|
Raymond Floyd Accepts Special Exemption to 2004 U.S. Open
October 14, 2003
Far Hills, N.J. - Raymond Floyd, who earned four major victories during his 30 years on the PGA Tour, including a win at the 1986 U.S. Open, has accepted a special exemption from qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., the site of his Open victory. The championship will be played from June 17-20, 2004. The special exemption was offered by the Executive Committee of the United States Golf Association.
Floyd, 61, will be playing in his first Open since 1995, when he tied for 36th. It was the last time the championship was conducted at Shinnecock.
In winning the 1986 Open, Floyd finished with a score of 1-under-par 279, two strokes ahead of Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins. He shot a 4-under-par 66 on the final day, making a decisive birdie at the 16th hole to take the lead and have an under par total (-1) for the first time during the Championship.
In all, Floyd has played in 30 Opens dating back to his first, in 1964, at Congressional (Md.) Country Club.
His other major wins came at the 1976 Masters and the 1969 and 1982 PGA Championships. He has 22 PGA Tour victories, and another 14 since joining the PGA Champions Tour in 1992. His best finish at a U.S. Senior Open, also conducted by the USGA, is third in 1996 and 1998.
The defending Open champion is Jim Furyk, who shot 8-under-par 272 in 2003 at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club to win by three strokes over Stephen Leaney. The U.S. Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA.
Floyd will be one of about 75 golfers who will be fully exempt through various
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
|
|
