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. 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 PGA 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.

Contents

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 called 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 dollars out of a cash prize fund of $325 plus a $50 dollar gold medal and for his club, the Open Championship Cup, 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. Very quickly American golfers began to win and the tournament evolved to become one of the four majors.

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. The field is 156 players. Players may obtain a place by being fully exempt or by competing successfully in Qualifying.

Around 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. [1].

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 [2], 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.

The purse at the 2005 U.S. Open was $6,500,000, and the winner's share was $1,170,000. In line with the other majors, winning the U.S. Open gives a golfer several privileges which 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, British Open 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

YearChampionCountryVenueLocation
2005Michael CampbellNew ZealandPinehurst Resort, Course No. 2Pinehurst, North Carolina
2004Retief GoosenSouth AfricaShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York
2003Jim FurykUnited StatesOlympia Fields Country ClubOlympia Fields, Illinois
2002Tiger WoodsUnited StatesBethpage State Park, Black Course Farmingdale, New York
2001Retief GoosenSouth AfricaSouthern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma
2000Tiger WoodsUnited StatesPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California
1999Payne StewartUnited StatesPinehurst Resort, Course No. 2Pinehurst, North Carolina
1998Lee JanzenUnited StatesOlympic Club, Lake CourseDaly City, California
1997Ernie ElsSouth AfricaCongressional Country Club, Blue CourseBethesda, Maryland
1996Steve JonesUnited StatesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1995Corey PavinUnited StatesShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York
1994Ernie ElsSouth AfricaOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1993Lee JanzenUnited StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey
1992Tom KiteUnited StatesPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California
1991Payne StewartUnited StatesHazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, Minnesota
1990Hale IrwinUnited StatesMedinah Country Club, Course No. 3Medinah, Illinois
1989Curtis StrangeUnited StatesOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York
1988Curtis StrangeUnited StatesThe Country ClubChestnut Hill, Massachusetts
1987Scott SimpsonUnited StatesOlympic Club, Lake CourseDaly City, California
1986Ray FloydUnited StatesShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York
1985Andy NorthUnited StatesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1984Fuzzy ZoellerUnited StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York
1983Larry NelsonUnited StatesOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1982Tom WatsonUnited StatesPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California
1981David GrahamAustraliaMerion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania
1980Jack NicklausUnited StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey
1979Hale IrwinUnited StatesInverness ClubToledo, Ohio
1978Andy NorthUnited StatesCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado
1977Hubert GreenUnited StatesSouthern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma
1976Jerry PateUnited StatesAtlanta Athletic Club, Highlands CourseDuluth, Georgia
1975Lou GrahamUnited StatesMedinah Country Club, Course No. 3Medinah, Illinois
1974Hale IrwinUnited StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York
1973Johnny MillerUnited StatesOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1972Jack NicklausUnited StatesPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California
1971Lee TrevinoUnited StatesMerion Golf ClubArdmore, Pennsylvania
1970Tony JacklinEnglandHazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, Minnesota
1969Orville MoodyUnited StatesChampions Golf Club, Cypress Creek CourseHouston, Texas
1968Lee TrevinoUnited StatesOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York
1967Jack NicklausUnited StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey
1966Billy CasperUnited StatesOlympic Club, Lake CourseDaly City, California
1965Gary PlayerSouth AfricaBellerive Country ClubSaint Louis, Missouri
1964Ken VenturiUnited StatesCongressional Country Club, Blue CourseBethesda, Maryland
1963Julius BorosUnited StatesThe Country ClubChestnut Hill, Massachusetts
1962Jack NicklausUnited StatesOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1961Gene LittlerUnited StatesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1960Arnold PalmerUnited StatesCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado
1959Billy CasperUnited StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York
1958Tommy BoltUnited StatesSouthern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma
1957Dick MayerUnited StatesInverness Club Toledo, Ohio
1956Cary MiddlecoffUnited StatesOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York
1955Jack FleckUnited StatesOlympic Club, Lake CourseDaly City, California
1954Ed FurgolUnited StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey
1953Ben HoganUnited StatesOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1952Julius BorosUnited StatesNorthwood ClubDallas, Texas
1951Ben HoganUnited StatesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1950Ben HoganUnited StatesMerion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania
1949Cary MiddlecoffUnited StatesMedinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois
1948Ben HoganUnited StatesRiviera Country ClubPacific Palisades, California
1947Lew WorshamUnited StatesSt. Louis Country ClubSaint Louis, Missouri
1946Lloyd MangrumUnited StatesCanterbury Golf ClubBeachwood, Ohio
1945Cancelleddue toWorld War II-
1944Cancelleddue toWorld War II-
1943Cancelleddue toWorld War II-
1942Cancelleddue toWorld War II-
1941Craig WoodUnited StatesColonial Country ClubFort Worth, Texas
1940Lawson LittleUnited StatesCanterbury Golf ClubBeachwood, Ohio
1939Byron NelsonUnited StatesPhiladelphia Country ClubGladwyne, Pennsylvania
1938Ralph GuldahlUnited StatesCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado
1937Ralph GuldahlUnited StatesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1936Tony ManeroUnited StatesBaltusrol Golf Club, Upper CourseSpringfield, New Jersey
1935Sam Parks, JrUnited StatesOlympia Fields Country ClubOlympia Fields, Illinois
1934Olin DutraUnited StatesMerion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania
1933Johnny Goodman (Am)United StatesNorth Shore Country ClubGlenview, Illinois
1932Gene SarazenUnited StatesFresh Meadow Country ClubGreat Neck, New York
1931Billy BurkeUnited StatesInverness ClubToledo, Ohio
1930Bobby Jones (Am)United StatesInterlachen Country ClubEdina, Minnesota
1929Bobby Jones (Am)United StatesWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York
1928Johnny FarrellUnited StatesOlympia Fields Country ClubOlympia Fields, Illinois
1927Tommy ArmourUnited States^Oakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania
1926Bobby Jones (Am)United StatesScioto Country ClubColumbus, Ohio
1925Willie MacfarlaneScotland^Worcester Country ClubWorcester, Massachusetts
1924Cyril WalkerEngland^Oakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan
1923Bobby Jones (Am)United StatesInwood Country ClubInwood, New York
1922Gene SarazenUnited StatesSkokie Country ClubGlencoe, Illinois
1921Jim BarnesUnited States^Columbia Country ClubChevy Chase, Maryland
1920Ted RayEngland^Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio
1919Walter HagenUnited StatesBrae Burn Country Club, Main CourseWest Newton, Massachusetts
1918Cancelleddue toWorld War I-
1917Cancelleddue toWorld War I-
1916Chick Evans (Am)United StatesThe Minikahda ClubMinneapolis, Minnesota
1915Jerome Travers (Am)United StatesBaltusrol Golf ClubSpringfield, New Jersey
1914Walter HagenUnited StatesMidlothian Country ClubMidlothian, Illinois
1913Francis Ouimet (Am)United StatesThe Country ClubChestnut Hill, Massachusetts
1912John McDermottUnited StatesCountry Club of BuffaloBuffalo, New York
1911John McDermottUnited StatesChicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois
1910Alex SmithScotland^Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's CoursePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
1909George SargentEngland^Englewood Golf ClubEnglewood, New Jersey
1908Fred McLeodScotland^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
1907Alec RossScotland^Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's CoursePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
1906Alex SmithScotland^Onwentsia ClubLake Forest, Illinois
1905Willie AndersonScotland^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
1904Willie AndersonScotland^Glen View ClubGolf, Illinois
1903Willie AndersonScotland^Baltusrol Golf ClubSpringfield, New Jersey
1902Laurie AuchterlonieScotland^Garden City Golf ClubGarden City, New York
1901Willie AndersonScotland^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
1900Harry VardonEngland^Chicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois
1899Willie SmithScotland^Baltimore Country Club, East CourseLutherville-Timonium, Maryland
1898Fred HerdScotland^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts
1897Joe LloydEngland^Chicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois
1896James FoulisScotland^Shinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York
1895Horace RawlinsEngland^Newport Country ClubNewport, Rhode Island

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.
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

External links


The Major Championships of men's professional golf
The Masters | U.S. Open | The Open Championship (British Open) | PGA Championship
See also the Grand Slam.
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