U.S. OPEN (GOLF)


The 'United States Open Championship', commonly known as the 'U.S. Open', is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is staged by the United States Golf Association in mid-June, scheduled such that the final round is always played on the third Sunday, which is Father's Day. It is one of the four major championships in 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, set up in such a way that scoring is very difficult with a premium placed on accurate driving. Normally, an Open course is longer than normal and will have a high cut of rough (termed "Open rough" by the American press and fans), hilly greens (such as at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005, which was described by Johnny Miller of NBC as "like trying to hit a ball on top of a VW Beetle"), and pinched fairways. Some courses that are attempting to get into the rotation for the U.S. Open will normally be rebuilt to have these features. Rees Jones is the most notable of the "Open Doctors" who take on these projects.

Contents
History
Qualification and prizes
Winners
Multiple winners
National summary
Records
Future sites
External links

History


The first U.S. Open Championship was played on October 4, 1895, on a nine-hole course in Newport, Rhode Island. It was a 36-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 $335, 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 five nations other than the United States have won the championship, most notably South Africa, which has won five times since 1965.
Michael Campbell holding U.S. Open Trophy

A streak of four consecutive non-American winners occurred from 2004 to 2007 for the first time since 1910. These four players—South African Retief Goosen (2004), New Zealander Michael Campbell (2005), Australian Geoff Ogilvy (2006) and Argentinian Ãngel Cabrera (2007) —are all from countries in the Southern Hemisphere. No player from Europe has won since Tony Jacklin of England 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 (male or female) may obtain a place by being fully exempt or by competing successfully in qualifying. The field is 156 players.
About 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.
Potential 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, and they join the successful local qualifiers at the Sectional Qualifying stage, which is played over 36 holes in one day 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.
The purse at the 2007 U.S. Open was $7 million, and the winner's share was $1.26 million. The PGA European Tour uses conversion rates at the time of the tournament to figure the official prize money used in their Order of Merit rankings (€5,241,402 in 2007). 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 (British Open), and the PGA Championship) for the next five years, as well as the near-major Players Championship, and they are exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open itself for ten years. They may also receive a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, which is automatic for regular members. Non-PGA Tour members who win the U.S. Open have the choice of joining the PGA Tour either within 60 days of winning, or prior to the beginning of any one of the next five tour seasons.
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


YearChampionCountryVenueLocationScore
2007Ãngel CabreraOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania285 (+5)
2006Geoff OgilvyWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York285 (+5)
2005Michael CampbellPinehurst Resort, Course No. 2Pinehurst, North Carolina280 (E)
2004Retief GoosenShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York276 (-4)
2003Jim FurykOlympia Fields Country Club, North CourseOlympia Fields, Illinois272 (-8)
2002Tiger WoodsBethpage State Park, Black Course Farmingdale, New York277 (-3)
2001Retief Goosen[1]Southern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma276 (-4)PO
2000Tiger WoodsPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California272 (-12)
1999Payne StewartPinehurst Resort, Course No. 2Pinehurst, North Carolina279 (-1)
1998Lee JanzenOlympic Club, Lake CourseSan Francisco, California280 (E)
1997Ernie ElsCongressional Country Club, Blue CourseBethesda, Maryland276 (-4)
1996Steve JonesOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan278 (-2)
1995Corey PavinShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York280 (E)
1994Ernie Els[2]Oakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania279 (-5)PO
1993Lee JanzenBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey272 (-8)
1992Tom KitePebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California285 (-3)
1991Payne Stewart[3]Hazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, Minnesota282 (-6)PO
1990Hale Irwin[4]Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3Medinah, Illinois280 (-8)PO
1989Curtis StrangeOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York278 (-2)
1988Curtis Strange[5]The Country ClubBrookline, Massachusetts278 (-6)PO
1987Scott SimpsonOlympic Club, Lake CourseSan Francisco, California277 (-3)
1986Ray FloydShinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York279 (-1)
1985Andy NorthOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan279 (-1)
1984Fuzzy Zoeller[6]Winged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York276 (-4)PO
1983Larry NelsonOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania280 (-4)
1982Tom WatsonPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California282 (-6)
1981David GrahamMerion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania273 (-7)
1980Jack NicklausBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey272 (-8)
1979Hale IrwinInverness ClubToledo, Ohio284 (E)
1978Andy NorthCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado285 (+1)
1977Hubert GreenSouthern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma278 (-2)
1976Jerry PateAtlanta Athletic Club, Highlands CourseDuluth, Georgia277 (-3)
1975Lou Graham[7]Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3Medinah, Illinois287 (+3)PO
1974Hale IrwinWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York287 (+7)
1973Johnny MillerOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania279 (-5)
1972Jack NicklausPebble Beach Golf LinksPebble Beach, California290 (+2)
1971Lee Trevino[8]Merion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania280 (E)PO
1970Tony JacklinHazeltine National Golf ClubChaska, Minnesota281 (-7)
1969Orville MoodyChampions Golf Club, Cypress Creek CourseHouston, Texas281 (+1)
1968Lee TrevinoOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York275 (-5)
1967Jack NicklausBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey275 (-5)
1966Billy Casper[9]Olympic Club, Lake CourseSan Francisco, California278 (-2)PO
1965Gary Player[10]Bellerive Country ClubSaint Louis, Missouri282 (+2)PO
1964Ken VenturiCongressional Country Club, Blue CourseBethesda, Maryland278 (-2)
1963Julius Boros[11]The Country ClubBrookline, Massachusetts293 (+9)PO
1962Jack Nicklaus[9]Oakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania283 (-1)PO
1961Gene LittlerOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan281 (+1)
1960Arnold PalmerCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado280 (-4)
1959Billy CasperWinged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York282 (+2)
1958Tommy BoltSouthern Hills Country ClubTulsa, Oklahoma283 (+3)
1957Dick Mayer[13]Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio282 (+2)PO
1956Cary MiddlecoffOak Hill Country Club, East CourseRochester, New York281 (+1)
1955Jack Fleck[14]Olympic Club, Lake CourseSan Francisco, California287 (+7)PO
1954Ed FurgolBaltusrol Golf Club, Lower CourseSpringfield, New Jersey284 (+4)
1953Ben HoganOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania283 (-5)
1952Julius BorosNorthwood ClubDallas, Texas281 (+1)
1951Ben HoganOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan287 (+7)
1950Ben Hogan[15]Merion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania287 (+7)PO
1949Cary MiddlecoffMedinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois286 (+2)
1948Ben HoganRiviera Country ClubPacific Palisades, California276 (-8)
1947Lew Worsham[16]St. Louis Country ClubSaint Louis, Missouri282 (-2)PO
1946Lloyd Mangrum[17]Canterbury Golf ClubBeachwood, Ohio284 (-4)PO
''1942-1945: Cancelled due to World War II''
1941Craig WoodColonial Country ClubFort Worth, Texas284
1940Lawson Little[18]Canterbury Golf ClubBeachwood, Ohio287
1939Byron Nelson[19]Philadelphia Country ClubGladwyne, Pennsylvania284
1938Ralph GuldahlCherry Hills Country ClubCherry Hills Village, Colorado284
1937Ralph GuldahlOakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan281
1936Tony ManeroBaltusrol Golf Club, Upper CourseSpringfield, New Jersey282
1935Sam Parks, JrOakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania299
1934Olin DutraMerion Golf Club, East CourseArdmore, Pennsylvania293
1933Johnny Goodman (Am)North Shore Country ClubGlenview, Illinois287
1932Gene SarazenFresh Meadow Country ClubGreat Neck, New York286
1931Billy Burke[20]Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio292
1930Bobby Jones (Am)Interlachen Country ClubEdina, Minnesota287
1929Bobby Jones (Am)[21]Winged Foot Golf Club, West CourseMamaroneck, New York294
1928Johnny Farrell[22]Olympia Fields Country ClubOlympia Fields, Illinois294
1927Tommy Armour[23]^Oakmont Country ClubOakmont, Pennsylvania301
1926Bobby Jones (Am)Scioto Country ClubColumbus, Ohio293
1925Willie Macfarlane[22]^Worcester Country ClubWorcester, Massachusetts291
1924Cyril Walker^Oakland Hills Country Club, South CourseBloomfield Hills, Michigan297
1923Bobby Jones (Am)[25]Inwood Country ClubInwood, New York296
1922Gene SarazenSkokie Country ClubGlencoe, Illinois288
1921Jim Barnes^Columbia Country ClubChevy Chase, Maryland289
1920Ted Ray^Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio295
1919Walter Hagen[26]Brae Burn Country Club, Main CourseWest Newton, Massachusetts301
''1917-1918: Cancelled due to World War I''
1916Chick Evans (Am)The Minikahda ClubMinneapolis, Minnesota286
1915Jerome Travers (Am)Baltusrol Golf ClubSpringfield, New Jersey297
1914Walter HagenMidlothian Country ClubMidlothian, Illinois290
1913Francis Ouimet (Am)[27]The Country ClubBrookline, Massachusetts304
1912John McDermottCountry Club of BuffaloBuffalo, New York294
1911John McDermott[28]Chicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois307
1910Alex Smith[29]^Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's CoursePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania298
1909George Sargent^Englewood Golf ClubEnglewood, New Jersey290
1908Fred McLeod[30]^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts322
1907Alec Ross^Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's CoursePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania302
1906Alex Smith^Onwentsia ClubLake Forest, Illinois295
1905Willie Anderson^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts314
1904Willie Anderson^Glen View ClubGolf, Illinois303
1903Willie Anderson[31]^Baltusrol Golf ClubSpringfield, New Jersey307
1902Laurie Auchterlonie^Garden City Golf ClubGarden City, New York307
1901Willie Anderson[32]^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts331
1900Harry Vardon^Chicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois313
1899Willie Smith^Baltimore Country Club, East CourseLutherville-Timonium, Maryland315
1898Fred Herd^Myopia Hunt ClubSouth Hamilton, Massachusetts328
1897Joe Lloyd^Chicago Golf ClubWheaton, Illinois162
1896James Foulis^Shinnecock Hills Golf ClubSouthampton, New York152
1895Horace Rawlins^Newport Country ClubNewport, Rhode Island173


PO - Won in Playoff

★ Am = Amateur

Playoff losers:
1. Mark Brooks
2. Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie
3. Scott Simpson
4. Mike Donald
5. Nick Faldo
6. Greg Norman
7. John Mahaffey
8. Jack Nicklaus
9. Arnold Palmer
10. Kel Nagle
11. Jacky Cupit and Arnold Palmer
12. Arnold Palmer
13. Cary Middlecoff
14. Ben Hogan
15. Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio
16. Sam Snead
17. Vic Ghezzi and Byron Nelson
18. Gene Sarazen
19. Craig Wood and Denny Shute
20. George Von Elm
21. Al Espinosa
22. Bobby Jones
23. Harry Cooper
24. Bobby Jones
25. Bobby Cruickshank
26. Mike Brady
27. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray
28. Mike Brady and Geord Simpson
29. John McDermott and Macdonald Smith
30. Willie Smith
31. David Brown
32. Alex Smith

^ 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 2007.
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: 1968, 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
National summary

RankNationWins
178
213
37
45
52
61
1

Records



★ Oldest champion: Hale Irwin in 1990 at 45 years, 15 days.

★ Youngest champion: John McDermott in 1911 at 19 years, 315 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, 2000. This is the all-time record for all majors.

★ Lowest score for 72 holes: 272 – Jack Nicklaus (63-71-70-68), 1980; Lee Janzen (67-67-69-69), in 1993; Tiger Woods (65-69-71-67), 2000; Jim Furyk (67-66-67-72), 2003.

★ Most strokes under par for 72 holes: 12 under (272) by Tiger Woods, 2000.

★ Lowest score for 18 holes: 63 – Johnny Miller, 4th round, 1973; Jack Nicklaus, 1st, 1980; Tom Weiskopf, 1st, 1980; Vijay Singh, 2nd, 2003.

★ Most frequent venues:


★ 8 Opens: Oakmont Country Club - 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, and 2007.


★ 7 Opens: Baltusrol Golf Club - 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980 and 1993.
There is an extensive records section on the official site here.

Future sites



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)

2014 - Pinehurst Resort, Course #2 (Pinehurst, North Carolina)

External links



United States Golf Association website

U.S. Open official site

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