Open Entries Close; 70 Golfers Currently Exempt
April 27, 2006
Far Hills, N.J. - The Golf Association has accepted 8,584 entries for the 2006 U.S. Open to be played June 15-18 at Winged Foot Golf Club in It is the third highest number of entries in Open history, 464 shy of the record 9,048 entries accepted for the 2005 Open in Pinehurst, N.C.
A total of 2,251 entries were received on the last three days before the deadline of Wednesday afternoon (April 26), and 100 of those entries were submitted electronically in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from Will Britt , a 27-year-old professional from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., who submitted his entry at 4:59:30 p.m., 30 seconds before the 5 p.m. (EDT ) deadline.
The youngest golfer to enter was 13-year-old Ryan Simpson of Mechanicsville, N.Y. The oldest was 75-year-old Ordean Olson, a professional from Hollywood, Fla., who will turn 76 prior to the Championship. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states and 62 foreign countries.
Among the foreign applicants was Doh Missewou, a 31-year-old professional and lone entrant from the African country of Togo. To be eligible, the player must have at least a 1.4 Handicap Index, or be a professional. Seventy-eight percent of all entries were received online.
Seventy golfers, including eight past champions, are currently fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship. In addition, 1992 champion Tom Kite will try to reach the field of 156 through sectional qualifying in Houston, Texas.
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 Tour and the top two money leaders on the European Tour at the end of May.
Local qualifying at 110 sites will begin May 10. Sectional qualifying at 14 sites will be held from May 29-June 6. International sectional qualifiers will be offered on May 29 in and June 5 in .
An Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years.
Past champions who are fully exempt are Michael Campbell (2005); 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). Pavin's exemption from winning in 1995 had passed, but he earned a full exemption by finishing in the top 15 in 2005.
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 70 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
THE PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2006 U.S. OPEN (70) (as of 4/27/06)
| Steven Ames |
6 |
Mark Hensby |
8 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9 |
Tim Herron |
9 |
| Rich Beem |
5 |
Charles Howell III |
9 |
| Thomas Bjorn |
10 |
David Howell |
10 |
| Olin Browne |
9 |
Ryuji Imada |
8 |
| Bart Bryant |
9 |
Peter Jacobsen |
8 |
| Angel Cabrera |
10 |
Lee Janzen |
1 |
| Mark Calcavecchia |
9 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez |
10 |
| Chad Campbell |
9 |
Brandt Jobe |
9 |
| Michael Campbell |
1,8,10 |
Steve Jones |
1 |
| K.J. Choi |
8 |
Shingo Katayama |
14 |
| Stewart Cink |
8 |
Justin Leonard |
9 |
| Tim Clark |
8,9 |
Davis Love III |
8,9 |
| John Cook |
8 |
Paul McGinley |
10 |
| Fred Couples |
8 |
Billy Mayfair |
9 |
| Ben Crane |
9 |
Rocco Mediate |
8 |
| Ben Curtis |
4 |
Shaun Micheel |
5 |
| Chris DiMarco |
9 |
Phil Mickelson |
3,5,9,12 |
| Luke Donald |
9,10 |
Edorado Molinari |
2 |
| Dillon Dougherty |
2 |
Colin Montgomerie |
10 |
| Nick Dougherty |
10 |
Arron Oberholser |
8 |
| Allen Doyle |
7 |
Sean O'Hair |
9 |
| David Duval |
4 |
Nick O'Hearn |
15 |
| Ernie Els |
1,4,8 |
Jose Maria Olazabal |
10 |
| Bob Estes |
8 |
Corey Pavin |
8 |
| Niclas Fasth |
10 |
Kenny Perry |
9 |
| Kenneth Ferrie |
10 |
Nick Price |
8 |
| Fred Funk |
9 |
Ted Purdy |
9 |
| Jim Furyk |
1,9 |
Adam Scott |
9,15 |
| Sergio Garcia |
8,9,10 |
Vijay Singh |
5,8,9 |
| Lucas Glover |
9 |
Henrik Stenson |
10 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,8,9,10 |
David Toms |
5,8,9 |
| Todd Hamilton |
4 |
Scott Verplank |
9 |
| Padraig Harrington |
9 |
Mike Weir |
3 |
| Peter Hedblom |
8 |
Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,8,9,12 |
Key to Player Exemptions -
- Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
- Winner and runner-up of the 2005 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 2006 Players Championship.
- Winner of the 2005 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
- From the 2005 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15 th place.
- From the 2005 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
- From the 2005 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
- From the 2006 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 29.
- Any multiple winner of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 23, 2005 through June 6, 2006
- From the 2006 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 30.
- From the 2005 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 2005 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 30, 2006.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.