14 More Players Exempt For U.S. Open; Total Now 72


May 29, 2007
E-mail address: mediarelations@usga.org

Far Hills, N.J. - Fourteen more professional golfers earned full exemptions into the upcoming 2007 U.S. Open by being in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 28. A total of 72 golfers are fully exempt from qualifying for the upcoming Championship, scheduled from June 14-17 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

In all, three exemption categories were closed as of May 28.

Those who earned full exemptions through the current World Ranking were Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Angel Cabrera, Tim Clark, Chris DiMarco, Anders Hansen, Charles Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal, John Rollins, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel, Vaughn Taylor, Scott Verplank and Lee Westwood. The remainder of the top 50 ranked players (36) was already fully exempt through other criteria.

Howell and Rollins were also among the PGA Tour's top 10 money winners for this year as of May 28, which earned them a full exemption through a second avenue. The rest of the top 10 money leaders were already fully exempt.

The top two money leaders on the PGA European Tour for 2007 as of May 28 (Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen) also earned full exemptions but they too were already in the field through other qualifying categories.  

One more fully exempt place could be awarded following the close of this week's Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour, if the winner is not already fully exempt and it is his second Tour win since last April 24.

Sectional qualifying for the remaining 84 spots will take place at 13 sites on June 4.  The first sectional qualifier was held May 28 in Japan with three spots for the U.S. Open field awarded.

Here is the list of the 72 golfers who are fully exempt:

THE PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2007 U.S. OPEN (72) (as of 5/28/07)

Robert Allenby 16 Zach Johnson 3,9,16
Stephen Ames 9,16 Robert Karlsson 10,16
Stuart Appleby 9,16 Shingo Katayama 14
Aaron Baddeley 16 John Kelly (a) 2
Rich Beem 5 Davis Love III 9,16
Thomas Bjorn 10 Shaun Micheel 5
Angel Cabrera 16    
Chad Campbell 9,16 Phil Mickelson 3,5,6,8,9,11,12,16
Michael Campbell 1 Colin Montgomerie 8,10,16
Paul Casey 8,10,16 Arron Oberholser 9,16
K.J. Choi 9,16 Nick O'Hern 8,15,16
Stewart Cink 9,16 Geoff Ogilvy 1,8,9,16
Tim Clark 16 Jose Maria Olazabal 16
Ben Curtis 4,9,12 Rod Pampling 9,16
Chris DiMarco 16    
Luke Donald 8,9,10,16 Tom Pernice Jr. 9
    Carl Pettersson 9,16
Allen Doyle 7 Ian Poulter 8,10,16
Joe Durant 9,16 Brett Quigley 9
Johan Edfors 10 Richie Ramsay (a) 2
    John Rollins 11,16
    Justin Rose 16
Ernie Els 1,4,9,10,16 Rory Sabbatini 9,16
    Charl Schwartzel 16
Niclas Fasth 10,16 Adam Scott 9,16
Kenneth Ferrie 8 Jeev M. Singh 14
Jim Furyk

1,8,9,12,16

 Vijay Singh 5,8,9,12,16
Sergio Garcia 10,16 Jeff Sluman 8
Lucas Glover 9 Henrik Stenson 10,16
Retief Goosen 1,9,10,16 Steve Stricker 8,16
    Vaughn Taylor 16
Todd Hamilton 4,16 David Toms 9,16
Anders Hansen 16 Scott Verplank 16
Padraig Harrington 8,10,16 Anthony Wall 10
J.J. Henry 9 Mike Weir 3,8,16
Charles Howell III 11,16 Lee Westwood 16
David Howell 10,16 Brett Wetterich 9,16
Ryuji Imada 8 Dean Wilson 9
Trevor Immelman 9,16 Tiger Woods 1,3,4,5,9,12
Lee Janzen 1    


(a) = Amateur

Key to Player Exemptions -

  1. Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
  2. Winner and runner-up of the 2006 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 2007 Players Championship.
  7. Winner of the 2006 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
  8. From the 2006 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
  9. From the 2006 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
  10. From the 2006 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
  11. From the 2007 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 28, 2007.
  12. Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 24, 2006 through June 3, 2007.
  13. From the 2007 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 28, 2007.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. From the World Golf Ranking list, the top 50 point leaders as of May 28, 2007.
  17. Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee International players not otherwise exempt as selected by the USGA Executive Committee.