U.S. Open: Everything you need to know
Not only is it famous as one of the "toughest" major tournaments in professional golf because of the course layout challenges, the U.S Open also has many interesting things that you may not know.
What is so special about the U.S. Open?
U.S. Open, byname of the United States Open Championship, one of the world's major golf tournaments, open to both amateur and professional golfers (hence the name).
This is the second oldest major golf tournament after the (British) Open Championship. It has become the flagship tournament of the United States Golf Association, or USGA. The tournament was established in 1895 during the USGA’s first full operating year. Since the inception of the US Open Championship many of golf’s greats have vied for the title.
This is the third of the four majors of professional golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
An Idea is Born
To explore the history of the US Open Championship let us first take a look at the start of the USGA. The USGA was founded on December 22, 1894 after two separate golf clubs had tournaments and both proclaimed their tournament winner as the national champion. Representatives from five golf clubs gathered and formed the USGA to be the national governing body for the game of golf in the US. They conducted the US Amateur, US Women’s Amateur and the US Open Championships for the first time in 1895. The USGA has continued to preside over these tournaments.
The inaugural US Amateur and US Open Championship, which at the time was secondary to the Amateur, were held during the first week of October at the 9-hole course at Newport Golf Club in Newport, Rhode Island. The US Open’s field was composed of 10 professionals and one amateur who would compete in a 36-hole competition, which took place in one day.
When is the U.S. Open played?
Traditionally, the U.S. Open is scheduled every year for the third weekend of June, with the final round planned to be finished on Father’s Day. Last year, however, the USGA was forced to postpone the championship until mid-September in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In 2021, it’s back in its normal spot on the schedule, June 17-20.
When and where was the first U.S. Open? And who won?
The first U.S. Open was played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Newport, R.I.
The first US Open Champion was an Englishman named Horace Rawlins, a 21-year-old local course assistant who beat a field of nine other professionals and one amateur. He won with a score of 173 and was awarded $150, a gold medal and custody of the U.S. Open Trophy for one year.
What is the format of the U.S. Open? How many players are in the field?
The U.S. Open is a four-round, 72-hole stroke-play championship, with a cut after 36 holes.
Ordinarily, 156 players compete in the U.S. Open
Who has won the most U.S. Opens?
Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus hold the record for most U.S. Open victories, each winning four.
How can you qualify for the U.S. Open?
The U.S. Open is open to any professional or amateur with an up-to-date men’s USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4. The USGA allows those eligible players to attempt to qualify for the national championship. Those who qualify after this stage earn a spot in the U.S. Open’s field of 156 players.
Is there an age limit to qualify?
There is not an age limit to qualify for the U.S. Open. The youngest player ever to make the field was 14-year-old Andy Zhang in 2012.
What is the U.S. Open scoring record?
The U.S. Open scoring record is held by Rory McIlroy, who shot a total of 16-under 268 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., in 2011.
What is the highest winning score of the U.S. Open?
The highest winning score is held by Fred Herd, who won the 1898 U.S. Open with a total score of 328.
What is the lowest round in U.S. Open history? Highest?
Six players hold the record for lowest round in U.S. Open history with a score of 63. They are: Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Vijay Singh, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood.
The highest round belongs to J.D. Tucker, who shot a 157 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Mass., in 1898.
Who is the oldest winner of the U.S. Open? Youngest?
The oldest player to win the U.S. Open is Hale Irwin, who won the 1990 U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., when he was 45 years and 15 days old.
The youngest champion is John McDermott, who won the 1911 U.S. Open at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill., when he was 19 years and 315 days old.
Has an amateur ever won the U.S. Open?
Five amateurs have won eight U.S. Opens in history: Francis Ouimet (1913), Jerome D. Travers (1915), Charles Evans Jr. (1916), Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930) and John Goodman (1933).
How many times has an American won the U.S. Open?
Of the 122 U.S. Opens that have been contested, American golfers have won 86 times.
When was the last time an International player won the U.S. Open?
The last International player to win was Spanish golfer Jon Rahm in the 2021 U.S. Open.
Which countries have produced the most U.S. Open champions?
Second to the United States in U.S. Open victories is Scotland with 14. Englishmen have won seven times, while South African-born players have won five.
What is the purse for the US Open 2022?
The total purse for the 2022 U.S. Open is set at $12 million.
For comparison, this year's Masters was a record $15 million purse, and also the PGA Championship has the event-record $15 million purse. The 2021 Open Championship sat at $11.5 million.
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