U.S. Open Entries Close; 61 Golfers Currently Exempt
May 3, 2005
Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 9,048 entries for the 2005 U.S. Open to be played June 16-19 at Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course) in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. The number is 322 entries higher than the previous record count accepted for the 2004 Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 2004.
A total of 1,051 entries were received on the last two days before the deadline of Wednesday afternoon (April 27), and 75 of those entries were submitted electronically in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from David Kim, a 22-year-old amateur from San Jose, Calif., who submitted his entry at exactly 5:00:00 p.m. (EDT).
The youngest golfer to enter is 14-year-old Andrew Yun of Tacoma, Wash. The oldest is 82-year-old Loyal Chapman, an amateur from Minnetonka, Minn. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states and 80 foreign countries. To be eligible, the player must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 1.4 under the Men's USGA Handicap System, or be a professional.
Sixty-one golfers, including seven past champions, are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship. Two other past champions now playing on the Champions Tour (age 50 and older), Hale Irwin (1974,'79,'90) and Tom Kite (1992), will try to reach the field of 156 through sectional qualifying.
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 9. Sectional qualifying at 14 sites will be held from May 30-June 7. International sectional qualifiers will be offered for the first time on May 30 in Japan and June 6 in England.
Past champions who are fully exempt are Ernie Els (1994,1997); Jim Furyk (2003);Retief Goosen (2001,2004); Lee Janzen (1993,1998); Steve Jones (1996); 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 61 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2005 U.S. OPEN
| Robert Allenby |
8 |
Lee Janzen |
1 |
| Stephen Ames |
8,9 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez |
10 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9 |
Zach Johnson |
9 |
| Rich Beem |
5 |
Steve Jones |
1 |
| |
|
Shingo Katayama |
14 |
| Angel Cabrera |
10 |
Jerry Kelly |
9 |
| Chad Campbell |
9 |
|
|
| Paul Casey |
10 |
|
|
| K.J. Choi |
9 |
Thomas Levet |
10 |
| Stewart Cink |
9 |
Spencer Levin |
8 |
| Tim Clark |
8 |
Luke List |
2 |
| Darren Clarke |
9,10 |
|
|
| |
|
Davis Love III |
9 |
| Ben Curtis |
4 |
Graeme McDowell |
10 |
| John Daly |
9 |
Jeff Maggert |
8 |
| Chris DiMarco |
8,9 |
Shigeki Maruyama |
8,9 |
| |
|
Shaun Micheel |
5 |
| David Duval |
4 |
Phil Mickelson |
3,8,9 |
| Ernie Els |
1,4,8,9,10,12 |
Ryan Moore |
2 |
| Steve Flesch |
8,9 |
Nick O'Hern |
10 |
| Carlos Franco |
9 |
|
|
| Fred Funk |
6,8,9 |
|
|
| Jim Furyk |
1,8 |
Corey Pavin |
1 |
| Stephen Gallacher |
10 |
Kenny Perry |
9 |
| Sergio Garcia |
9,10,12 |
Ian Poulter |
10 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,8,9,10,12 |
Nick Price |
17 |
| Richard Green |
15 |
Rory Sabbatini |
9 |
| Jay Haas |
8,9 |
Adam Scott |
9 |
| Todd Hamilton |
4,9 |
Vijay Singh |
5,9,12 |
| Padraig Harrington |
10 |
Toru Taniguchi |
14 |
| Mark Hensby |
9 |
David Toms |
5,9 |
| Tim Herron |
8 |
Scott Verplank |
9 |
| |
|
Mike Weir |
3,8,9 |
| David Howell |
10 |
Lee Westwood |
10 |
| Peter Jacobsen |
7 |
Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,5,9 |
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.