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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

PO > PO> PO> PO> PO>

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PO> PO> PO>

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
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
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
1990 Hale Irwin Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois
1989 Curtis Strange Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Rochester, New York
1988 Curtis Strange The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts
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
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
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
1946 Lloyd Mangrum Canterbury Golf Club Beachwood, Ohio
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:

3 wins: 2 wins:

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: Most strokes under par for 72 holes: 12 under (272) by Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.
Most frequent venues: There is an extensive records section on the official site [here]

Future sites

References

External links


PGA Tour Events
Majors: The Masters | U.S. Open | The Open Championship (British Open) | PGA Championship | see also Grand Slam of golf
Non Majors: THE PLAYERS Championship | Ryder Cup | The Presidents Cup | THE TOUR Championship | Mercedes Championships | World Golf Championships events: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | WGC-American Express Championship | WGC-World Cup.
Other Tournaments: Canadian Open | 84 LUMBER Classic | AT&T Pro-Am | B.C. Open | Bank of America Colonial | Barclays Classic | Bay Hill Invitational | BellSouth Classic | Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | Booz Allen Classic | Buick Championship | Buick Invitational | Chrysler Championship | Chrysler Classic of Greensboro | Chrysler Classic of Tucson | Cialis Western Open | Deutsche Bank Championship | EDS Byron Nelson Championship | FBR Open | FedEx St. Jude Classic | Ford Championship at Doral | Frys.com Open | FUNAI Classic at the Walt Disney World Resort | Honda Classic | The INTERNATIONAL | Memorial Tournament | Nissan Open | Reno-Tahoe Open | Shell Houston Open | Sony Open in Hawaii | Southern Farm Bureau Classic | U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee | Verizon Heritage | Wachovia Championship | Western Open | Zurich Classic of New Orleans | see also: FedEx Cup

 


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