United States Open Golf

The United States Open Championship is the annual men's open golf tournament of the United States. It is 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. 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 on the rotation for the Open will normally be rebuilt to have these features, with Rees Jones being the most notable of the "Open Doctors" who take on these projects.

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 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 $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 1910. These three players—South African Retief Goosen (2004), New Zealander Michael Campbell (2005) and Australian Geoff Ogilvy (2006)—are all from countries in the Southern Hemisphere. No European player has won since Tony Jacklin of England in 1970.

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.

Future Sites

2007 - Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pennsylvania) 2007 U.S. Open (Golf)
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)

Year I Champion I Country I Venue I Location I Score

• 2007
• 2006 Geoff Ogilvy Australia Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course Mamaroneck, New York +5
• 2005 Michael Campbell New Zealand Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 Pinehurst, North Carolina E
• 2004 Retief Goosen South Africa Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Southampton, New York -4
• 2003 Jim Furyk United States Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Illinois -8
• 2002 Tiger Woods United States Bethpage State Park, Black Course Farmingdale, New York -3
• 2001 Retief Goosen South Africa Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma -4 PO
• 2000 Tiger Woods United States Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California -12
• 1999 Payne Stewart United States Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2 Pinehurst, North Carolina -1
• 1998 Lee Janzen United States Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, California E
• 1997 Ernie Els South Africa Congressional Country Club, Blue Course Bethesda, Maryland -4
• 1996 Steve Jones United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan -2
• 1995 Corey Pavin United States Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Southampton, New York E
• 1994 Ernie Els South Africa Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania -5 PO
• 1993 Lee Janzen United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, New Jersey -8
• 1992 Tom Kite United States Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California -3
• 1991 Payne Stewart United States Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, Minnesota -6 PO
• 1990 Hale Irwin United States Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois -8 PO
• 1989 Curtis Strange United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Rochester, New York -2
• 1988 Curtis Strange United States The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts -6 PO
• 1987 Scott Simpson United States Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, California -3
• 1986 Ray Floyd United States Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Southampton, New York -1
• 1985 Andy North United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan -1
• 1984 Fuzzy Zoeller United States Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course Mamaroneck, New York -4 PO
• 1983 Larry Nelson United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania -4
• 1982 Tom Watson United States Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California -6
• 1981 David Graham Australia Merion Golf Club, East Course Ardmore, Pennsylvania -7
• 1980 Jack Nicklaus United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, New Jersey -8
• 1979 Hale Irwin United States Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio E
• 1978 Andy North United States Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, Colorado +1
• 1977 Hubert Green United States Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma -2
• 1976 Jerry Pate United States Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course Duluth, Georgia -3
• 1975 Lou Graham United States Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois +3 PO
• 1974 Hale Irwin United States Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course Mamaroneck, New York +7
• 1973 Johnny Miller United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania -5
• 1972 Jack Nicklaus United States Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, California +2
• 1971 Lee Trevino United States Merion Golf Club Ardmore, Pennsylvania E PO
• 1970 Tony Jacklin England Hazeltine National Golf Club Chaska, Minnesota -7
• 1969 Orville Moody United States Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek Course Houston, Texas +1
• 1968 Lee Trevino United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Rochester, New York -5
• 1967 Jack Nicklaus United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, New Jersey -5
• 1966 Billy Casper United States Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, California -2 PO
• 1965 Gary Player South Africa Bellerive Country Club Saint Louis, Missouri +2 PO
• 1964 Ken Venturi United States Congressional Country Club, Blue Course Bethesda, Maryland -2
• 1963 Julius Boros United States The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts +9 PO
• 1962 Jack Nicklaus United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania -1 PO
• 1961 Gene Littler United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan +1
• 1960 Arnold Palmer United States Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, Colorado -4
• 1959 Billy Casper United States Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course Mamaroneck, New York +2
• 1958 Tommy Bolt United States Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa, Oklahoma +3
• 1957 Dick Mayer United States Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio +2 PO
• 1956 Cary Middlecoff United States Oak Hill Country Club, East Course Rochester, New York +1
• 1955 Jack Fleck United States Olympic Club, Lake Course San Francisco, California +7 PO
• 1954 Ed Furgol United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course Springfield, New Jersey +4
• 1953 Ben Hogan United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania -5
• 1952 Julius Boros United States Northwood Club Dallas, Texas +1
• 1951 Ben Hogan United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan +7
• 1950 Ben Hogan United States Merion Golf Club, East Course Ardmore, Pennsylvania +7 PO
• 1949 Cary Middlecoff United States Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 Medinah, Illinois +2
• 1948 Ben Hogan United States Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, California -8
• 1947 Lew Worsham United States St. Louis Country Club Saint Louis, Missouri -2 PO
• 1946 Lloyd Mangrum United States Canterbury Golf Club Beachwood, Ohio -4 PO
• 1942-1945: Cancelled due to World War II
• 1941 Craig Wood United States Colonial Country Club Fort Worth, Texas
• 1940 Lawson Little United States Canterbury Golf Club Beachwood, Ohio
• 1939 Byron Nelson United States Philadelphia Country Club Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
• 1938 Ralph Guldahl United States Cherry Hills Country Club Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
• 1937 Ralph Guldahl United States Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
• 1936 Tony Manero United States Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course Springfield, New Jersey
• 1935 Sam Parks, Jr United States Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania
• 1934 Olin Dutra United States Merion Golf Club, East Course Ardmore, Pennsylvania
• 1933 Johnny Goodman (Am) United States North Shore Country Club Glenview, Illinois
• 1932 Gene Sarazen United States Fresh Meadow Country Club Great Neck, New York
• 1931 Billy Burke United States Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio
• 1930 Bobby Jones (Am) United States Interlachen Country Club Edina, Minnesota
• 1929 Bobby Jones (Am) United States Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course Mamaroneck, New York
• 1928 Johnny Farrell United States Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Illinois
• 1927 Tommy Armour United States^ Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, Pennsylvania
• 1926 Bobby Jones (Am) United States Scioto Country Club Columbus, Ohio
• 1925 Willie Macfarlane Scotland^ Worcester Country Club Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1924 Cyril Walker England^ Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
• 1923 Bobby Jones (Am) United States Inwood Country Club Inwood, New York
• 1922 Gene Sarazen United States Skokie Country Club Glencoe, Illinois
• 1921 Jim Barnes United States^ Columbia Country Club Chevy Chase, Maryland
• 1920 Ted Ray England^ Inverness Club Toledo, Ohio
• 1919 Walter Hagen United States Brae Burn Country Club, Main Course West Newton, Massachusetts
• 1917-1918: Cancelled due to World War I
• 1916 Chick Evans (Am) United States The Minikahda Club Minneapolis, Minnesota
• 1915 Jerome Travers (Am) United States Baltusrol Golf Club Springfield, New Jersey
• 1914 Walter Hagen United States Midlothian Country Club Midlothian, Illinois
• 1913 Francis Ouimet (Am) United States The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts
• 1912 John McDermott United States Country Club of Buffalo Buffalo, New York
• 1911 John McDermott United States Chicago Golf Club Wheaton, Illinois
• 1910 Alex Smith Scotland^ Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1909 George Sargent England^ Englewood Golf Club Englewood, New Jersey
• 1908 Fred McLeod Scotland^ Myopia Hunt Club South Hamilton, Massachusetts
• 1907 Alec Ross Scotland^ Philadelphia Cricket Club, St. Martin's Course Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• 1906 Alex Smith Scotland^ Onwentsia Club Lake Forest, Illinois
• 1905 Willie Anderson Scotland^ Myopia Hunt Club South Hamilton, Massachusetts
• 1904 Willie Anderson Scotland^ Glen View Club Golf, Illinois
• 1903 Willie Anderson Scotland^ Baltusrol Golf Club Springfield, New Jersey
• 1902 Laurie Auchterlonie Scotland^ Garden City Golf Club Garden City, New York
• 1901 Willie Anderson Scotland^ Myopia Hunt Club South Hamilton, Massachusetts
• 1900 Harry Vardon England^ Chicago Golf Club Wheaton, Illinois
• 1899 Willie Smith Scotland^ Baltimore Country Club, East Course Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
• 1898 Fred Herd Scotland^ Myopia Hunt Club South Hamilton, Massachusetts
• 1897 Joe Lloyd England^ Chicago Golf Club Wheaton, Illinois
• 1896 James Foulis Scotland^ Shinnecock Hills Golf Club Southampton, New York
• 1895 Horace Rawlins England^ Newport Country Club Newport, Rhode Island
  

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U.S. Open (golf). (2006, December 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:22, December 21, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U.S._Open_%28golf%29&oldid=94309855