Eleven More Players Exempt For U.S. Open; Total Now 72
May 31, 2005
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
Far Hills, N.J. - Justin Leonard and Peter Lonard, both winners on the PGA Tour this season, are two of the 11 golfers who earned full exemptions into the U.S. Open with the close of three active categories as of May 30. A total of 72 golfers are fully exempt from qualifying for the upcoming Championship, scheduled from June 16-19 at the Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course) in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Leonard and Lonard earned their exemptions by easily staying in the top 50 in the World Rankings. The other nine who earned full exemptions by being in the top 50 of the updated World Rankings are Thomas Bjorn and Craig Parry, winners on the 2005 PGA European Tour, along with Fred Couples, Luke Donald, Charles Howell III, Tom Lehman, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Rod Pampling.
The 10 leading money leaders on the PGA Tour and the top two money leaders of the PGA European Tour for 2005 were already fully exempt, after considering the world rankings. The remainder of the top 50 ranked players (39) was already fully exempt through other criteria.
Sectional qualifying for the remaining 84 spots will take place at 15 sites on June 6-7. The first sectional qualifier was held May 30 in Japan .
Here is the list of the 72 golfers who are fully exempt:
| Robert Allenby |
8 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez |
10,16 |
| Stephen Ames |
8,9,16 |
Zach Johnson |
9,16 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9,16 |
Steve Jones |
1 |
| Rich Beem |
5 |
Shingo Katayama |
13,14 |
| Thomas Bjorn |
16 |
Jerry Kelly |
9,16 |
| Angel Cabrera |
10,16 |
Justin Leonard |
11, 12,16 |
| Chad Campbell |
9,16 |
Tom Lehman |
16 |
| Paul Casey |
10,16 |
Thomas Levet |
10 |
| K.J. Choi |
9,16 |
Spencer Levin |
8 |
| Stewart Cink |
9,16 |
Luke List |
2 |
| Tim Clark |
8,16 |
Peter Lonard |
16 |
| Darren Clarke |
9,10,16 |
Davis Love III |
9,16 |
| Fred Couples |
16 |
Graeme McDowell |
10,16 |
| Ben Curtis |
4 |
Paul McGinley |
16 |
| John Daly |
9,16 |
Jeff Maggert |
8 |
| Chris DiMarco |
8,9,16 |
Shigeki Maruyama |
14 |
| Luke Donald |
11,16 |
Shaun Micheel |
5 |
| David Duval |
4 |
Phil Mickelson |
3,8,9,11,12,16 |
| Ernie Els |
1,4,8,9,10,12,16 |
Colin Montgomerie |
16 |
| Steve Flesch |
8,9 |
Ryan Moore |
2 |
| Carlos Franco |
9 |
Nick O'Hern |
10,16 |
| Fred Funk |
6,8,9,16 |
Rod Pampling |
16 |
| Jim Furyk |
1,8,16 |
Craig Parry |
16 |
| Stephen Gallacher |
10 |
Corey Pavin |
1 |
| Sergio Garcia |
9,10,12,16 |
Kenny Perry |
9,1 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,8,9,10,12,13,16 |
Ian Poulter |
10,16 |
| Richard Green |
15 |
Nick Price |
17 |
| Jay Haas |
8,9,16 |
Rory Sabbatini |
9,16 |
| Todd Hamilton |
4,9,16 |
Adam Scott |
5,11,16 |
| Padraig Harrington |
10,16 |
Vijay Singh |
5,9,11,12,16 |
| Mark Hensby |
9,16 |
Toru Taniguchi |
14 |
| Tim Herron |
8,16 |
David Toms |
5,9,11,16 |
| Charles Howell III |
16 |
Scott Verplank |
9,16 |
| David Howell |
13 |
Mike Weir |
3,8,9,16 |
| Peter Jacobsen |
7 |
Lee Westwood |
10,16 |
| Lee Janzen |
1 |
Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,5,9,11,12,16 |
Key to Player Exemptions -
1) Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
2) Winner and runner-up of the 2004 U.S. Amateur Championship.
3) Winners of the Masters Tournament the last five years.
4) Winners of the British Open Championship the last five years.
5) Winners of the PGA of America Championship the last five years.
6) Winner of the 2005 Players Championship.
7) Winner of the 2004 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
8) From the 2004 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15 th place.
9) From the 2004 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
10) From the 2004 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
11) From the 2004 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 30.
12) Any multiple winner of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 22, 2004 through June 7, 2005
13) From the 2005 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 31.
14) From the 2004 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.
15) From the 2004 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.
16) From the World Rankings list, the top 50 point leaders as of May 31.
17) Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.