The Birth Of The US Open

The U.S. Open was born in 1895 by The United States Golf Association, using a 36 hole format being played all in the same day. The game was played on October 4th at the Newport Country Club, in Newport, Rhode Island, it was a nine hole course.

Ten professional golfers and one amateur entered the first U.S. Open with Horace Rawlins from England taking home 150.00 dollars for the win; Horace also received a 50-dollar gold medal.

The event went through some of the first changes in 1898 moving to a 72 hole format instead of the 36 hole format.

The first American to win the Open was John J. McDermott in 1911 and again in 1912; British players dominated the event until then. John open the way for Americans winning the Open as more and more were attending and winning, the event evolved into one of the four majors.

The tournament gained momentum every year and was attracting more professionals and amateurs to each event. Englishmen Harry Vardon and Ted Ray lose the U.S. Open in 1913 to a 20-year-old Francis Ouimte from the United States, adding to the popularity of the tournament.

Part of what made Bobby Jones a legend is his amateur status and winning the U.S. Open four times in 1923, 1926, 1929 and in 1930. Spectators are given the opportunity for the first time to purchase tickets for the event in 1922.

Twice in the Opens history, the United States Golf Association canceled the event, due to the World Wars in 1917-1918 and 1942-1945.

Golf and television were just waiting for each other in 1954 the U.S. Open was televised nationally for the first time.

One of the biggest comebacks of all time was by Arnold Palmer in 1960 when he came back from a seven shot shortfall to win his only U.S. Open. Televised only a few years before and golf being played at its best kept the momentum of the tournament strong.

Jack Nicklaus wins his first in 1962 with a score of 71 in his rookie season as a professional. This was just the beginning for Jack as he wins three more times in 1967, 1972 and again in 1980. Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Willie Anderson and Ben Hogan are the only golfers to win the event four times.

Moving forward the excitement and the momentum continue 1994 see not one but two 18 hole playoffs as Ernie Els and Loren Roberts battle it out on the course. Going into the playoff each golfer was holding a score of 74. Ernie Els wins the second playoff to win the U.S. Open for the first time.

The purse for the first game was 350.00 dollars and Horace took home 150.00 dollars and a gold medal. How times change in 2011, Rory Mcllroy takes home for his victory 1,440,000 out of a 7.85 million dollar purse.