The US Open Golf Tournament
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.
From the original 36 holes in one day, the format of The US Open has changed several times during the years. The Championship was extended by the USGA to 72-holes in 1898; 36-holes played over each of two days. The format was changed in 1926 to 18-holes played over each of two days, finishing with 36 holes on the third day. The present day format was established in 1965 - 18-holes played over each of 4 days.
The US Open's popularity really took off after spectator tickets were sold for the first time in 1922. This almost coincided with the amazing career of an amateur golfer from Georgia, Bobby Jones who won in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. The second big rise in popularity was in 1954 when the US Open was televised for the first time on national television. But it wasn't until 1977 that all 18-holes of the final two rounds had live coverage and 1982 that the first two rounds were broadcast live.
The US Open was dominated by British players since its beginnings up to 1910 (actually it was Scotsmen who took most of the titles (12 of the first 15 events.) The top Scotsman in those days was Willie Anderson who won the event four times between 1901 and 1905. In fact, there has only been three other golfers to win four US Opens - Bobby Jones from 1923 to 1930, the year he won the Grand Slam; Ben Hogan from 1948 to 1953; and Jack Nicklaus from 1962 to 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.
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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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