, he played consistently well throughout the 2009 AT&T National, with scores of 64, 66, 70, and 67. With a tournament record finish of 13-under-par, he defeated fellow Ryder Cup member and three-time PGA TOUR winner Hunter Mahan by one stroke.

The victory remains one of Woods's last PGA TOUR titles.

Undoubtedly, Congressional Country Club has been host to some of golf's most significant and memorable championships, as well as prestigious champions.

As dozens of the game's greatest players prepare to tee it up this week during the playing of the 111th U.S. Open championship, one question lingers - who will make history this week as one of Congressional Country Club's past champions?

Will a more popular player like Phil Mickelson or Sergio Garcia capture their first U.S. Open? Or, will a lesser known name shock the golf world again?

Simply sit back, relax, and stay tuned. If history repeats itself, this U.S. Open ought to be just as memorable as all other championships previously held at Congressional.

Anticipate drama. Expect greatness. And enjoy yet another Congressional U.S. Open championship.