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US Open Golf Tournament Facts

Author: MickEuanTait
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30 years after the start of The Open, the US Open was first played in 1895, making it the second oldest of the modern day golf majors. Since 1895, the original golf majors were The Open, The Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. It wasn't until 1960, when Arnold Palmer commented that he could win the Grand Slam, after he had won The Masters and The US Open, if he could manage to win The Open and The PGA, that the modern day golf majors were established.

The first US Open had to take second stage to the US Amateur as it was played at the same course and on the same week. The place where this historic event took place was at the 9-hole Newport Golf and Country Club, Rhode Island. As was normal in the late 1800's, the championship was played over 4 rounds of the 9-holes all on the same day. The field was only 10 professionals and one amateur and the event was won by an Englishman - Horace Rawlins who took home a prize of $150.

There have been various formats of The US Open since the original 36-holes in one day. The first change made by the USGA was in 1898, when the format was 72 holes played over two days. The next major change was in 1926 when the 72 holes was divided into a 3 day event - 2 days of 18 holes and a final day of 36 holes. The format that we know today was implemented in 1965 which is four days of 18 holes each.

In 1922, spectator tickets were sold for the very first time which helped increase the popularity of The US Open. Bobby Jones, an amateur golfer from Georgia who won the event in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930, also contributed to the popularity of the event and the sport in general. In 1954, the event was televised and broadcast on national television which helped increase the popularity even more. Surprisingly, it wasn't until 1977 that there was live coverage of all 18 holes from the final two days, and 1982 when the first two days had live coverage.

From 1895 until 1910, the British dominated The US Open, or more correctly, the Scots - winning 12 of the first 15 events. One of those Scots, Willie Anderson, won The US Open four times in the 1900's. There has only been a total of four players that have won four times; the other three were Bobby Jones in the 1920's and 1930 (when he won the Grand Slam); Ben Hogan from the late 40's to early 50's; and The Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus who won his first in 1962 and his last in 1980.

I am sure another player will be joining these legends of golf soon; Tiger Woods who won his third US Open in 2008 still has many years to make it four or even more. Another startling fact is that a European has not won the US Open since 1970 when Tony Jacklin won his first and only title (he also won The Open in 1969.) England's Lee Westwood had a great chance to break the 38 year European drought at the 2008 US Open; he needed a birdie on the 72nd hole to force a three way playoff but he unfortunately missed.

Did you know that only 5 players have won the US Open plus The Open, The Masters, and The PGA? Nobody has done it in the same year, a Grand Slam, but some have won three of them in one year. The 5 players are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

With 78 wins between 1911 and 2008, Americans have dominated The US Open. No other country have come close; South Africa has the second most wins with 5 titles. There have only been a handful of nations that have won the event once or twice - Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and Argentina. Since 1910, Scotland have only managed to produce one golfer that has won The US Open; Willie MacFarlane in 1925. In fact, in recent years, only Sandy Lyle has managed to win a golf major on US soil - The Masters in 1988.

About the Author

About the author - Mick Euan Tait is a golfer, golf fan, and golf writer. Go to his website for more interesting facts about golf tournaments.
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