US Open Golf Tournament Facts

30 years after the start of The Open, the US Open golf tournament 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 Golf Tournament

The US Open golf tournament had a difficult start as it was played for the first time during the same week and on the same course as The US Amateur Championship. The course was the Newport Golf and Country Club, Rhode Island which was a 9-hole course. The event consisted of 4 rounds of the 9-holes played on the same day and the winner was Englishman, Horace Rawlins. There were only 10 professionals and one amateur playing each other for a prize total of $335.

The Different Formats Of The US Open

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.

The Rise In Popularity Of The US Open

The popularity of The US Open coincided with the incredible career of Georgia amateur, Bobby Jones, who won in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1930. Another contributing factor was that spectator tickets were sold to the public for the first time in 1922. The next big surge in popularity happened in 1954 because the event was televised on national television for the first time. All 18 holes from the final two days had live coverage in 1977 and, believe it or not, it wasn't until 1982 that there was live broadcasts of the first two days.

Scottish Domination In The Early Years

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.

The European Drought At The US Open

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.

Winners Of All Four Golf Majors

Surprisingly, only 5 players have managed to win The US Open as well as The Open, The Masters, and The PGA. None of them have won all 4 majors in one single year though - Bobby Jones did his Grand Slam with The Open, The (British) Amateur Championship, The US Open, and The US Amateur. The five players to win the four golf majors were Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

American Domination Of The US Open

Since 1911 Americans have largely dominated the event, winning the event 78 times. South Africans have had the best record since the end of the British domination, with 5 wins. Other nations that have had a win or two since 1911 are Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, England, and Scotland. As a Scotsman, I have to ask myself what has happened to Scottish golf since 1910. The last Scotsman to win the US Open was Willie MacFarlane in 1925 and the last one to win a major on American soil was Sandy Lyle at The Masters in 1988.