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 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 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.

Golf Tips and Advice at Really Useful

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

Year	Champion	Country	Venue	Location
2005	Michael Campbell	New Zealand	Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2	Pinehurst, North Carolina
2004	Retief Goosen	South Africa	Shinnecock Hills Golf Club	Southampton, New York
2003	Jim Furyk	United States	Olympia Fields Country Club	Olympia Fields, Illinois
2002	Tiger Woods	United States	Bethpage State Park, Black Course	Farmingdale, New York
2001	Retief Goosen	South Africa	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma
2000	Tiger Woods	United States	Pebble Beach Golf Links	Pebble Beach, California
1999	Payne Stewart	United States	Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2	Pinehurst, North Carolina
1998	Lee Janzen	United States	Olympic Club, Lake Course	Daly City, California
1997	Ernie Els	South Africa	Congressional Country Club, Blue Course	Bethesda, Maryland
1996	Steve Jones	United States	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1995	Corey Pavin	United States	Shinnecock Hills Golf Club	Southampton, New York
1994	Ernie Els	South Africa	Oakmont Country Club	Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1993	Lee Janzen	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey
1992	Tom Kite	United States	Pebble Beach Golf Links	Pebble Beach, California
1991	Payne Stewart	United States	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota
1990	Hale Irwin	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois
1989	Curtis Strange	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York
1988	Curtis Strange	United States	The Country Club	North Adams, Massachusetts
1987	Scott Simpson	United States	Olympic Club, Lake Course	Daly City, California
1986	Ray Floyd	United States	Shinnecock Hills Golf Club	Southampton, New York
1985	Andy North	United States	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1984	Fuzzy Zoeller	United States	Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course	Mamaroneck, New York
1983	Larry Nelson	United States	Oakmont Country Club	Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1982	Tom Watson	United States	Pebble Beach Golf Links	Pebble Beach, California
1981	David Graham	Australia	Merion Golf Club, East Course	Ardmore, Pennsylvania
1980	Jack Nicklaus	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey
1979	Hale Irwin	United States	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
1978	Andy North	United States	Cherry Hills Country Club	Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1977	Hubert Green	United States	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma
1976	Jerry Pate	United States	Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course	Duluth, Georgia
1975	Lou Graham	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois
1974	Hale Irwin	United States	Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course	Mamaroneck, New York
1973	Johnny Miller	United States	Oakmont Country Club	Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1972	Jack Nicklaus	United States	Pebble Beach Golf Links	Pebble Beach, California
1971	Lee Trevino	United States	Merion Golf Club	Ardmore, Pennsylvania
1970	Tony Jacklin	England	Hazeltine National Golf Club	Chaska, Minnesota
1969	Orville Moody	United States	Champions Golf Club, Cypress Creek Course	Houston, Texas
1968	Lee Trevino	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York
1967	Jack Nicklaus	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey
1966	Billy Casper	United States	Olympic Club, Lake Course	Daly City, California
1965	Gary Player	South Africa	Bellerive Country Club	Saint Louis, Missouri
1964	Ken Venturi	United States	Congressional Country Club, Blue Course	Bethesda, Maryland
1963	Julius Boros	United States	The Country Club	North Adams, Massachusetts
1962	Jack Nicklaus	United States	Oakmont Country Club	Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1961	Gene Littler	United States	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1960	Arnold Palmer	United States	Cherry Hills Country Club	Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1959	Billy Casper	United States	Winged Foot Golf Club, West Course	Mamaroneck, New York
1958	Tommy Bolt	United States	Southern Hills Country Club	Tulsa, Oklahoma
1957	Dick Mayer	United States	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
1956	Cary Middlecoff	United States	Oak Hill Country Club, East Course	Rochester, New York
1955	Jack Fleck	United States	Olympic Club, Lake Course	Daly City, California
1954	Ed Furgol	United States	Baltusrol Golf Club, Lower Course	Springfield, New Jersey
1953	Ben Hogan	United States	Oakmont Country Club	Oakmont, Pennsylvania
1952	Julius Boros	United States	Northwood Club	Dallas, Texas
1951	Ben Hogan	United States	Oakland Hills Country Club, South Course	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
1950	Ben Hogan	United States	Merion Golf Club, East Course	Ardmore, Pennsylvania
1949	Cary Middlecoff	United States	Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3	Medinah, Illinois
1948	Ben Hogan	United States	Riviera Country Club	Pacific Palisades, California
1947	Lew Worsham	United States	St. Louis Country Club	Saint Louis, Missouri
1946	Lloyd Mangrum	United States	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	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
1918	Cancelled	due to	World War I	-
1917	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	North Adams, 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

• - 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:

• 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.
Largest margin of victory: 15 strokes by Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 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.