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U.S. Open Entries Close; 58 Golfers Already
Fully Exempt
April 26, 2007
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org
Far Hills, N.J. - The United States Golf Association has accepted
8,544 entries, including the entries from the 58 golfers who are
already fully exempt into the field, for the 2007 U.S. Open, to
be played June 14-17 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.
Eighty-eight percent of the total entries were received online,
including 706 on the final day (April 25) that applications were
accepted. The USGA received 130 entries online in the final hour.
The last entry to arrive was from Arvo
Voip, a 25-year-old amateur from Magalia, Calif.,
who beat the 5 p.m. (EDT) deadline by 17 seconds.
The first entry received was from 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up
Carlton Forrester, a 30-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., who submitted
his Open entry 12 minutes after the online system went live on March
5.
The youngest golfer to enter was 13-year-old Aaron Kunitomo of Lahaina,
Hawaii. The oldest applicant was 76-year-old Ordean
Olson, a professional from Hollywood, Fla., who
will turn 77 prior to the championship. He also was the oldest entrant
a year ago. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all
50 states and 62 foreign countries.
Among the foreign applicants were professionals Ajay Shah of Kenya
and Pierre-Henri Soero
of New Caledonia. To be eligible, the player must have at least
a 1.4 Handicap Index, or be a professional.
Seven past champions are already fully exempt from having to qualify
for the upcoming Championship. They are Michael Campbell (2005);
Ernie Els (1994, 1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001, 2004);
Lee Janzen (1993, 1998); Geoff Ogilvy (2006); and Tiger Woods (2000,
2002).
In addition, past champions Corey
Pavin (1995) and Steve
Jones (1996) will try to reach the field of 156
through sectional qualifying in Dallas, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio,
respectively. An Open champion receives a full exemption into the
field for the next 10 years.
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion
of the top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings, the top 10 money
leaders on the PGA Tour and the top two money leaders on the European
PGA Tour as of June 3.
Local qualifying at 109 sites will begin May 2. Sectional qualifying
at 13 sites will be held on June 4, including one in England.
Another sectional qualifier will be held May 28 in Japan
. It is the third consecutive year that the USGA has offered
these two international sectional qualifiers.
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.
THE PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE
2007 U.S. OPEN (58) (as of 4/24/07)
| Stephen Ames |
9 |
Zach Johnson |
3,9 |
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|
Robert Karlsson |
10 |
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Shingo Katayama |
14 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9 |
John Kelly |
2 |
| Rich Beem |
5 |
Davis Love III |
9 |
| Thomas Bjorn |
10 |
Shaun Micheel |
5 |
| Chad Campbell |
9 |
Phil Mickelson |
3,5,8,9 |
| Michael Campbell |
1 |
Colin Montgomerie |
8,10 |
| Paul Casey |
8,10 |
Arron Oberholser |
9 |
| K.J. Choi |
9 |
Nick O'Hern |
8,15 |
| Stewart Cink |
9 |
Geoff Ogilvy |
1,8,9 |
| Ben Curtis |
4,9,12 |
Rod Pampling |
9 |
| Luke Donald |
8,9,10 |
Tom Pernice Jr. |
9 |
| |
|
Carl Pettersson |
9 |
| Allen Doyle |
7 |
Ian Poulter |
8,10 |
| Joe Durant |
9 |
Brett Quigley |
9 |
| Johan Edfors |
10 |
Richie Ramsay |
2 |
| Ernie Els |
1,4,9,10 |
Rory Sabbatini |
9 |
| Niclas Fasth |
10 |
Adam Scott |
9 |
| Kenneth Ferrie |
8 |
Jeev M. Singh |
14 |
| Jim Furyk |
1,8,9,12 |
Vijay Singh |
5,8,9,12 |
| Sergio Garcia |
10 |
Jeff Sluman |
8 |
| Lucas Glover |
9 |
Henrik Stenson |
10 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,9,10 |
Steve Stricker |
8 |
| Todd Hamilton |
4 |
David Toms |
9 |
| Padraig Harrington |
8,10 |
Anthony Wall |
10 |
| J.J. Henry |
9 |
Mike Weir |
3,8 |
| David Howell |
10 |
Brett Wetterich |
9 |
| Ryuji Imada |
8 |
Dean Wilson |
9 |
| Trevor Immelman |
9 |
Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,5,9,12 |
| Lee Janzen |
1 |
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Key to Player Exemptions -
- Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
- Winner and runner-up of the 2006 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 2007 Players Championship.
- Winner of the 2006 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
- From the 2006 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers
and anyone tying for 15th place.
- From the 2006 final official PGA Tour money list, the top
30 money leaders.
- From the 2006 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15
money leaders.
- From the 2007 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money
leaders through May 28, 2007.
- Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose
victories are considered official from April 24, 2006 through
June 3, 2007.
- From the 2007 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders
through May 28, 2007.
- From the 2006 final Japan Golf Tour money list, the top two
leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of
the World Golf Ranking at that time.
- From the 2006 final PGA Tour of Australasia money list, the
top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders
of the World Golf Ranking at that time.
- From the World Golf Ranking list, the top 50 point leaders
as of May 28, 2007.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee
International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the
USGA Executive Committee.
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