A closer look at the 144 golfers competing in the 2020 U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
U.S. Open champions (10): Lucas Glover (2009), Dustin Johnson (2016), Martin Kaymer (2014), Graeme McDowell (2010), Rory McIlroy (2011), Justin Rose (2013), Webb Simpson (2012), Jordan Spieth (2015), Gary Woodland (2019) and Tiger Woods (2000, ’02, ’08).
U.S. Open runners-up (12): Jason Day (2011, ’13), Tommy Fleetwood (2018), Rickie Fowler (2014), Brian Harman (2017), Dustin Johnson (2015), Shane Lowry (2016), Hideki Matsuyama (2017), Graeme McDowell (2012), Phil Mickelson (1999, 2002, ’04, ’06, ’09, ’13), Louis Oosthuizen (2015), Michael Thompson (2012) and Tiger Woods (2005, ’07).
U.S. Amateur champions (10): Byeong Hun An (2009), Bryson DeChambeau (2015), Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013), Viktor Hovland (2018), Matt Kuchar (1997), Danny Lee (2008), Curtis Luck (2016), Phil Mickelson (1990), Andy Ogletree (2019) and Tiger Woods (1994, ’95, ’96).
U.S. Amateur runners-up (4): John Augenstein (2019), Patrick Cantlay (2011), Corey Conners (2014) and Michael Thompson (2007).
U.S. Junior Amateur champions (5): Brian Harman (2003), Jordan Spieth (2009, ’11), Preston Summerhays (2019), Tiger Woods (1991, ’92, ’93) and Will Zalatoris (2014).
U.S. Junior Amateur runners-up (4): Charles Howell III (1996), Davis Riley (2013, ’14), Justin Thomas (2010) and Matthew Wolff (2017).
U.S. Senior Open champions (1): Steve Stricker (2019).
U.S. Mid-Amateur champions (1): Lukas Michel (2019).
U.S. Amateur Public Links champions (2): Chez Reavie (2001) and Brandt Snedeker (2003).
U.S. Amateur Public Links runners-up: none.
U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champions (1): Cole Hammer (2018).
USGA champions (26): Byeong Hun An (2009 U.S. Amateur), Bryson DeChambeau (2015 U.S. Amateur), Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013 U.S. Amateur), Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open), Cole Hammer (2018 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Brian Harman (2003 U.S. Junior Amateur), Viktor Hovland (2018 U.S. Amateur), Dustin Johnson (2016 U.S. Open), Martin Kaymer (2014 U.S. Open), Matt Kuchar (1997 U.S. Amateur), Danny Lee (2008 U.S. Amateur), Graeme McDowell (2010 U.S. Open), Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open), Lukas Michel (2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Phil Mickelson (1990 U.S. Amateur), Andy Ogletree (2019 U.S. Amateur), Chez Reavie (2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open), Webb Simpson (2012 U.S. Open), Brandt Snedeker (2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links), Jordan Spieth (2009, ’11 U.S. Junior Amateurs, 2015 U.S. Open), Steve Stricker (2019 U.S. Senior Open), Preston Summerhays (2019 U.S. Junior Amateur), Gary Woodland (2019 U.S. Open), Tiger Woods (1991, ’92, ’93 U.S. Junior Amateurs, 1994, ’95, ’96 U.S. Amateurs, 2000, ’02, ’08 U.S. Opens) and Will Zalatoris (2014 U.S. Junior Amateur).
WALKER CUP TEAM MEMBERS:
United States (23): John Augenstein (2019), Patrick Cantlay (2011), Cameron Champ (2017), Bryson DeChambeau (2015), Harris English (2011), Rickie Fowler (2007, ’09), Lucas Glover (2001), Cole Hammer (2019), Brian Harman (2005, ’09), Max Homa (2013), Billy Horschel (2007), Dustin Johnson (2007), Matt Kuchar (1999), Phil Mickelson (1989, ’91), Collin Morikawa (2017), Andy Ogletree (2019), John Pak (2019), Webb Simpson (2007), Jordan Spieth (2011), Justin Thomas (2013), Tiger Woods (1995), Brandon Wu (2019) and Will Zalatoris (2017).
Great Britain & Ireland (13): Paul Casey (1999), Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013), Tommy Fleetwood (2009), Tom Lewis (2011), Robert MacIntyre (2017), Graeme McDowell (2001), Rory McIlroy (2007), Justin Rose (1997), Sandy Scott (2019), James Sugrue (2019), Andy Sullivan (2011), Connor Syme (2017) and Danny Willett (2007).
NCAA Division I champions (7): Bryson DeChambeau (2015), Max Homa (2013), Charles Howell III (2000), Phil Mickelson (1989, ’90, ’92), Thomas Pieters (2012), Matthew Wolff (2019) and Tiger Woods (1996).
World Amateur Team Championship Competitors (50): Paul Barjon (2012, France), Rafael Cabrera Bello (2000, Spain), Paul Casey (2000, Great Britain & Ireland), Corey Conners (2012, 2014, Canada), Bryson DeChambeau (2014, USA), Thomas Detry (2010, 2012, 2014, Belgium), Rickie Fowler (2008, USA), Ryan Fox (2010, New Zealand), Sergio Garcia (1996, 1998, Spain), Cole Hammer (2018, USA), Lucas Herbert (2014, Australia), Rasmus Hojgaard (2018, Denmark), Billy Horschel (2008, USA), Viktor Hovland (2016, 2018, Norway), Mackenzie Hughes (2012, Canada), a-Takumi Kanaya (2016, 2018, Japan), Sunghoon Kang (2006, Republic of Korea), Martin Kaymer (2014, Germany), Si Woo Kim (2012, Republic of Korea), Matt Kuchar (1998, USA), Danny Lee (2008, Republic of Korea), Tom Lewis (2010, England), Shane Lowry (2006, Ireland), Curtis Luck (2016, Australia), Robert MacIntyre (2016, Scotland), Hideki Matsuyama (2008, 2012 Japan), Rory McIlroy (2006, Ireland), Phil Mickelson (1990, USA), Collin Morikawa (2018, USA), Joaquin Niemann (2016, Chile), Alex Noren (2004, Sweden), Shaun Norris (2002, South Africa), Louis Oosthuizen (2002, South Africa), Adrian Otaegui (2010, Spain), Renato Paratore (2012, 2014, Italy), Taylor Pendrith (2014, Canada), Eddie Pepperell (2010, England), Victor Perez (2014, France), Thomas Pieters (2010, 2012, Belgium), Jon Rahm (2014, Spain), Matthias Schwab (2016, Austria), a-Sandy Scott (2018, Scotland), Cameron Smith (2012, Australia), Henrik Stenson (1998, Sweden), Connor Syme (2016, Scotland), Justin Thomas (2012, USA), Sami Valimaki (2018, Finland), Bernd Wiesberger (2004, 2006, Austria), Tiger Woods (1994, USA) and a-Chun An Yu (2014, 2016, Chinese Taipei).
PLAYERS IN FIELD WITH MOST U.S. OPEN APPEARANCES (through 2019): Phil Mickelson (28), Steve Stricker (21), Tiger Woods (21), Sergio Garcia (20), Adam Scott (18), Lee Westwood (18), Matt Kuchar (17), Paul Casey (16), Zach Johnson (16), Lucas Glover (14), Graeme McDowell (14), Ian Poulter (14) and Justin Rose (14).
ACTIVE CONSECUTIVE U.S. OPEN APPEARANCES (through 2019): Sergio Garcia (20), Adam Scott (18), Zach Johnson (16), Dustin Johnson (12), Martin Kaymer (12), Matt Kuchar (12), Lucas Glover (11), Graeme McDowell (11) and Rory McIlroy (11).
CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD – The 144-player field for the 2020 U.S. Open Championship is comprised of exempt players due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two-stage qualifying (local and final), which had been conducted since 1959, was canceled.
With no qualifying this year, the USGA used 28 exemption categories to fill the U.S. Open field, which includes 10 past champions and 13 amateurs.
AMATEURS – Thirteen amateurs have made the 144-player field, the eighth consecutive year that 10 or more amateurs are competing. Andy Ogletree, the 2019 U.S. Amateur champion, and James Sugrue, who won the 2019 Amateur Championship, conducted by The R&A, are in this group.
Ogletree, of Little Rock, Miss., defeated John Augenstein, of Owensboro, Ky., 2 and 1, in the 2019 U.S. Amateur final at Pinehurst No. 2. Ogletree and Augenstein were members of the winning 2019 USA Walker Cup Team, which defeated Great Britain and Ireland at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. As a senior, Ogletree earned second-team All-America honors for the second time at Georgia Tech. Augenstein was chosen first-team All-America and was the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year as a senior at Vanderbilt University in 2019-20.
Sugrue, of the Republic of Ireland, won The Amateur Championship in 2019, a 2-up victory over Euan Walker at Portmarnock Golf Club. He was a member of the 2019 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Team. Cole Hammer, of Houston, Texas, and a junior at the University of Texas, was the 2019 Mark H. McCormack Medal recipient as the world’s top-ranked amateur and a member of last year’s USA Walker Cup Team. Hammer, who won the 2018 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with partner Garrett Barber, was the third-youngest player to compete in a U.S. Open when he played at Chambers Bay at age 15 in 2015.
Lukas Michel, of Australia, became the first international player to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year when he defeated Joseph Deraney in the final at Colorado Golf Club. He grew up playing with Curtis Luck (2016 U.S. Amateur champion) and Oliver Goss (2013 U.S. Amateur runner-up). Preston Summerhays, of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur at Inverness Club. Summerhays, 18, who attends Chaparral High School, won the Sunnehanna Amateur on July 24 and became the youngest champion in tournament history.
Seven amateurs earned exemptions based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® / WAGR® as of Aug. 19. Those exempt are in the top seven of the WAGR: No. 1 Takumi Kanaya, of Japan; No. 2 Ricky Castillo, of Yorba Linda, Calif.; No. 3 Chun An Yu, of Chinese Taipei; No. 4 Davis Thompson, of Auburn, Ala.; No. 5 Eduard Rousaud, of Spain; No. 6 Sandy Scott, of Scotland, and No. 7 John Pak, of Scotch Plains, N.J.
Kanaya, who was the recipient of the 2020 Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s leading male amateur player, will compete in his first U.S. Open. He won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2018 and was the runner-up last year. Kanaya also tied for third and was low amateur in last December’s Australian Open. Castillo earned first-team All-America recognition as a freshman at the University of Florida in 2019-20.
Yu, who is a fifth-year senior at Arizona State University, will play in his third consecutive U.S. Open. He was a quarterfinalist in the 2017 U.S. Amateur. Thompson was chosen first-team All-America as a junior at the University of Georgia and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Western Amateur. Rousaud won two tournaments this year in Spain and reached the Round of 32 in the 2019 U.S. Amateur.
Scott and Pak both competed in the 2019 Walker Cup Match at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in England. Scott, a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Team, earned second-team All-America recognition as a senior at Texas Tech University in 2019-20. Pak, who is a senior at Florida State University, won all three of his matches as a member of the victorious USA Team. He is a three-time All-American and All-South Region selection.
NOTE: There have been at least 10 amateurs in 13 of the past 14 U.S. Opens. Fifteen amateurs played in last year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Viktor Hovland, who tied for 12th, was the low amateur. Johnny Goodman was the last amateur to win the championship, in 1933.
WINGED FOOT GOLF CLUB HISTORY
Winged Foot Golf Club hired A.W. Tillinghast, one of the prominent golf architects of the day, to build its courses and architect Clifford Wendehack to construct a clubhouse in the Tudor Scholastic style. Charter members came from the New York Athletic Club and Mike Brady, who finished second in the 1911 and 1919 U.S. Opens, was appointed club professional. Celebrity members followed. John Anderson, was twice a U.S. Amateur runner-up, joined in 1924, shortly after the course was completed, and was followed by 1922 U.S. Amateur champion Jess Sweetser. It took just six years for the USGA to award the 1929 Open to Winged Foot, which to this day is the “youngest” course to be so honored.
USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT WINGED FOOT
1929 U.S. Open (West): Robert T. “Bob” Jones Jr. def. Al Espinosa, 294 (72-69) – 294 (84-80)
1940 U.S. Amateur (West): Richard D. Chapman def. W.B. McCullough, 11 and 9
1949 Walker Cup Match (West): USA def. Great Britain and Ireland, 10-2
1957 U.S. Women’s Open (East): Betsy Rawls by six strokes over Patty Berg (299-305)
1959 U.S. Open (West): Billy Casper by one stroke over Bob Rosburg (282-283)
1972 U.S. Women’s Open (East): Susie Maxwell Berning by one stroke over Kathy Ahern, Pam Barnett, Judy Rankin (299-300)
1974 U.S. Open (West): Hale Irwin by two strokes over Forrest Fezler (287-289)
1980 U.S. Senior Open (East): Roberto De Vicenzo by four strokes over William C. Campbell (285-289)
1984 U.S. Open (West): Fuzzy Zoeller def. Greg Norman, 276 (67) – 276 (75)
2004 U.S. Amateur (West): Ryan Moore def. Luke List, 2 up
2006 U.S. Open (West): Geoff Ogilvy by one stroke over Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Colin Montgomerie (285-286)
2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (East): Benjamin Baxter and Andrew Buchanan def. Brandon Cigna and Ben Warnquist, 3 and 2
OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT WINGED FOOT
1997 PGA Championship: Davis Love III by five strokes over Justin Leonard (269-274)
MOST USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY A CLUB (includes 2020 U.S. Open)
18, Merion G.C., Ardmore, Pa.
16, Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.
16, The Country Club, Brookline, Mass.
16, Oakmont (Pa.) C.C.
13, Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L.
13, Winged Foot G.C., Mamaroneck, N.Y.
12, Chicago G.C., Wheaton, Ill.
11, Oakland Hills C.C., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
10, The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif.
10, Pinehurst R. & C.C., Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
U.S. OPENS IN NEW YORK
This will be the 73rd USGA championship played in New York and the 20th U.S. Open contested in the state. The number of USGA championships is third behind Pennsylvania (87) and California (83). In 2026, the U.S. Open will be played again in the Empire State at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
2006 U.S. OPEN
Geoff Ogilvy won at Winged Foot Golf Club with a winning score of 5-over-par 285. He made clutch pars on the final two holes, including a chip-in on No. 17. Jim Furyk, Colin Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson were all unable to par the 72nd hole as Ogilvy came away with a one-stroke victory. Mickelson, who was playing in the final pairing, double-bogeyed the par-4 18th after failing to find the fairway with his tee shot. Montgomerie also double-bogeyed the final hole, while Furyk made bogey when he missed a 5-foot par putt.
1984 U.S. OPEN
Fuzzy Zoeller defeated Greg Norman in an 18-hole playoff. Each player completed 72 holes at 4-under-par 276 before Zoeller fired a 67 to Norman’s 75 in the playoff. Zoeller led by three strokes with nine holes to play in the final round, but Norman pulled even at the 17th and saved par on the 18th by holing a 45-foot putt after receiving relief from a grandstand following an errant approach shot. In the playoff, Zoeller made the turn at 1-under 34 and held a commanding five-stroke advantage. He went ahead for good when he sank a 68-foot birdie putt on the par-4 second while Norman made a double-bogey 6. Zoeller’s score of 67 is the lowest ever recorded in a U.S. Open playoff.
1974 U.S. OPEN
Hale Irwin won by two strokes over Forrest Fezler with a 7-over-par 287. Irwin, who won the first of his three U.S. Open championships, made a 10-foot par putt on the 17th while Fezler was making a bogey 5 on No. 18. Irwin secured the victory by hitting his 2-iron approach to within 20 feet on the final hole and two-putting for par. Tom Watson shot a third-round 69 and held a one-stroke lead over Irwin after 54 holes. In the final round, Watson bogeyed three of four holes on the outward nine en route to a 79 and a tie for fifth. Irwin’s winning score was the highest in relation to par since 1963 and the second-highest in post-World War II U.S. Open history.
1959 U.S. OPEN
Billy Casper claimed the first of his two U.S. Open crowns when he edged Bob Rosburg by one stroke. Casper, who finished at 2-over 282, began the final round with a three-stroke lead over Ben Hogan, who would struggle to a 76 and tie for eighth. Rosburg holed a bunker shot for birdie at No. 11 and made a 50-foot birdie putt on the following hole to draw even with Casper. After Rosburg bogeyed No. 13, he needed to birdie the final hole to force a playoff. He was not able to convert a 40-foot putt. Casper, who shot a final-round 74, had just one three-putt and 31 one-putts during the championship.
1929 U.S. OPEN
Amateur Bob Jones won the third of his four U.S. Open titles by defeating Al Espinosa in a 36-hole playoff. Each player finished with a 72-hole score of 6-over 294. Jones, who overcame a triple bogey on No. 15 during the final round, forced the playoff when he got up and down from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole by holing a 12-foot par putt. Jones shot 72-69 in the playoff to win by 23 strokes over Espinosa, who had rounds of 84-80.
2020 U.S. Open Players Who Competed in 2006 U.S. Open (16): Paul Casey (15), Sergio Garcia (MC), Lucas Glover (MC), Scott Hend (T-32), Billy Horschel (MC), Charles Howell III (T-37), Zach Johnson (MC), Matt Kuchar (MC), Graeme McDowell (T-48), Phil Mickelson (T-2), Ian Poulter (T-12), Rory Sabbatini (MC), Adam Scott (T-21), Henrik Stenson (T-26), Steve Stricker (T-6), Tiger Woods (MC).
2020 U.S. Open Players Who Competed in 2004 U.S. Amateur (4): Brian Harman (Rd.-64), Kevin Kisner (Rd.-32), Webb Simpson (Rd.-64), Michael Thompson (Rd.-64).
2020 U.S. Open Players Who Competed in 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (2): Cameron Champ (FQ), Cole Hammer (FQ).
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Open will not be played in June for the first time since 1931 when the championship was held July 2-6 at Inverness Club, in Toledo, Ohio. The U.S. Open has been played seven times in the months of September and October. The last time the U.S. Open was played in September came in 1913 when Francis Ouimet won in a playoff at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass.
Oct. 4, 1895: Newport (R.I.) G.C. (Horace Rawlins)
Sept. 17, 1897: Chicago G.C., Wheaton, Ill. (Joe Lloyd)
Sept. 14-15, 1899: Baltimore (Md.) C.C., Roland Park Course (Willie Smith)
Oct. 4-5, 1900: Chicago G.C., Wheaton, Ill. (Harry Vardon)
Oct. 10-11, 1902: Garden City (N.Y.) C.C. (Laurence Auchterlonie)
Sept. 21-22, 1905: Myopia Hunt Club, South Hamilton, Mass. (Willie Anderson)
Sept. 18-20, 1913: The Country Club (Original Course), Brookline, Mass. (a-Francis Ouimet)
- The 2020 U.S. Open will be the first professional major championship to be played in September since the 1940 PGA Championship, won by Byron Nelson at Hershey (Pa.) Country Club
- This will be the first professional major championship played in both September and New York since the 1930 PGA Championship, won by Tommy Armour at Fresh Meadow Country Club, in Flushing
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED AT THE U.S. OPEN
Martin Kaymer: last international winner (2014)
Brooks Koepka: last to defend title (2018)
Francis Ouimet: last winner in his first attempt (1913)
Webb Simpson: last winner in his second attempt (2012)
Martin Kaymer: last start-to-finish winner with no ties (2014)
Jordan Spieth: last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to win by one stroke (2015)
Gary Woodland: last winner to birdie the 72nd hole (2019)
Tiger Woods: last winner to birdie the 72nd hole to force a playoff (2008)
Geoff Ogilvy: last winner without a round in the 60s (2006)
Gary Woodland: last winner with all rounds in the 60s (2019)
Brooks Koepka: last winner between ages 20-29 (28 in 2018)
Gary Woodland: last winner between ages 30-39 (35 in 2019)
Payne Stewart: last winner age 40 and higher (42 in 1999)
Dustin Johnson: last defending champion to miss the cut (2017)
Hale Irwin: last winner who received a special exemption (1990)
Lucas Glover: last winner to come through sectional qualifying (2009)
Orville Moody: last winner to come through local and final qualifying (1969)
John Goodman: last amateur winner (1933)
WHAT THE CHAMPION RECEIVES
Among the benefits enjoyed by the U.S. Open champion are:
- A U.S. Open exemption for the next 10 years
- An invitation to the next five Masters Tournaments
- An invitation to the next five Open Championships, conducted by The R&A
- An invitation to the next five PGA Championships
- An invitation to the next five Players Championships
- Exempt status on the PGA Tour for five years
QUALIFYING FOR THE OTHER MAJORS
The top 10 finishers (and ties) are exempt for next year’s U.S. Open. The top four finishers (and ties) are invited to next year’s (2021) Masters Tournament.
CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
The first United States Open Championship was won by Horace Rawlins in September 1895, at Newport (R.I.) Golf Club. Rawlins earned $150, a gold champion’s medal, and possession of the championship sterling silver cup for one year. The trophy was designated for display at Rawlins’ club until it was presented to the next year’s champion, beginning a perennial rite that has endured for more than a century.
The original two-handled cup was destroyed by fire in September 1946 at Lloyd Mangrum’s home club, Tam O’Shanter, outside of Chicago. The USGA considered replacing it with a new design but opted instead to preserve the look of the original with a full-scale replica on April 24, 1947. This replica remained in service, passed from champion to champion until 1986, when it was permanently retired to the USGA Museum. Today, the U.S. Open champion receives possession of the 1986 full-scale replica.
The U.S. Open Trophy that debuted in 1947 is on display at the USGA Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.
HISTORY – This is the 120th U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open, which was first played in 1895, was not contested for two years (1917-18) during World War I and for four years (1942-45) during World War II. The youngest winner of the U.S. Open was 19-year-old John McDermott, who won in 1911; he is among eight players age 21 or younger who have won the U.S. Open. The oldest winner is Hale Irwin, who was 45 and playing on a special exemption when he won his third U.S. Open title in 1990. Irwin also won in 1974 and 1979.
There are four four-time U.S. Open winners: Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905), amateur Bob Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930), Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953), and Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980).
TWO-TEE START – A two-tee start was first adopted for the 2002 U.S. Open. The USGA had successfully adopted a two-tee start for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2000 and for the U.S. Senior Open in 2001. Play will begin at 6:50 a.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 17 on the first and 10th tees of the West Course at Winged Foot Golf Club.
OPEN ECONOMICS – Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, earned $2.25 million from a purse of $12.5 million last year at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. In 1959, Billy Casper’s winning share was $12,000 from a purse of $48,000 in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club. Hale Irwin earned $35,000 from a purse of $223,900 at Winged Foot in 1974. Following his victory in a playoff at Winged Foot in 1984, Fuzzy Zoeller received $94,000 from a purse of $596,325. In 2006, Geoff Ogilvy earned $1.225 million from a purse of $6.8 million, also at Winged Foot.
OPEN BIRTHDAYS – Seven players in the U.S. Open field will celebrate a birthday around the championship. Past U.S. Amateur champions Byeong Hun An (2009), Bryson DeChambeau (2015) and Viktor Hovland (2018) are among this group. An turns 29 on Sept. 17, the day of the championship’s first round, and Hovland celebrates his 23rd birthday the following day.
OLDEST & YOUNGEST – Steve Stricker, at age 53 (born Feb. 23, 1967), is the oldest player in this year’s U.S. Open field. Stricker won the 2019 U.S. Senior Open on The Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind. Preston Summerhays, who won the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, is the youngest at age 18 (born July 22, 2002).
FIELD FOR THE AGES – There are nine players in the 2020 U.S. Open field who will be 21 years old or younger when the first round begins on Thursday, Sept. 17. Preston Summerhays, the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, and Rasmus Hojgaard, who won the European Tour’s ISPS Handa UK Championship on Aug. 30, are under age 20.
There are 25 players in the field who are 40 or older. Tiger Woods, 44, won three U.S. Opens, in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Lucas Glover, 40, and Graeme McDowell, 41, captured the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Open titles, respectively. Justin Rose, 40, won the 2013 U.S. Open.
The average age of the 144-player field is 31.19.
INTERNATIONAL GROUP – There are 27 countries represented in the 2020 U.S. Open. The United States has 67 players in the field, while England has 13, Australia 9 and South Africa has 7.
Countries with players in the field – United States (67), England (13), Australia (9), South Africa (7), Spain (5), Canada (4), France (4), Japan (4), Republic of Korea (4), Scotland (3), Austria (2), Belgium (2), Germany (2), Republic of Ireland (2), New Zealand (2), Northern Ireland (2), Sweden (2), Chile (1), Chinese Taipei (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), Finland (1), Italy (1), Mexico (1), Norway (1), Slovakia (1) and Thailand (1).
2019 RETURNS – Gary Woodland, the defending U.S. Open champion, is one of 69 players in this year’s field who competed in the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. Woodland is also among four of the last five major professional champions returning, including Collin Morikawa (2020 PGA), Shane Lowry (2019 The Open) and Tiger Woods (2019 Masters). The group also includes three players who advanced to the 2017 U.S. Open through the two-stage qualifying process. Cameron Champ, who tied for 32nd, Corey Conners and Chan Kim worked their way through local and final qualifying.
FIRST TIME AT U.S. OPEN – There are 36 players in the 2020 championship field who are playing in their first U.S. Open. Rasmus Hojgaard, of Denmark, has won twice on the European Tour this season. He recorded an eagle on the third playoff hole to defeat Renato Paratore and Antoine Rozner to win the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on Dec. 8. In another playoff, Hojgaard edged Justin Walters with a par on the second extra hole to capture the ISPS Handa UK Championship on Aug. 30. Lee Hodges (WinCo Foods Portland Open) and Curtis Luck (Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship) were winners on the Korn Ferry Tour.
List of First-Time U.S. Open Players (36): a-John Augenstein, Danny Balin, Paul Barjon, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a-Ricky Castillo, Thomas Detry, Lee Hodges, Rasmus Hojgaard, Mark Hubbard, Jazz Janewattananond, Marty Jertson, a-Takumi Kanaya, Kurt Kitayama, Romain Langasque, Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Curtis Luck, Robert MacIntyre, a-Lukas Michel, Shaun Norris, a-Andy Ogletree, Adrian Otaegui, a-John Pak, Taylor Pendrith, Victor Perez, J.C. Ritchie, a-Eduard Rousaud, Matthias Schwab, a-Sandy Scott, Greyson Sigg, a-James Sugrue, a-Preston Summerhays, Connor Syme, a-Davis Thompson, Sami Valimaki, Ryan Vermeer, Matthew Wolff
2019 QUALIFYING TO 2020 U.S. OPEN FIELD – There are 53 players in the 2020 U.S. Open who competed in final qualifying for the 2019 championship. Collin Morikawa, who won this year’s PGA Championship, was one of 15 players who advanced through the second stage to the U.S. Open one year ago. Morikawa, Joel Dahmen, Chesson Hadley, Rory Sabbatini, Erik van Rooyen and Brandon Wu qualified in Columbus, Ohio. Other qualifiers were – Matt Jones, Brendon Todd, in Dallas, Texas; Shugo Imahira and Chan Kim, in Japan; Renato Paratore, Thomas Pieters and Bernd Wiesberger, in England; Harris English, in Canada; and a-Chun An Yu, in Newport Beach, Calif.
TRADITIONAL GROUPING – Defending U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, defending Open champion Shane Lowry and 2019 U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree will form a traditional grouping for the opening two rounds on Thursday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 18. Woodland won last year at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links by three strokes over Brooks Koepka with a four-round total of 271 (13 under par). Lowry captured the Open Championship, conducted by The R&A, by six strokes over Tommy Fleetwood at Royal Portrush Golf Club. Ogletree defeated John Augenstein, 2 and 1, in the U.S. Amateur final at Pinehurst No. 2.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE I – Danny Balin is the head professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club, in Lake Success, N.Y. Gene Sarazen won the 1932 U.S. Open at Fresh Meadow in its previous location, in Queens, where Sarazen had also served as head professional. Balin, who was the runner-up in the 2019 PGA Professional Championship, previously worked at Westchester Country Club, in Rye, N.Y. and Sunningdale Country Club, in Scarsdale, N.Y.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE II – Brandon Wu has spent part of his life in Scarsdale, N.Y., a town located in Westchester County, 4½ miles from Winged Foot Golf Club. Wu carded a final-round 65 to win the Korn Ferry Tour Championship on Aug. 30. He tied for second in the Albertsons Boise Open two weeks earlier. Wu, who tied for 35th as an amateur in last year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, helped Stanford University win its ninth NCAA Championship and third consecutive Pac-12 Conference crown in 2019. He was born in Danville, Calif., but lived in Beijing for five years.
RETURN TO WINGED FOOT – Phil Mickelson, a runner-up in the U.S. Open six times, returns to Winged Foot Golf Club where he tied for second in the 2006 championship. Mickelson, who owns 44 PGA Tour victories, including five major professional titles, shared the third-round lead with Kenneth Ferrie. He was in position to win the 2006 Open but carded a double-bogey 6 on the 72nd hole to finish in a tie with Jim Furyk and Colin Montgomerie, one stroke behind champion Geoff Ogilvy. Steve Stricker, who won last year’s U.S. Senior Open, held the 36-hole lead at Winged Foot in 2006 and went on to tie for sixth. Stricker, who has won 12 PGA Tour and five PGA Tour Champions events, set 14 records at The Warren Course at Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind., en route to winning the U.S. Senior Open by six strokes over Jerry Kelly and David Toms.
GOLDEN FLASHES – Canadians Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith were teammates at Kent State University in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Hughes, who was two years ahead of Conners and Pendrith, will play in his third U.S. Open. He posted four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2019-20 and qualified for the Tour Championship. Conners, who like Hughes has won on the PGA Tour, is making his second U.S. Open start. In 2019, he was victorious in the Valero Texas Open. Pendrith, who served as Conners’ caddie in the 2014 U.S. Amateur final at Atlanta Athletic Club, is playing in his first U.S. Open. He has five top-10s, including three second-place finishes, on the Korn Ferry Tour this season.
CHALLENGING JOURNEY – Christiaan Bezuidenhout, 26, of South Africa, has batted adversity from a young age to reach his first U.S. Open. Bezuidenhout was poisoned in a freak accident as a 2-year-old. He was rushed to the hospital, where his stomach was pumped but the rat poison ravaged his nervous system and created a few lifelong challenges. He developed a severe stutter which led to bouts with anxiety and depression. Golf has helped Bezuidenhout deal with his obstacles. He won the European’s Tour’s Andalucia Masters, defeating a group that included Jon Rahm, by six strokes. He is playing in his third professional major championship.
GOLF IN THE FAMILY – Preston Summerhays, last year’s U.S. Junior Amateur champion, won his second consecutive Utah State Amateur in 2019 after becoming the youngest player (age 15) to claim the championship the previous year. He broke a record that was shared by Tony Finau, who is also in the 2020 U.S. Open field, and Preston’s uncle Daniel, a recently retired PGA Tour pro. Summerhays is the son of Boyd, a former PGA Tour player and Finau’s swing coach, and the great nephew of Bruce, who won three PGA Tour Champions events. Daniel Summerhays played in four U.S. Opens and finished in a tie for eighth in 2016 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. Bruce competed in four U.S. Opens.
DIRECT FROM FINLAND – Sami Valimaki will be the first player from Finland to play in the U.S. Open since Mikko Ilonen in 2012. The 22-year-old became the fourth Finnish player to win on the European Tour when he defeated Brandon Stone on the third playoff hole in the Oman Open on March 1. Valimaki joined Ilonen, Mikko Korhonen and Roope Kakko as European Tour winners from Finland.
WELCOME BACK – Dan McCarthy, 35, of Syracuse, N.Y., returns to the U.S. Open following a 10-year gap since his first appearance in 2010 at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. McCarthy was among five players who earned exemptions based on the three-event 2020 Korn Ferry Tour Series, which began with the Albertsons Boise Open and ended with its Tour Championship on Aug. 30. McCarthy, who attended NCAA Division II LeMoyne College, tied for third in the Korn Ferry Tour Championship and recorded top-10 finishes in three of his last five events played. Scott Hend, 47, of Australia will compete in his fourth U.S. Open but first since 2011 at Congressional Country Club. Hend, who owns 15 professional victories, earned his exemption as the top finisher in the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit.
THE CADDIE KNOWS – J.J. Jakovac, who is the caddie of 2020 PGA champion Collin Morikawa, is no stranger to Winged Foot Golf Club. Jakovac, of Napa, Calif., advanced to the Round of 32 in the 2004 U.S. Amateur, which was contested on the West Course. Jakovac, who worked with Morikawa for the first time last year at U.S. Open qualifying, in Columbus, Ohio, won two NCAA Division II individual championships (2002, 2004) and was a three-time first-team All-American at Chico (Calif.) State University. Jakovac has caddied for five other PGA Tour players, including Ryan Moore, who won the 2004 U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot.
LAST ONES IN – The USGA filled the final five spots in the U.S. Open field through the 2019-20 FedExCup Final Points List (top five players, not otherwise exempt) following the Tour Championship, which concluded on Monday, Sept. 7.
The five FedExCup Final Points exempt players were: No. 15 Sebastian Munoz, 27, of Colombia; No. 37 Brian Harman, 33, of Sea Island, Ga.; No. 40 Tyler Duncan, 31, of Columbus, Ind.; No. 44 Mark Hubbard, 31, of Denver, Colo.; and No. 45 Danny Lee, 30, of New Zealand.
Munoz, who tied for eighth in the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Ga., will compete in his second U.S. Open. He won the 2019 Sanderson Farms Championship in a playoff with Sungjae Im last September and recorded five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour during the 2019-20 season.
Harman was a runner-up along with Hideki Matsuyama to Brooks Koepka in the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills. He will make his fifth U.S. Open start. Harman tied for third in A Military Tribute at Greenbrier, one of his eight top-25 efforts on the PGA Tour this season. Harman, who won the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur, owns two PGA Tour victories.
Duncan will play in his third U.S. Open. His best finish is a tie for 56th in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. He won The RSM Classic, in St. Simons Island, Ga., last November, defeating 2012 U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson in a playoff. It was one of his four top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour.
Hubbard is one of 36 players in the field who will compete in his first U.S. Open. He has three top-10 performances on the PGA Tour this season, including a tie for second in the Houston Open. He made the 36-hole cut in 19 of 24 events played.
Lee, who won the 2008 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, had three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season, including a runner-up finish to Justin Thomas in The CJ Cup at Nine Bridges. Lee is playing in his third U.S. Open and his best finish is a tie for 57th in 2016 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
CHAMPION OUT – Brooks Koepka withdrew from the 2020 U.S. Open on Sept. 9 because of an injury.
Koepka, who won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open Championships, was replaced in the field by Paul Waring, a 35-year-old professional from England, the first alternate as determined by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as of Aug. 23, 2020.
Koepka, who has captured four major professional titles, including the 2018 and 2019 PGA Championships, owns four top-5 finishes in seven U.S. Opens played. He was the runner-up to Gary Woodland last year at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and tied for fourth in 2014 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.
Waring, who was No. 90 in the OWGR of Aug. 23, will play in his second U.S. Open after having competed in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. He won the European Tour’s Nordea Masters in 2018 and has played in four Open Championships, conducted by The R&A.