VIDEO: THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE US OPEN
1. Qualifying
Each year any amateur with a handicap index of 1.4 or lower can enter the US Open, with over 8,000 golfers attempting to qualify. Thereâs over 100 local qualifying sites around the US, with 11 final qualifying events. A record 10,127 golfers entered in 2014 for the tournament at Pinehurst.
2. The first US Open
The first ever US Open took place in 1895, but it was actually considered the side show compared to the US Amateur. A total of 11 golfers played four rounds at the nine hole Newport Golf and Country Club, where 21-year-old Englishman Horace Rawlins became the inaugural US Open champion.
3. First American winner
It wasnât until 1912 when an American – John McDermott – won the US Open. This was because the tournament was initially conducted mainly for the British wave of immigrant golf professionals coming to the United States.
4. First TV broadcast
In 1954 at Baltusrol, the US Open was roped from tee to green and was televised across the nation for the first time. NBC broadcast an hour of the final round. The tournament was won by Ed Furgol, who won his one and only Major by a single stroke from Gene Littler.
5. 72 holes
The tournament moved from its original total of 36 holes to 72 in 1898, but it wasnât until 1965 when the US Open was played over four days of 18 holes as we now know it. Previously it had been held with two and three day formats.
6. First public course
(Image credit: Getty Images)
In 2002, Bethpage State Parkâs famous Black Course became the ‘first’ ever public course to host a US Open. Pebble Beach had hosted US Opens prior to 2002 and it is technically a ‘public’ course but is considered semi-private due to the need to stay at the resort to play and its high green fees. Since 2002, other public courses like Torrey Pines, Chambers Bay and Erin Hills have hosted the US Open.
7. International qualifying
In 2005, International Qualifying for the US Open was introduced, and it was that year when New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who came through qualifying at Walton Heath Golf Club in England, won the US Open at Pinehurst. Campbell’s one and only Major victory came with a two stroke victory over Tiger Woods.
8. Youngest and oldest
In 2012 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, 17-year-old Beau Hossler became the youngest man to make the cut at a US Open since WWII. Sam Snead, at the age of 61, was the oldest player to make the cut in 1973 at Oakmont Country Club.
9. Most US…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…