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U.S. Open Entries Close; 64 Golfers Currently Exempt
May 3, 2004
Far Hills, N.J. – The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 8,726 entries for the 2004 U.S. Open to be played June 17-20 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. The number is 258 entries higher than the previous record count accepted for the 2002 Open at Bethpage (N.Y.) State Park (Black Course).
A total of 6,342 (72.6 percent) arrived via the USGA Internet site during the fourth year online Open entries were offered, an increase of 12 percent from 2003 and 58 percent from 2001. Former champions Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Corey Pavin were among those who submitted online entries.
A total of 1,121 electronic entries were received on the last two days before the deadline of Thursday afternoon (April 29), and 140 of those entries were submitted in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from Eric Rustand, 35, a reinstated amateur from Tuscon, Ariz., who submitted his electronic entry at 4:58:22 p.m. (EDT), 98 seconds before the deadline. In contrast, 27-year-old professional Kevin Simcox submitted the first entry just 12 minutes after online entries were launched on March 3.
The youngest golfer to enter is 13-year-old Tommy Mou of Taiwan, who is now living in Bradenton, Fla. The oldest is 81-year-old Dick Lynch, a professional from Milwaukee, Wis. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states and 58 foreign countries. To be eligible, the player must have at least a 1.4 Handicap Index, or be a professional.
Sixty-four golfers, including six past champions, are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship. Two who were fully exempt did not enter: Steve Jones, due to injury, and Bruce Lietzke, the reigning U.S. Senior Open champion.
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 12. Sectional qualifying at 13 sites will be held June 7-8.
Past champions who are fully exempt are Ernie Els (1994,1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001); Lee Janzen (1993,1998); Corey Pavin (1995); and Tiger Woods (2000,2002).
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 64 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
As of May 3, 2004
PLAYERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2004 U.S. OPEN (64)
| Robert Allenby |
9 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9 |
| Briny Baird |
9 |
| Rich Beem |
5 |
| Thomas Bjorn |
10 |
| Jonathan Byrd |
8 |
| Tom Byrum |
8 |
| Chad Campbell |
9 |
| Michael Campbell |
10 |
| Paul Casey |
10 |
| K.J. Choi |
9 |
| Darren Clarke |
10 |
| Ben Curtis |
4 |
| Brian Davis |
10 |
| Chris DiMarco |
9 |
| David Duval |
4 |
| Ernie Els |
1,4,8,9,10 |
| Brad Faxon |
9 |
| Nick Flanagan |
2 |
| Steve Flesch |
9 |
| Raymond Floyd |
17 |
| Fred Funk |
9 |
| Jim Furyk |
1,8,9 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,9,10 |
| Jay Haas |
9 |
| Padraig Harrington |
8,10 |
| Tim Herron |
9 |
| Charles Howell |
9 |
| Trevor Immelman |
10 |
| Toshimitsu Izawa |
14 |
| Fredrick Jacobson |
8,10 |
| Lee Janzen |
1 |
| Jonathan Kaye |
8,9,12 |
| Jerry Kelly |
9 |
| Cliff Kresge |
8 |
| Paul Lawrie |
4 |
| Stephen Leaney |
8,10 |
| Justin Leonard |
9 |
| J.L. Lewis |
9 |
| Peter Lonard |
15 |
| Davis Love |
9 |
| Billy Mayfair |
8 |
| Shaun Micheel |
5 |
| Phil Mickelson |
3 |
| Corey Pavin |
1 |
| Kenny Perry |
8,9,12 |
| Tim Petrovic |
8 |
| Ian Poulter |
10 |
| Nick Price |
8,9 |
| Phillip Price |
10 |
| Chris Riley |
9 |
| Eduardo Romero |
8 |
| Justin Rose |
8 |
| Adam Scott |
6,10,12 |
| Vijay Singh |
3,9,12 |
| Hidemichi Tanaka |
8 |
| David Toms |
5,8,9,12 |
| Kirk Triplett |
9 |
| Bob Tway |
9 |
| Scott Verplank |
8,9 |
| Mike Weir |
3,8,9 |
| Lee Westwood |
10 |
| Casey Wittenberg |
2 |
| Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,5,9,12 |
Key to Player Exemptions –
- Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
- Winner and runner-up of the 2003 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 2004 Players Championship.
- Winner of the 2003 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
- From the 2003 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
- From the 2003 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
- From the 2003 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
- From the 2004 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 30.
- Any multiple winner of PGA Tour co–sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 23, 2003 through June 6, 2004
- From the 2004 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 31.
- From the 2003 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 2003 final PGA Tour of Australasia money list, 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 31.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.
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