This month, the United States Open returns to Pebble Beach Golf Links for a sixth time, and the first time since 2010. With a surplus of storylines, including Brooks Koepka going for a third straight US Open win and Phil Mickelson looking to finally end his US Open heartbreak and complete the career Grand Slam, it promises to be one of the more fascinating Major championships in recent memory. Let’s look at some of the frequently asked questions surrounding American golf’s national championship.
When is the US Open played?
The US Open is scheduled every year for the third weekend of June, with the final round planned to be finished on Father’s Day in America. This year, it will be held from June 13-16.
Who conducts the US Open?
The United States Golf Association (USGA) conducts the championship, not the PGA Tour (which is a common misconception – however, the US Open is deemed to be a US PGA Tour event).
When and where was the first US Open? And who won?
The first US Open was played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Newport, Rhode Island. At the time, it was a nine-hole course, so the championship was a 36-hole, one-day competition. The winner was an Englishman named Horace Rawlins, a 21-year-old who beat a field of nine other professionals and one amateur. He won with 173 strokes and was awarded $150, a gold medal and custody of the US Open Trophy for one year.
What is the format of the US Open? How many players are in the field?
The US Open is a four-round, 72-hole strokeplay championship, with a cut after 36 holes. There are 156 players in the field.
If players are tied after 72 holes, how is the winner determined?
Up until 2018, if players were tied after 72 holes of play at the US Open, the winner was determined in an 18-hole strokeplay playoff on the Monday after the final round. The USGA has since changed the format to a two-hole aggregate playoff. If still tied after two holes, players will compete in sudden death until a winner is crowned.
When was the last time an 18-hole playoff occurred?
The last time the US Open went to an 18-hole playoff was in 2008 at Torrey Pines, where Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate on the 19th hole after they were still tied at the end of the playoff.
Where is the US Open being held in 2019?
The 119th US Open will be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links on California’s Monterey Peninsula. The course will play as a par 71 at 6,469 metres (7,075 yards).
Has Pebble Beach ever hosted the US Open before?
Yes, Pebble Beach has hosted the US Open five other times. The first came in 1972, when Jack Nicklaus won on the same course he captured the 1961 US Amateur title. Since then, Pebble hosted the US Open in 1982, 1992, 2000 and 2010, and it will again in 2027. Tom Watson won in ’82, Tom Kite in ’92, Tiger Woods (by a record 15 strokes) in ’00 and Graeme McDowell in ’10. Pebble Beach also has hosted the US Amateur five times (1929, 1947, 1961, 1999 and 2018) and the US Women’s Amateur in 1940 and 1948. It is also scheduled to host the 2023 US Women’s Open.
What type of course is Pebble Beach? Who designed it?
Pebble Beach is a links-style golf course with some of the most picturesque seaside holes in the world. It was originally designed for free by two noted California amateur golfers, Jack Neville and Douglas Grant, and opened for play on February 22, 1919. Today’s course is very similar to the original design. Others who have done work on the course over the years include William Herbert Fowler, Alister Mackenzie, H. Chadler Egan, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Is Tiger Woods playing in the 2019 US Open?
Yes, Tiger Woods is in the field for the 2019 US Open. He qualified via several paths (most notably his 2019 Masters victory) but interestingly, as of 12 months ago the three-time winner hadn’t yet qualified for the 2019 championship as the US Open is the lone Major that doesn’t come with a lifetime exemption into the field. It instead offers a 10-year exemption to its champions and Tiger’s expired after last year’s US Open.
How many US Opens has Tiger Woods won?
Tiger Woods has won three US Opens, the most recent coming in 2008 at Torrey Pines, which was also the last Major he won prior to this year’s Masters. He previously won the US Open in 2002 at Bethpage Black and in 2000 at Pebble Beach, when he set the record for largest margin of victory in Major championship history, winning by 15 strokes.
Who has won the most US Opens?
Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus hold the record for most US Open victories, each winning four. Tiger can match their tally with one more title.
Who won the 2018 US Open?
Brooks Koepka won the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. He won with a total score of one-over 281, one stroke clear of Tommy Fleetwood. It was the second straight year that Koepka won the US Open, after taking the title in 2017 at Erin Hills Golf Club with a winning score of 16-under 272, four strokes clear of the next closest competitor.
Brooks Koepka is going for three straight US Open victories. Has anybody done that before?
Yes. Of Willie Anderson’s four US Open victories, three came in 1903, 1904 and 1905.
Who are the favourites to win the 2019 US Open?
Coming off his win at the PGA Championship at Bethpage, and being the two-time defending US Open champion, Brooks Koepka is the current favourite to win in 2019 at roughly 6-to-1 odds. Next is Dustin Johnson at 7-to-1, followed by Tiger Woods at 12-to-1. Jordan Spieth was recently upgraded from 18-to-1 odds to 14-to-1 odds.
Which Australians are in the field?
Eight Australians are currently in the 2019 US Open field. Lofty world ranking positions allowed Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith to avoid qualifying, while Aaron Baddeley, Brett Drewitt, Marcus Fraser and Matt Jones earned their way in via sectional qualifying.
How can you qualify for the US Open?
The US Open is open to any professional or amateur golfer with an up-to-date men’s USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4.
Qualifying consists of two stages, local and sectional. Local qualifying is played over 18 holes at more than 100 courses across the United States. A total of 525 spots are available to move on to the sectional qualifying round, known as “Golf’s Longest Day”. Sectional Qualifying is played over 36 holes with several sites in the United States, as well as one each in Japan and England. Those who qualify after this stage earn a spot in the US Open’s field of 156 players.
Has a US Open ever been won by someone who earned a spot through sectional qualifying?
Yes. The most recent was Lucas Glover at Bethpage in 2009.
Has the US Open ever been won by someone who earned a spot through local and sectional qualifying?
Yes. The most recent was Orville Moody at Champions Golf Club in 1969.
Exemptions?
To see how a player can earn an exemption into the field, go to http://www.usopen.com/qualifying/exemptions.html
The USGA can also grant special exemptions into the field, which are rare. This year, however, the USGA has given one to two-time US Open champion Ernie Els. It’s the second straight year the South African has been given a special exemption.
Is there an age limit to qualify?
There is not an age limit to qualify for the US Open. The youngest player ever to make the field was 14-year-old Andy Zhang in 2012.
What site has hosted the most US Opens?
Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has hosted the most US Opens with nine, the most recent in 2016.
What state has hosted the most US Opens?
New York has hosted the most US Opens with 19 after last year at Shinnecock Hills. Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York, has hosted the most of any course in New York with five. It will host again in 2020.
What is the US Open scoring record?
The US Open scoring record is held by Rory McIlroy, who shot a total of 16-under 268 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2011.
What is the highest winning score of the US Open?
The highest winning score is held by Fred Herd, who won the 1898 US Open with a total score of 328.
What is the lowest round in US Open history? Highest?
Six players hold the record for lowest round in US Open history with a score of 63. They are: Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf, Vijay Singh, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood. Thomas’ 63 was the lowest score-to-par (nine-under) when he shot the score in the third round of the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, where he finished T-9. Fleetwood shot his 63 in the final round at Shinnecock Hills a year ago, only the second 63 posted in the final round, along with Miller’s in 1973 at Oakmont.
The highest round belongs to J.D. Tucker, who shot a 157 at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, in 1898.
Who is the oldest winner of the US Open? Youngest?
The oldest player to win the US Open is Hale Irwin, who won the 1990 US Open at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, when he was 45 years and 15 days old.
The youngest champion is John McDermott, who won the 1911 US Open at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, when he was 19 years and 315 days old.
Has an amateur ever won the US Open?
Five amateurs have won eight US Opens in history: Francis Ouimet (1913), Jerome D. Travers (1915), Charles Evans Jnr (1916), Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930) and John Goodman (1933).
How many times has an American won the US Open?
Of the 118 US Opens that have been contested, an American has won 83 of them.
When was the last time an International player won the US Open?
The last International player to win was Germany’s Martin Kaymer at Pinehurst No.2 in 2014.
Which countries have produced the next most US Open wins?
Second to the United States in US Open victories is Scotland with 14. Englishmen have won seven times, while South African-born players have won five. Australians have taken two (David Graham in 1981 and Geoff Ogilvy in 2006), while New Zealand has one (Michael Campbell in 2005).
What type of conditions are the US Open played in?
The US Open is typically played under very difficult scoring conditions, where accuracy off the tee is essential. Fairways are often narrow and guarded by thick rough, and the course is generally set up quite long.
What are the confirmed future sites of the US Open?
Future sites have been confirmed through 2027. They are as follows:
Winged Foot Golf Club (West) – Mamaroneck, New York (2020)
Torrey Pines Golf Course (South) – La Jolla, California (2021)
The Country Club – Brookline, Massachusetts (2022)
Los Angeles Country Club (North) – Los Angeles, California (2023)
Pinehurst Resort, (No.2) – Pinehurst, North Carolina (2024)
Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, Pennsylvania (2025)
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – Southampton, New York (2026)
Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California (2027)
How much is the purse of the US Open, and how much does the winner receive?
The purse for the 2019 US Open is $US12.5 million, an increase of $500,000 from 2018. The winner will receive $US2.25 million.
How many world rankings points does the US Open winner get?
The winner of the US Open receives 100 world ranking points.
How many FedEx Cup points does the US Open winner get?
The winner of the US Open receives 600 FedEx Cup points.
Who broadcasts the US Open?
Since 2015, Fox Sports in America has been the official broadcaster of the US Open. Fox’s deal with the USGA will run through 2026. This year, Fox plans to to air 45 hours of coverage from Pebble Beach. In Australia, Fox Sports will televise the US Open all four days.
