A record 9,086 entries have been received for the 2009 US Open, to be played from June 18-21 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, New York including those from the 63 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the field, the USGA has announced.
The previous record for entries was 9,048 for the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
"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 Tour and various Asian tours. Such strong worldwide participation in the US Open supports our efforts to present the very best championship in golf."
Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 US 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 US Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for ten 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, Tennessee, 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, Florida, who turns 79 before the US 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 at Walton Heath, 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 US PGA Tour and the top five on The Race to Dubai on The 2009 European 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 US 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 atwww.USOPEN.com.
A list of the 63 golfers who are already fully exempt into the 2009 U.S. Open follows.
THE 63 PLAYERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2009 U.S. OPEN
(Categories 6,12,13,14,17,18 remain open)
Robert Allenby 9,10
Stephen Ames 9
Stuart Appleby 9,10
Eric Axley 8
Briny Baird 10
Angel Cabrera 1,3
Chad Campbell 9,10
Michael Campbell 1
K.J. Choi 9,10
Stewart Cink 8,9,10
Tim Clark 10
Darren Clarke 11
Ben Curtis 9,10
Ken Duke 9,10
Ernie Els 8,9,10
Ross Fisher 11
Jim Furyk 1,9,10
Sergio Garcia 9,10,11
Retief Goosen 1,8,11
Todd Hamilton 4
Soren Hansen 11
Padraig Harrington 4,5,9,11,13
Dudley Hart 9,10
Ryuji Imada 9,10
Trevor Immelman 3,9,10
Miguel Angel Jimenez 8,11
Dustin Johnson 13
Zach Johnson 3,13
Robert Karlsson 8,11
Shingo Katayama 15
Martin Kaymer 11
Anthony Kim 9,10
Drew Kittleson (a) 2
Soren Kjeldsen 11
Justin Leonard 9,10
Hunter Mahan 9,10
Billy Mayfair 10
Graeme McDowell 11
Rocco Mediate 8
John Merrick 8
Phil Mickelson 3,5,9,10,13
Geoff Ogilvy 1,8,9,13
Rod Pampling 8,16
Kenny Perry 9,10,13
Carl Pettersson 8,9,10
Andres Romero 10
Eduardo Romero 7
Jeev Milkha Singh 11
Vijay Singh 5,9,10,13
Heath Slocum 8
Brandt Snedeker 8
Henrik Stenson 11
Steve Stricker 9,10
Kevin Sutherland 9,10
D.J. Trahan 8,9,10
Camilo Villegas 8,9,10,13
Bubba Watson 10
Boo Weekley 9
Mike Weir 9,10
Lee Westwood 8,11
Oliver Wilson 11
Tiger Woods 1,3,4,5,8,9,13
Azumo Yano 15
Key to Player Exemptions –
1) Winners of the U.S. Open Championship the last 10 years
2) Winner and runner-up of the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship (must be an amateur)
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 2009 Players Championship
7) Winner of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open Championship
8) 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place at the 2008 U.S. Open Championship
9) Top 30 money leaders from the 2008 final official PGA Tour money list
10) Those qualifying for the season-ending 2008 Tour Championship
11) Top 15 money leaders from the 2008 final official PGA European Tour money list
12) Top 10 money leaders from the 2009 official PGA Tour money list, through May 25 (Must have filed an entry by April 29)
13) Any multiple winner of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from June 2, 2008 through June 14, 2009
14) Top five money leaders from the 2009 official PGA European Tour money list, through May 25
15) Top two money leaders from the 2008 final official Japan Golf Tour money list, provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Ranking at the end of the year
16) Top two money leaders from the 2008 final official PGA Tour of Australasia money list, provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at the end of the year
17) Top 50 point leaders from the current World Rankings as of May 25, 2009
18) Special exemptions selected by the USGA
