U.S. Open (golf)
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The United States Open Championship is an annual men's golf tournament staged by the United States Golf Association each June, scheduled such that the final round is always played on the 3rd Sunday of that month. It is one of the four major championships in men's golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA TOUR and the European Tour. The U.S. Open is staged at a variety of courses, and they are usually set up in such a way that low scoring is very difficult and there is a premium on accurate driving.
History
The first U.S. Open Men's Championship was played on
October 4,
1895, on a nine-hole course in
Newport, Rhode Island. It was a thirty-six hole competition and was played in a single day. Ten professionals and one amateur entered. The winner was a 21-year-old Englishman named
Horace Rawlins, who had arrived in the U.S. in January that year to take up a position at the host club. He received $150 cash out of a prize fund of $325, plus a $50 gold medal; his club received the Open Championship Cup trophy, which was presented by the USGA.
In the beginning, the tournament was dominated by experienced British players until 1911, when John J. McDermott became the first native-born American winner. American golfers soon began to win regularly and the tournament evolved to become one of the four majors.
Throughout the modern history of the competition, the title has been won almost exclusively by players from the United States. Since 1950, players from only four nations other than the United States have won the championship, most notably South Africa, which has won five times since 1965.
From 2004 to 2006, however, a streak of three consecutive non-American winners has occurred for the first time since the 1900s. These three players, are all from countries in the Southern Hemisphere. No European player has won since Tony Jacklin in 1970.
Qualification and prizes
The U.S. Open is open to any professional, or to any amateur with an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4. Players may obtain a place by being fully exempt or by competing successfully in Qualifying. The field is 156 players.
Around one half of the field is made up of players who are fully exempt from qualifying. There are seventeen full exemption categories, including winners of the U.S. Open for the last ten years and the other three majors for the last five years, the top 30 from the previous year's PGA Tour money list, the top 15 from the previous year's European Tour money list, and the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings as of two weeks before the tournament. [link].
Would-be competitors who are not fully exempt must enter the Qualifying process, which has two stages. Firstly there is Local Qualifying, which is played over 18 holes at over 100 courses around the United States. Many leading players are exempt from this first stage [link], and they join the successful local qualifiers at the Sectional Qualifying stage, which is played over 36 holes at several sites in the U.S. and one each in Europe and Japan.
There is no lower age limit and the youngest ever qualifier was 15-year-old Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii, who qualified in 2006. [[An 81 Is Nice for a 15-Year-Old], LA Times.com, June 16, 2006.]
The purse at the 2006 U.S. Open was $6,800,000, and the winner's share was $1,225,000. In line with the other majors, winning the U.S. Open gives a golfer several privileges that make his career much more secure, if he is not already one of the elite of the sport. U.S. Open champions are automatically invited to play in the other three majors (The Masters, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship) for the next five years, and are exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open itself for ten years. They also receive membership on the PGA TOUR for the following five seasons and invitations to THE PLAYERS Championship for five years.
The top fifteen finishers at the U.S. Open are fully exempt from qualifying for the following year's Open, and the top eight are automatically invited to the following season's Masters.
Winners
| Year
| Champion
| Country
| Venue
| Location
| Score
|
| 2007
|
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
|
| 2006
| Geoff Ogilvy
|
| Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course
| Mamaroneck, New York
5
|
| 2005
| Michael Campbell
|
| Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2
| Pinehurst, North Carolina
| E
|
| 2004
| Retief Goosen
|
| Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
| Southampton, New York
|
| 2003
| Jim Furyk
|
| Olympia Fields Country Club
| Olympia Fields, Illinois
|
| 2002
| Tiger Woods
|
| Bethpage State Park, Black Course
| Farmingdale, New York
|
| 2001
| Retief Goosen
|
| Southern Hills Country Club
| Tulsa, Oklahoma
|
PO >
| 2000
| Tiger Woods
|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links
| Pebble Beach, California
|
| 1999
| Payne Stewart
|
| Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2
| Pinehurst, North Carolina
|
| 1998
| Lee Janzen
|
| Olympic Club, Lake Course
| San Francisco, California
| E
|
| 1997
| Ernie Els
|
| Congressional Country Club, Blue Course
| Bethesda, Maryland
|
| 1996
| Steve Jones
|
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
|
| 1995
| Corey Pavin
|
| Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
| Southampton, New York
| E
|
| 1994
| Ernie Els
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
PO>
| 1993
| Lee Janzen
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
| 1992
| Tom Kite
|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links
| Pebble Beach, California
|
| 1991
| Payne Stewart
|
| Hazeltine National Golf Club
| Chaska, Minnesota
|
PO>
| 1990
| Hale Irwin
|
| Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3
| Medinah, Illinois
|
PO>
| 1989
| Curtis Strange
|
| Oak Hill Country Club, East Course
| Rochester, New York
|
| 1988
| Curtis Strange
|
| The Country Club
| Brookline, Massachusetts
|
PO>
| 1987
| Scott Simpson
|
| Olympic Club, Lake Course
| San Francisco, California
|
| 1986
| Ray Floyd
|
| Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
| Southampton, New York
|
| 1985
| Andy North
|
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
|
| 1984
| Fuzzy Zoeller
|
| Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course
| Mamaroneck, New York
| 4 PO
|
| 1983
| Larry Nelson
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
| 1982
| Tom Watson
|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links
| Pebble Beach, California
|
| 1981
| David Graham
|
| Merion Golf Club, East Course
| Ardmore, Pennsylvania
|
| 1980
| Jack Nicklaus
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
| 1979
| Hale Irwin
|
| Inverness Club
| Toledo, Ohio
| E
|
1978
| Andy North
|
| Cherry Hills Country Club
| Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1
|
| 1977
| Hubert Green
|
| Southern Hills Country Club
| Tulsa, Oklahoma
|
1976
| Jerry Pate
|
| Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course
| Duluth, Georgia
|
| 1975
| Lou Graham
|
| Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3
| Medinah, Illinois
3 PO
|
| 1974
| Hale Irwin
|
| Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course
| Mamaroneck, New York
7
|
| 1973
| Johnny Miller
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
1972
| Jack Nicklaus
|
| Pebble Beach Golf Links
| Pebble Beach, California
2
|
| 1971
| Lee Trevino
|
| Merion Golf Club
| Ardmore, Pennsylvania
| E PO
|
| 1970
| Tony Jacklin
|
| Hazeltine National Golf Club
| Chaska, Minnesota
|
| 1969
| Orville Moody
|
| Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek Course
| Houston, Texas
1
|
| 1968
| Lee Trevino
|
| Oak Hill Country Club, East Course
| Rochester, New York
|
| 1967
| Jack Nicklaus
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
| 1966
| Billy Casper
|
| Olympic Club, Lake Course
| San Francisco, California
|
PO>
| 1965
| Gary Player
|
South Africa
| Bellerive Country Club
| Saint Louis, Missouri
2 PO
|
| 1964
| Ken Venturi
|
| Congressional Country Club, Blue Course
| Bethesda, Maryland
|
| 1963
| Julius Boros
|
| The Country Club
| Brookline, Massachusetts
9 PO
|
1962
| Jack Nicklaus
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
PO>
| 1961
| Gene Littler
|
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1
|
| 1960
| Arnold Palmer
|
| Cherry Hills Country Club
| Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
|
| 1959
| Billy Casper
|
| Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course
| Mamaroneck, New York
2
|
| 1958
| Tommy Bolt
|
| Southern Hills Country Club
| Tulsa, Oklahoma
3
|
| 1957
| Dick Mayer
|
| Inverness Club
| Toledo, Ohio
2 PO
|
| 1956
| Cary Middlecoff
|
| Oak Hill Country Club, East Course
| Rochester, New York
1
|
| 1955
| Jack Fleck
|
| Olympic Club, Lake Course
| San Francisco, California
7 PO
|
| 1954
| Ed Furgol
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course
| Springfield, New Jersey
4
|
| 1953
| Ben Hogan
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
| 1952
| Julius Boros
|
| Northwood Club
| Dallas, Texas
1
|
| 1951
| Ben Hogan
|
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
7
|
| 1950
| Ben Hogan
|
| Merion Golf Club, East Course
| Ardmore, Pennsylvania
7 PO
|
| 1949
| Cary Middlecoff
|
| Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3
| Medinah, Illinois
2
|
| 1948
| Ben Hogan
|
| Riviera Country Club
| Pacific Palisades, California
|
| 1947
| Lew Worsham
|
| St. Louis Country Club
| Saint Louis, Missouri
|
PO>
| 1946
| Lloyd Mangrum
|
| Canterbury Golf Club
| Beachwood, Ohio
|
PO>
| 1945
| Cancelled due to World War II
|
| 1944
| Cancelled due to World War II
|
| 1943
| Cancelled due to World War II
|
| 1942
| Cancelled due to World War II
|
| 1941
| Craig Wood
|
| Colonial Country Club
| Fort Worth, Texas
|
| 1940
| Lawson Little
|
| Canterbury Golf Club
| Beachwood, Ohio
|
1939
| Byron Nelson
|
| Philadelphia Country Club
| Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
|
| 1938
| Ralph Guldahl
|
| Cherry Hills Country Club
| Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
|
| 1937
| Ralph Guldahl
|
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
|
| 1936
| Tony Manero
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
| 1935
| Sam Parks, Jr
|
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
| 1934
| Olin Dutra
|
| Merion Golf Club, East Course
| Ardmore, Pennsylvania
|
| 1933
| Johnny Goodman (Am)
|
| North Shore Country Club
| Glenview, Illinois
|
| 1932
| Gene Sarazen
|
| Fresh Meadow Country Club
| Great Neck, New York
|
1931
| Billy Burke
|
| Inverness Club
| Toledo, Ohio
|
| 1930
| Bobby Jones (Am)
|
| Interlachen Country Club
| Edina, Minnesota
|
| 1929
| Bobby Jones (Am)
|
| Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course
| Mamaroneck, New York
|
|
| 1928
| Johnny Farrell
|
| Olympia Fields Country Club
| Olympia Fields, Illinois
|
| 1927
| Tommy Armour
| ^
| Oakmont Country Club
| Oakmont, Pennsylvania
|
| 1926
| Bobby Jones (Am)
|
| Scioto Country Club
| Columbus, Ohio
|
| 1925
| Willie Macfarlane
| ^
| Worcester Country Club
| Worcester, Massachusetts
|
| 1924
| Cyril Walker
| ^
| Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course
| Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
|
| 1923
| Bobby Jones (Am)
|
| Inwood Country Club
| Inwood, New York
|
| 1922
| Gene Sarazen
|
| Skokie Country Club
| Glencoe, Illinois
|
| 1921
| Jim Barnes
| ^
| Columbia Country Club
| Chevy Chase, Maryland
|
| 1920
| Ted Ray
| ^
| Inverness Club
| Toledo, Ohio
|
| 1919
| Walter Hagen
|
| Brae Burn Country Club, Main Course
| West Newton, Massachusetts
|
| 1918
| Cancelled due to World War I
|
| 1917
| Cancelled due to World War I
|
| 1916
| Chick Evans (Am)
|
| The Minikahda Club
| Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
| 1915
| Jerome Travers (Am)
|
| Baltusrol Golf Club
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
| 1914
| Walter Hagen
|
| Midlothian Country Club
| Midlothian, Illinois
|
| 1913
| Francis Ouimet (Am)
|
| The Country Club
| Brookline, Massachusetts
|
| 1912
| John McDermott
|
| Country Club of Buffalo
| Buffalo, New York
|
| 1911
| John McDermott
|
| Chicago Golf Club
| Wheaton, Illinois
|
| 1910
| Alex Smith
| ^
| Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
| 1909
| George Sargent
| ^
| Englewood Golf Club
| Englewood, New Jersey
|
1908
| Fred McLeod
| ^
| Myopia Hunt Club
| South Hamilton, Massachusetts
|
| 1907
| Alec Ross
| ^
| Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
| 1906
| Alex Smith
| ^
| Onwentsia Club
| Lake Forest, Illinois
|
| 1905
| Willie Anderson
| ^
| Myopia Hunt Club
| South Hamilton, Massachusetts
|
| 1904
| Willie Anderson
| ^
| Glen View Club
| Golf, Illinois
|
| 1903
| Willie Anderson
| ^
| Baltusrol Golf Club
| Springfield, New Jersey
|
1902
| Laurie Auchterlonie
| ^
| Garden City Golf Club
| Garden City, New York
|
| 1901
| Willie Anderson
| ^
| Myopia Hunt Club
| South Hamilton, Massachusetts
|
| 1900
| Harry Vardon
| ^
| Chicago Golf Club
| Wheaton, Illinois
|
| 1899
| Willie Smith
| ^
| Baltimore Country Club, East Course
| Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
|
| 1898
| Fred Herd
| ^
| Myopia Hunt Club
| South Hamilton, Massachusetts
|
| 1897
| Joe Lloyd
| ^
| Chicago Golf Club
| Wheaton, Illinois
|
| 1896
| James Foulis
| ^
| Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
| Southampton, New York
|
| 1895
| Horace Rawlins
| ^
| Newport Country Club
| Newport, Rhode Island
|
PO - Won in Playoff
Am = Amateur
^ Many early U.S. Opens were won by English and Scottish golfers who learned the game in their own country and moved to America as adults to take up positions as club professionals. Their original countries are shown unless they are known to have become U.S. citizens before their victories, as is the case with English born and raised Jim Barnes and Scottish born and raised Tommy Armour. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray made only short term visits to the U.S. to play tournament golf.
Multiple winners
The following golfers have won the U.S. Open more than once through 2005.
4 wins:
- Willie Anderson: 1901, 1903, 1904, 1905
- Bobby Jones: 1923, 1926, 1929, 1930
- Ben Hogan: 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953
- Jack Nicklaus: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980
3 wins:
- Hale Irwin 1974, 1979, 1990
2 wins:
- Alex Smith: 1906, 1910
- John J. McDermott: 1911, 1912
- Walter Hagen: 1914, 1919
- Gene Sarazen: 1922, 1932
- Ralph Guldahl: 1937, 1938
- Cary Middlecoff: 1949, 1956
- Julius Boros: 1952, 1963
- Billy Casper: 1959, 1966
- Lee Trevino: 1969, 1971
- Andy North: 1978, 1985
- Curtis Strange: 1988, 1989
- Ernie Els: 1994, 1997
- Lee Janzen: 1993, 1998
- Payne Stewart: 1991, 1999
- Tiger Woods: 2000, 2002
- Retief Goosen: 2001, 2004
Records
Oldest champion: Hale Irwin in 1990 at 45 years, 0 months and 15 days.
Youngest champion: John McDermott in 1911 at 19 years, 10 months and 14 days.
Oldest player to make the cut: Sam Snead in 1973 at 61 years old. He tied for 29th place.
Most consecutive victories: 3 by Willie Anderson 1903-1905.
Most consecutive opens started: 44 by Jack Nicklaus from 1957 to 2000.
Largest margin of victory: 15 strokes by Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000. This is the all-time record for all majors.
Lowest score for 72 holes:
- 272: Jack Nicklaus (63-71-70-68) at Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course) in 1980.
- 272: Lee Janzen (67-67-69-69) at Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course) in 1993.
- 272: Tiger Woods (65-69-71-67) at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.
- 272: Jim Furyk (67-66-67-72) at Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course) in 2003.
Most strokes under par for 72 holes: 12 under (272) by Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.
Most frequent venues:
- 7 Opens: Baltusrol Golf Club; 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980 and 1993.
- 7 Opens: Oakmont Country Club: 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983 and 1994.
There is an extensive records section on the official site [
here]
Future sites
- 2007 - Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pennsylvania)
- 2008 - Torrey Pines Golf Course, South Course (La Jolla, California)
- 2009 - Bethpage State Park, Black Course (Farmingdale, New York)
- 2010 - Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach, California)
- 2011 - Congressional Country Club, Blue Course (Bethesda, Maryland)
- 2012 - The Olympic Club, Lake Course (Daly City, California)
- 2013 - Merion Golf Club, East Course (Ardmore, Pennsylvania)
References
External links
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