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U.S. Open Entries Close; 63 Golfers Currently Exempt
April 29, 2003
Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association has accepted 7,820 entries for the 2003 U.S. Open to be played June 12-15 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.
A total of 5,157 (63.3 percent) arrived via the USGA Internet site during the third year online Open entries were offered, an increase of 23 percent from 2002 and 47 percent from 2001. Former champions Hale Irwin and Tom Watson were two who submitted online entries.
In the last three days before the deadline of Wednesday afternoon (April 23), a total of 1,501 electronic entries were received and 145 of those entries were submitted in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from Bryan Geiberger, a professional from Palm Desert, Calif., who submitted his electronic entry at 4:56 p.m. (EDT), four minutes before the deadline.
Another 89 entries were received via overnight mail delivery in the last two days before the deadline.
The youngest golfer to enter is 13-year-old Mu Su of Bradenton, Fla. The oldest is 68-year-old George Bellino of Youngstown, Ohio.
Sixty-three golfers, including nine past champions, are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship.
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of the top 50 players from the World Rankings, the top 10 money leaders on the PGA Tour and the top two money leaders on the European PGA Tour at the end of May.
Local qualifying at more than 100 sites will begin May 6. Sectional qualifying at 12 sites will be held June 2-3.
Past champions who are fully exempt are Ernie Els (1997,1994); Retief Goosen (2001); Hale Irwin (1990,1979,1974); Lee Janzen (1998,1993); Steve Jones (1996); Tom Kite (1992); Corey Pavin (1995); Tom Watson (1982); and Tiger Woods (2002, 2000).
An Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years.
The Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Other championships include the U.S. Women's Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and 10 amateur competitions.
A list of the 63 golfers who are fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
* As of April 29, 2003 (status may change by May 26)
| Robert Allenby |
8, 9 |
| Ricky Barnes |
2 |
| Rich Beem |
5, 9, 12 |
| Thomas Bjorn |
10 |
| Tom Byrum |
8 |
| Angel Cabrera |
10 |
| Michael Campbell |
10 |
| K.J. Choi |
9 |
| Chris DiMarco |
9 |
| David Duval |
4 |
| Ernie Els |
1, 4, 9, 10, 12 |
| Bob Estes |
9 |
| Nick Faldo |
8 |
| Fred Funk |
9 |
| Jim Furyk |
9 |
| Sergio Garcia |
8, 9, 10 |
| Retief Goosen |
1, 9, 10 |
| Jay Haas |
8 |
| Padraig Harrington |
8,10 |
| Dudley Hart |
8 |
| Scott Hoch |
8 |
| Charles Howell |
9 |
| Trevor Immelman |
10 |
| Hale Irwin |
17 |
| Lee Janzen |
1 |
| Steve Jones |
1 |
| Jerry Kelly |
9 |
| Tom Kite |
17 |
| Paul Lawrie |
4,10 |
| Stephen Leaney |
10 |
| Justin Leonard |
8, 9 |
| Peter Lonard |
8,15 |
| Davis Love III |
6, 9 |
| Steve Lowery |
9 |
| Scott McCarron |
9 |
| Jeff Maggert |
8 |
| Hunter Mahan |
2 |
| Shigeki Maruyama |
9 |
| Len Mattiace |
9 |
| Billy Mayfair |
8 |
| Rocco Mediate |
9 |
| Phil Mickelson |
8, 9 |
| Colin Montgomerie |
10 |
| Jose Maria Olazabal |
3, 9, 10 |
| Mark O'Meara |
4 |
| Craig Parry |
15 |
| Corey Pavin |
1 |
| Kenny Perry |
9 |
| Don Pooley |
7 |
| Nick Price |
8, 9 |
| Chris Riley |
9 |
| Loren Roberts |
9 |
| John Rollins |
9 |
| Eduardo Romero |
10 |
| Justin Rose |
10 |
| Adam Scott |
10 |
| Vijay Singh |
3, 5, 9, 11, 12 |
| Jeff Sluman |
9 |
| Toru Taniguchi |
14 |
| David Toms |
5, 9 |
| Tom Watson |
17 |
| Mike Weir |
3, 12 |
| Tiger Woods |
1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12 |
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- Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
- Winner and runner-up of the 2002 U.S. Amateur Championship.
- Winners of the Masters Tournament the last five years.
- Winners of the British Open Championship the last five years.
- Winners of the PGA of America Championship the last five years.
- Winner of the 2003 Players Championship.
- Winner of the 2002 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
- From the 2002 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
- From the 2002 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
- From the 2002 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
- From the 2003 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 25.
- Any multiple winner of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 24, 2002 through June 1, 2003
- From the 2003 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 26.
- From the 2002 final Japan Golf Tour money list, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
- From the 2002-2003 official PGA Tour of Australasia money list as of March 17, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
- From the World Rankings list, the top 50 point leaders as of May 26.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
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