United States Open Championship
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open national championship of golf in the United States. It is the third of the four major championships in golf and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Since 1898, the competition has been 72 holes of stroke play (4 rounds on an 18-hole course), with the winner being the player with the lowest total number of strokes. The U.S. Open is known for its challenging course setups, with narrow fairways, high rough, fast greens, and demanding hole locations, earning it the reputation as golf's toughest test. The USGA, which conducts the event, aims to challenge the best players in the world while testing every aspect of their game.
Tournament Overview
Location
Rotating courses across the United States
Established
1895
Next Tournament
June 12-15, 2025
Prize Purse
$20,000,000 (2024)
Current Champion
Bryson DeChambeau (2023)
Oakmont Country Club (2025)
Par: 70
Length: 7,255 yards
Designer: Henry Fownes
Opened: 1903
Oakmont Country Club is widely considered one of the most difficult golf courses in the United States and has hosted more combined USGA and PGA championships than any other course in the U.S. The course was designed by Henry Fownes with a philosophy of challenging even the best golfers, featuring its notorious Church Pew bunkers between the 3rd and 4th fairways, and extremely fast, undulating greens. Oakmont traditionally has very few trees, providing an open, links-style appearance despite being an inland course. Its slick, sloping greens are among the fastest in championship golf, often running above 14 on the Stimpmeter during major tournaments. Having hosted the U.S. Open nine times (most recently in 2016), Oakmont's firm fairways, penal rough, and challenging greens make it the quintessential U.S. Open venue, where accuracy and precision are rewarded above all else.
The U.S. Open Challenge
Extremely thick rough
Narrow fairways
Fast, firm greens
Challenging course setups
Tournament History
The U.S. Open has a rich history dating back to October 4, 1895, when it was first played at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. The inaugural tournament was a 36-hole competition played in a single day, won by Englishman Horace Rawlins. In these early years, the championship was dominated by British players, with British immigrants winning the first 16 events. It wasn't until 1911 that an American-born player, John J. McDermott, claimed the title, becoming the youngest winner at just 19 years and 10 months, a record that still stands today.
Throughout the early 20th century, the U.S. Open grew in prestige under the stewardship of the United States Golf Association (USGA). The championship expanded to 72 holes in 1898, establishing the format that continues today. The tournament was suspended during both World Wars (1917-1918 and 1942-1945) but resumed afterward with renewed interest. The post-World War II era saw American dominance, with players like Ben Hogan, who won four U.S. Opens, including his remarkable comeback victory in 1950 after a near-fatal car accident.
The 1960s and 1970s represented a golden age for the U.S. Open, featuring the fierce rivalry between Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Nicklaus would tie the record with four U.S. Open victories, while Palmer, despite his popularity, captured the title just once in 1960. This era also saw international players making their mark, with South African Gary Player winning in 1965 and becoming the third player to complete the career Grand Slam.
The modern era of the U.S. Open has been characterized by increasingly difficult course setups, earning the tournament its reputation as "golf's toughest test." Courses are typically prepared with narrow fairways, thick rough, and fast greens, placing a premium on accuracy and patience. This philosophy has sometimes led to controversy, particularly at venues like Shinnecock Hills in 2004, when the course became nearly unplayable during the final round.
In recent decades, the championship has been marked by memorable performances, including Tiger Woods' dominant 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000, part of his "Tiger Slam," and Rory McIlroy's record-setting 16-under-par total at Congressional in 2011. The USGA has also expanded the democratic nature of the event, maintaining its identity as a truly "open" championship where amateurs and professionals alike have the opportunity to qualify and compete against the world's best.
The U.S. Open Trophy
U.S. Open Traditions
- Sectional qualifying
- Traditional Father's Day Sunday finish
- Challenging course setups
- 18-hole playoff (if needed)
- Gold medal for low amateur
- Jack Nicklaus Medal for the champion
- Historic venues
Symbol of Achievement
The U.S. Open Trophy is one of the most prestigious prizes in golf, standing 18 inches tall and crafted from sterling silver. The trophy features an ornate design with eagles adorning the handles and a statuette of a golfer on top of the lid. Created by Tiffany & Co., the original trophy was presented to the champion from 1895 until it was destroyed in a fire at Tam O'Shanter Country Club in 1946 after a victory celebration for Lloyd Mangrum.
The USGA commissioned an exact replica to replace the original, which remains in use today. Unlike some other major championships, the U.S. Open champion does not get to keep the trophy permanently. Instead, the winner's name is engraved on the base, and they receive a replica that is slightly smaller than the original. Since 2012, the champion also receives the Jack Nicklaus Medal, named in honor of the four-time U.S. Open champion.
The trophy's presentation typically occurs on the 18th green immediately following the conclusion of play, where the USGA President presents the champion with both the trophy and medal. This ceremony often takes place on Father's Day, as the tournament's final round has traditionally been scheduled for the third Sunday in June.
Beyond the trophy itself, U.S. Open champions receive substantial benefits, including a ten-year exemption into future U.S. Opens, five-year exemptions into the other three major championships, and membership on the PGA Tour for five years. For many players, however, the greatest prize is having their name engraved alongside golf's greatest champions on this historic trophy, joining legends like Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods in the annals of golf history.
The trophy has witnessed countless emotional moments, from Payne Stewart's celebratory pose after his win at Pinehurst in 1999, just months before his tragic death, to Tiger Woods' tearful embrace with his father after his first U.S. Open victory in 2000. These moments have cemented the U.S. Open Trophy as not just a symbol of golfing excellence, but also of the personal triumphs and human stories that make the championship so compelling.
Iconic U.S. Open Moments
Francis Ouimet's Upset Victory (1913)
The 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, produced what many consider the greatest upset in golf history. Francis Ouimet, a 20-year-old amateur who had grown up across the street from the course and had caddied there, defeated British champions Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18-hole playoff. What made the victory even more remarkable was that Ouimet had a 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery, on his bag. Ouimet's victory is credited with popularizing golf in America, transforming it from a sport primarily for the wealthy elite to one embraced by the middle class. The story was so compelling that it later became the subject of the book and film "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Ouimet never turned professional, maintaining his amateur status throughout his career, but his impact on American golf was profound, earning him the title "Father of American Golf."
Ben Hogan's Comeback (1950)
Just 16 months after a near-fatal car accident that doctors said might prevent him from walking again, Ben Hogan staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history at the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club. Still suffering from severe leg pain that required him to wrap his legs in bandages each morning, Hogan battled through 36 holes on the final day, a common format at the time. On the 72nd hole, needing a par to force a playoff, Hogan hit his famous 1-iron approach (captured in a now-iconic photograph by Hy Peskin) and two-putted for par. The next day, he defeated Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio in an 18-hole playoff to claim his second U.S. Open title. Hogan would go on to win two more U.S. Opens in 1951 and 1953, with his victory at Oakmont in 1953 being part of his "Hogan Slam" when he won three major championships in a single year. His 1950 triumph, however, remains perhaps the most inspiring comeback in golf history.
Payne Stewart's Putt at Pinehurst (1999)
The 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 culminated in one of the most emotionally charged finishes in championship history. Payne Stewart, dressed in his trademark knickers and tam-o'-shanter cap, faced a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to defeat Phil Mickelson by a single stroke. When the putt dropped, Stewart's celebration—right fist thrust forward, right leg kicked back—became an iconic image in golf, later immortalized in a bronze statue at Pinehurst. The victory was particularly poignant as Mickelson was playing with a pager in his bag, ready to withdraw if his wife went into labor with their first child. After the win, Stewart grabbed Mickelson's face with both hands and told him, "There's nothing like being a father." The moment became even more meaningful when Stewart died in a plane crash just four months later, making this his final major championship victory and leaving a lasting legacy in U.S. Open history.
Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach (2000)
The 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links saw Tiger Woods deliver perhaps the most dominant performance in major championship history. Woods opened with a 65 and never looked back, finishing at 12-under-par 272, a whopping 15 strokes ahead of his nearest competitors, Ernie Els and Miguel Ángel Jiménez. No one else in the field broke par for the tournament. Woods' performance was remarkable not just for the margin of victory, but for the complete mastery he displayed over a course that had humbled the rest of the field. He played the first 22 holes without a bogey and hit 72% of fairways for the week on a course with tiny, sloping targets. This victory was the first leg of what would become the "Tiger Slam"—holding all four major championships simultaneously, though not in the same calendar year. The 15-stroke winning margin remains the largest in any major championship, a record that many believe may never be broken, cementing this performance as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.
Notable Records
| Record | Holder | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Most wins | Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus | 4 |
| Lowest score (72 holes) | Rory McIlroy | 268 (-16) in 2011 |
| Lowest round | Multiple players | 63 |
| Lowest to par | Rory McIlroy | -16 (268) in 2011 |