USGA Accepts Record Entries For 2009 U.S. Open Championship
May 1, 2009
Far Hills, N.J. – The United States Golf Association has accepted a record 9,086 entries for the 2009 U.S. Open, to be played June 18-21 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., including those from the 63 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the field.
The previous record for entries was 9,048 for the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
"This is truly wonderful news," said Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of Rules and Competitions. "One of the very positive things we are seeing is increased participation of quality foreign players in the qualifying process. We have always had a healthy representation of American players, thanks in no small part to our strong relationship with the PGA Tour. Now, we are seeing greater representation of foreign players due to our expanded ties with the European and various Asian tours. Such strong worldwide participation in the U.S. Open supports our efforts to present the very best championship in golf."
Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 71 foreign countries, including 783 applicants with foreign addresses or preferred foreign addresses.
Seven past champions are already fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming championship. They are: Angel Cabrera (2007); Michael Campbell (2005); Ernie Els (1994, 1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001, 2004); Geoff Ogilvy (2006); and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008). A U.S. Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years.
Ninety-three percent of the total entries were received online, including 610 on the last day applications were accepted (April 29). The USGA received 119 entries online in the final hour. Michael Atkeison, a 43-year-old amateur from Somerville, Tenn., submitted his entry online at 4:59:55 p.m., just five seconds before the official deadline of 5 p.m. EDT. Jacob Kline, a 36-year-old amateur from Yellow Springs, Ohio, was the first entrant on March 2.
The youngest golfer to enter was 13-year-old Matthew Lowe of Farmingdale, N.Y, who lists Bethpage State Park as his home club. The oldest applicant, for the fourth consecutive year, was 78-year-old Ordean Olson of Hollywood, Fla., who turns 79 before the U.S. Open. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® no higher than 1.4, or be a professional.
Local qualifying, played over 18 holes at 112 sites, runs from May 6-25.
Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be conducted at two international sites (Japan and England) on May 25 and 13 sites in the United States on June 8. A total of 175 applicants chose an international site (42 Japan, 133 England). It is the fifth consecutive year that the USGA has offered these two international sectional qualifiers.
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 2009 PGA Tour and the top five money leaders on the 2009 European PGA Tour as of May 25. The winner of The Players Championship (May 7-10) also receives an exemption, as does any multiple winner of a PGA Tour co-sponsored event whose victories are considered official from June 2, 2008, through June 14, 2009.
More information about the U.S. Open before, during and after the championship can be found at www.USOPEN.com.
A list of the 63golfers who are already fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
THE 63 PLAYERS WHO ARE FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2009 U.S. OPEN (as of 4/29/08)
| Robert Allenby |
9,10 |
Anthony Kim |
9,10 |
| Stephen Ames |
9 |
*Drew Kittleson |
2 |
| Stuart Appleby |
9,10 |
Soren Kjeldsen |
11 |
| Eric Axley |
8 |
Justin Leonard |
9,10 |
| Briny Baird |
10 |
Hunter Mahan |
9,10 |
| Angel Cabrera |
1,3 |
Billy Mayfair |
10 |
| Chad Campbell |
9,10 |
Graeme McDowell |
11 |
| Michael Campbell |
1 |
Rocco Mediate |
8 |
| |
|
John Merrick |
9 |
| K.J. Choi |
9,10 |
Phil Mickelson |
3,5,9,10,13 |
| Stewart Cink |
8,9,10 |
Geoff Ogilvy |
1,8,9,13 |
| Tim Clark |
10 |
Rod Pampling |
8,16 |
| Darren Clarke |
11 |
Kenny Perry |
9,10,13 |
| |
|
Carl Pettersson |
8,9,10 |
| Ben Curtis |
9,10 |
Andres Romero |
10 |
| Ken Duke |
9,10 |
Eduardo Romero |
7 |
| Ernie Els |
8,9,10 |
Jeev Milkha Singh |
11 |
| Ross Fisher |
11 |
Vijay Singh |
5,9,10,13 |
| Jim Furyk |
1,9,10 |
Heath Slocum |
8 |
| |
|
Brandt Snedeker |
8 |
| Sergio Garcia |
9,10,11 |
Henrik Stenson |
11 |
| Retief Goosen |
1,8,11 |
Steve Stricker |
9,10 |
| Todd Hamilton |
4 |
Kevin Sutherland |
9,10 |
| Soren Hansen |
11
|
D.J. Trahan |
8,9,10 |
| Padraig Harrington |
4,5,9,11,13 |
Camilo Villegas |
8,9,10,13 |
| Dudley Hart |
9,10 |
|
|
| Ryuji Imada |
9,10 |
Bubba Watson |
10 |
| Trevor Immelman |
3,9,10 |
Boo Weekley |
9 |
| Miguel Angel Jimenez |
8,11 |
|
|
| Dustin Johnson |
13 |
Mike Weir |
9,10 |
| Zach Johnson |
3,13 |
Lee Westwood |
8,11 |
| Robert Karlsson |
8,11 |
Oliver Wilson |
11 |
| Shingo Katayama |
15 |
Tiger Woods |
1,3,4,5,8,9,13 |
| Martin Kaymer |
11 |
Azumo Yano |
15 |
*-Denotes amateur
Key to Player Exemptions -
- Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
- Winner and runner-up of the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship.
- Winners of the Masters Tournament the last five years (2005-09).
- Winners of the British Open Championship the last five years (2004-08).
- Winners of the PGA of America Championship the last five years (2004-08).
- Winner of the 2009 Players Championship.
- Winner of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
- From the 2008 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
- From the 2008 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
- Those 30 players qualifying for the 2009 season-ending Tour Championship.
- From the 2008 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
- From the 2009 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 25.
- Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from June 2, 2008, through June 14, 2009.
- From the 2009 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 25.
- From the 2008 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 2008 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 25, 2009.
- Special exemptions selected by the USGA Executive Committee.