Tiger Woods with the Open Championship Cup in 2008.
The U.S. Open Championship is one of the four major championships in professional golf.
On Oct. 4, 1895, the first U.S. Open Championship was conducted by the United States Golf Association on the nine-hole course of Newport Golf and Country Club.
The first U.S. Open was considered something of a sideshow to the first U.S. Amateur, which was played on the same course and during the same week.
Ten professionals and one amateur started in the 36-hole competition, which was four trips around the Newport course in one day. The surprise winner was Horace Rawlins, 21, an English professional. Rawlins won the $150 first prize. He also received a gold medal and custody of the Open Championship Cup for his club for one year.
As American players began to dominate the game, the U.S. Open evolved into an important world golf championship. Young John J. McDermott became the first native-born American winner in 1911 and repeated as champion in 1912.
The championship’s popularity coincided with the amazing career of Georgia amateur Bob Jones, who won the U.S. Open four times in 1923, 1926, 1929, 1930. Tickets were sold for the first time in 1922 and a boom in entries caused the USGA to introduce sectional qualifying in 1924.
In 1954, the U.S. Open course was roped from tee to green for the first time. That year also marked the first national television coverage.
The format of the U.S. Open has changed several times. The USGA extended the championship to 72 holes in 1898, with 36 holes played on each of two days. In 1926, the format was changed to 18 holes played each of two days, then 36 holes on the third day. In 1965, the present format of four 18-hole daily rounds was implemented for the first time.
In 2002, a two-tee start was used for the first and second rounds. In addition, Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., was the first facility owned by the public to host a U.S. Open.
International qualifying sites were added in 2005 and the champion at Pinehurst Resort in N.C. was Michael Campbell, who qualified in England.
2009 Lucas Glover at Bethpage State Park, Black Course
2007 Angel Cabrera at Oakmont Country Club
2006 Geoff Ogilvy at Winged Foot Golf Club
2005 Michael Campbell at Pinehurst Resort
Records
Oldest Champion Hale Irwin, 1990 ; 45 years
Youngest Champion John J. McDermott, 1911; 19 years
Most Champions Victories
credit by www.usopen.com