The US Open: History, Format, and Greatest Moments
The US Open is the hardest golf tournament to win. The United States Golf Association sets it up that way deliberately — the rough is the thickest of any major, the fairways are the narrowest, and the greens are the fastest. The USGA's stated goal is to find the best golfer in America (open to all, but American in origin and character) by making conditions that reveal who handles pressure and difficulty best. The results have consistently rewarded precision and composure over raw power.
The Origin
The first US Open was played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island — a 36-hole competition on a single day with ten entrants. Horace Rawlins, an English professional working at Newport, won. It expanded to 72 holes in 1898 and moved between venues, eventually establishing the rotation of great courses that defines it today.
What Makes the US Open Different
The USGA's setup philosophy distinguishes the US Open from the other three majors. Rough grows to four inches or more on the edges of fairways that may be 25 yards wide — narrower than any other major. Greens are often running at 13-14 on the Stimpmeter, meaning putts that miss their line by an inch can miss by four feet. The scoring average in US Opens is typically the highest of the four majors.
The setup philosophy reflects the USGA's belief that the best player should win the US Open — meaning that the tournament should punish mistakes more severely than the others. Critics argue that the setup can become punitive beyond what is interesting. Supporters argue that a major championship should test the limits of the world's best players.
Greatest Moments
Ben Hogan, 1950, Merion: Sixteen months after a near-fatal car accident, hobbling on legs his doctors had described as permanently compromised, Hogan won an 18-hole playoff to claim his second US Open. Sports Illustrated called it the greatest round ever played in a major championship.
Arnold Palmer, 1960, Cherry Hills: Palmer drove the first green, birdied six of the first seven holes in the final round, shot 65, and won from seven shots back. The charge established the template for final-round drama at the US Open.
Jack Nicklaus, 1962, Oakmont: At 22, in his first major as a professional, Nicklaus beat Palmer in a playoff at Palmer's home state, enduring hostile gallery treatment throughout. The victory announced that the era of Nicklaus had begun.
Tiger Woods, 2000, Pebble Beach: 15 shots. The largest margin of victory in US Open history. Woods made the second-place finisher — Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ernie Els, and Padraig Harrington, who all tied — look like they were playing a different event.
Tiger Woods, 2008, Torrey Pines: One leg. Two stress fractures. An 18-hole playoff over Rocco Mediate. The most physically remarkable performance in major championship history.
The Great Venues
Pebble Beach Golf Links has hosted six US Opens and will host again in 2027. Pinehurst No. 2 hosted in 1999 (Payne Stewart), 2005, 2014 (double-header with the US Women's Open), and 2024. Winged Foot Golf Club in New York — where Hale Irwin won in 1974 and 1984, and where Phil Mickelson's 2006 collapse on the 72nd hole is one of the most replayed moments in the tournament's history — has hosted six times. Merion, Oakmont, Shinnecock Hills, and The Country Club complete the rotation of historically significant venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the US Open harder than other majors?
The USGA deliberately sets up the US Open with narrower fairways, deeper rough, and faster greens than the other three majors. The goal is to produce the highest scoring average of the four majors, identifying the player who handles difficulty and pressure best.
How do you qualify for the US Open?
Qualifying for the US Open involves either earning an automatic exemption (based on world ranking, recent major championship wins, or other criteria) or competing through local and sectional qualifying stages open to any professional or amateur golfer with an appropriate handicap index.