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Thursday, June 18, 2009
109TH U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
BETHPAGE STATE PARK
BLACK COURSE
FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK
JUNE 18-21, 2009
(ESPN coverage Thursday-Friday)
Tiger Woods won in 2008 with a score of -1 (283) at Torrey Pines (South Course), just north of San Diego. In one of the most memorable tournaments ever, Woods defeated Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff on Monday to claim his 14th professional major.
TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2009 U.S. OPEN
1. Tiger Woods is seeking his 15th professional major and 4th U.S. Open title. He’s trying to become the 5th man to win 4 U.S. Opens, joining Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus (all with 4 apiece).
2. Tiger Woods is trying to become the first golfer to win consecutive U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange did so in 1988 and ’89. Woods was victorious the only other time the U.S. Open was held at Bethpage Black in 2002. He posted a score of 277 (-3), 3 shots better than runner-up Phil Mickelson.
3. Phil Mickelson will compete after returning to the PGA TOUR last week in Memphis. On May 20 it was learned that his wife, Amy, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson has played in 60 consecutive majors, the longest active streak on the PGA TOUR. He’s enjoyed great success in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area, with a win and 3 runner-ups in his last 4 majors played there.
4. The Black Course at Bethpage State Park is one of only two municipally-owned facilities to host a U.S. Open. It became the first in 2002 and Torrey Pines followed in 2008. At 7,426 yards, the par-70 Bethpage Black will play 212 yards longer than it did in 2002.
5. Angel Cabrera is the only golfer with a chance to win the Grand Slam this year after capturing the Masters in April in a 3-man playoff with Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell. Cabrera, who won the U.S. Open in 2007 at Oakmont, is one of only 15 players to win the Masters and U.S. Open.
Thursday, June 18: 10 am-3 pm (ESPN), 3 pm-5 pm (NBC), 5 pm-7 pm (ESPN)
Friday, June 19: 10 am-3 pm (ESPN), 3 pm-5 pm (NBC), 5 pm-7 pm (ESPN)
Saturday, June 20: 2 pm-8 pm (NBC)
Sunday, June 21: 1:30 pm-7:30 pm (NBC)
*Monday, June 22: Noon-2 pm (ESPN), 2 pm-finish (NBC)
*18-hole playoff if necessary
2010: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, CA (June 17-20)
2011: Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, MD (June 16-19)
2012: The Olympic Club, San Francisco, CA (June 14-17)
2013: Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, PA (June 13-16)
2014: Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, Pinehurst, NC (June 12-15)
2015: Chambers Bay, University Place, WA (June 18-21)
THE USGA AND THE U.S. OPEN
The United States Golf Association (USGA) has served as the national governing body of golf for the United States, its territories and Mexico since its formation in 1894. It's a non-profit organization run by golfers for the benefit of golfers. The Association sponsors a variety of programs that benefit everyone who plays the game.
The USGA conducts 13 national championships each year (the U.S. Open, the U.S. Women's Open, the U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships), writes and interprets the Rules of Golf, funds turf grass and course maintenance practices and supports grassroots programs through its “For the Good of the Game” initiative. The USGA also helps conduct three biennial international competitions — the Walker Cup Match, the Curtis Cup Match and the Men's and Women's World Amateur Team Championships.
The USGA intends to make the U.S. Open the most rigorous, yet fair, examination of golf skills, testing all forms of shot-making. The USGA prepares the course after careful consideration of 14 different factors. The complete philosophy statement can be found on www.usopen.com.
The starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 60 scorers (and ties), and any player within 10 strokes of the leader.
‘07 Oakmont: +10
‘02 Bethpage: +10
‘86 Shinnecock Hills: +10
‘06 Winged Foot: +9
‘83 Oakmont: +9
In the case of a tie after 72 holes, an 18–hole playoff will be held on June 22 (Monday), beginning at noon (ET). The last playoff was in 2008 at Torrey Pines, won by Tiger Woods over Rocco Mediate in 19 holes. Each man shot 71, then Woods parred the first playoff hole (the par-4 7th), while Mediate bogeyed.
2008 Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate
2001 Retief Goosen defeated Mark Brooks
1994 Ernie Els defeated Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie
1991 Payne Stewart defeated Scott Simpson
1990 Hale Irwin defeated Mike Donald
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
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19. Sectional qualifiers (U.S. and International sites)
New York has a long and illustrious history as a host state for USGA national championships, dating back to 1896. The 2009 U.S. Open is the 65th USGA championship and 18th U.S. Open to be held in the state and ninth on Long Island (third time in less than a decade). This year, the U.S. Open will be conducted at Bethpage State Park’s renowned Black Course for the second time. In 2002, the Black Course debuted as a U.S. Open site, the first time the National Championship had been played on a truly public course.
Arguably the greatest public golf facility in the world, Bethpage State Park is certainly the busiest. Since the first of its five courses opened in 1932, more than 14 million rounds have been played there. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in May 1936, the Black Course has long been considered Bethpage’s toughest test. The course was closed to public play in July 1997 and an extensive renovation program began. Work included: stripping, releveling and resodding all tees; reshaping all bunkers and refilling them with new sand; upgrading sprinkler system irrigation heads, piping and wiring on all tees and greens; and installation of bunker and fairway drainage systems, along with a myriad of other smaller but essential improvements. Approximately 1.3 million square feet of sod and 9,000 tons of sand were utilized in the project. The cost for all work was paid for by the United States Golf Association, providing New York State and its taxpayers with a $2.7 million gift, the final cost of the project.
The renovation program was designed by noted golf course architect Rees Jones, who has assisted with refinements to previous U.S. Open venues. With further assistance from Jones and oversight from Dave Catalano, the director of Bethpage State Park, the USGA has made adjustments to the course for the 2009 U.S. Open, primarily to create more risk-reward options for the players. These include five new teeing grounds, slightly wider fairways on several holes and alterations to some fairway bunkers to bring them more into play. The course has also been lengthened by 212 yards since 2002 and will play at 7,426 yards for the 109th U.S. Open Championship.
In 2002, the Black Course at Bethpage State Park became the first municipally-owned golf course to host a U.S. Open. At the time, the 7,214-yard, par-70 layout, originally designed by A.W. Tillinghast and later given a major facelift from Rees Jones, was the longest in Open history. The parkland-style course more than proved itself as a major-championship venue, with only champion Tiger Woods finishing the 72-hole competition under par at 277 (three under). Some minor alterations have been made for the 2009 U.S. Open, but the course should essentially feature the same challenging characteristics that the world’s best golfers faced seven years ago.
In the early 1930s, the Bethpage Park Authority purchased the Lenox Hills Country Club and other adjacent properties to build what we now know as Bethpage State Park. Famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast was hired to design and oversee construction of three new golf courses (Black, Red and Blue) as well as modify the Lenox Hills Course which became the Green Course. Due to the increased demand for golf, the Yellow Course designed by Alfred Tull was opened in 1958. Approximately 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the Clubhouse area.
Tiger Woods, playing with an injured knee and leg, secured his record-tying ninth USGA championship by winning a third U.S. Open title in a 19-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif.
Woods, who previously won in 2000 and 2002, and Mediate each shot even-par 71 during the scheduled 18-hole playoff on Monday after they were tied through 72 holes at 1-under-par 283.
On the first sudden death hole, the 461-yard, par-4 seventh, Woods made a regulation par and Mediate was not able to convert a par putt after driving in the left fairway bunker and hitting out short and left of the green near the grandstand.
“I think this is probably the best,” said Woods of his victory compared to others. “All things considered, don’t know how I ended up in this position, to be honest with you.”
Despite a nearly two-month respite because of knee surgery in April, Woods carved his way near the lead with a 3-under-par 68 in the second round and trailed leader Stuart Appleby by one stroke. But his surge came the next day.
Woods grabbed the 54-hole lead at 3-under-par 210 using some miraculous play on Saturday, often labeled ‘moving day’. Through occasional grimaces of pain, Woods shot a 1-under-par 70, which included a 65-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 13th hole, a chip-in for birdie on the par-4 17th and a snake-like 25-foot downhiller for eagle on the 18th.
Holder of a perfect 13-0 mark when in the lead or sharing it at the 54-hole mark at major championships, Woods began his quest on Sunday with a double-bogey 6 on Torrey Pines’ first hole. Mediate, who survived a playoff in sectional qualifying to earn a spot in the field, was playing in the group ahead of Woods. His par-4 on the first hole combined with the Woods 6 tied the competition.
Trailing by one stroke on the 72nd tee, Woods found a fairway bunker and played to reach the green on the par-5 in three. His approach landed 12 feet from the hole. Needing to hole the putt to force a Monday playoff, Woods guided his ball into the heart of the hole for a closing birdie.
On Oct. 4, 1895, the first U.S. Open Championship was conducted by the United States Golf Association on the nine-hole course of Newport (R.I.) Golf and Country Club.
The first U.S. Open was considered something of a sideshow to the first U.S. Amateur, which was played on the same course and during the same week. Both championships had been scheduled for September but were postponed because of a conflict with a more established Newport sports spectacle, the America’s Cup yacht races.
Ten professionals and one amateur started in the 36-hole competition, which was four trips around the Newport course in one day. The surprise winner was Horace Rawlins, 21, an English professional who was the assistant at the host course. Rawlins scored 91-82—173 with the gutta-percha ball.
Prize money totalled $335, of which Rawlins won the $150 first prize. He also received a gold medal and custody of the Open Championship Cup for his club for one year.
In its first decade, the U.S. Open was conducted for amateurs and the largely British wave of immigrant golf professionals coming to the United States.
As American players began to dominate the game, the U.S. Open evolved into an important world golf championship. Young John J. McDermott became the first native-born American winner in 1911 and repeated as champion in 1912.
In 1913, the U.S. Open really took off when Francis Ouimet, a 20-year-old American amateur, stunned the golf world by defeating famous English professionals, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in a playoff.
Another surge in the championship’s popularity coincided with the amazing career of Georgia amateur Bob Jones, who won the U.S. Open four times (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930). Spectator tickets were sold for the first time in 1922 and a boom in entries caused the USGA to introduce sectional qualifying in 1924.
In 1933, John Goodman became the fifth and last amateur to win the U.S. Open. The others were Ouimet, Jerome D. Travers (1915), Charles Evans Jr., (1916), and Jones.
In each era, the world’s greatest players have been identified by surviving the rigorous examination provided by the U.S. Open. Ben Hogan’s steely determination boosted him to four victories (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953). Arnold Palmer’s record comeback win in 1960, when he fired a final round of 65 to come from seven strokes off the lead, cemented his dashing image. Jack Nicklaus’ historic assault on the professional record book began when he won the first of his four U.S. Open Championships in 1962, his rookie season as a professional.
Nicklaus, who also won in 1967, 1972, and 1980, is one of only four golfers to win four U.S. Opens. The others are Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905), Jones and Hogan.
In 1954, the U.S. Open course was roped from tee to green for the first time. That year also marked the first national television coverage. Coverage was expanded by ABC Sports in 1977 so that all 18 holes of the final two rounds were broadcast live. In 1982, on the ESPN cable network, the first two rounds were broadcast live for the first time. NBC began televising the U.S. Open in 1995.
The format of the U.S. Open has changed several times. The USGA extended the championship to 72 holes in 1898, with 36 holes played on each of two days. In 1926, the format was changed to 18 holes played each of two days, then 36 holes on the third day. In 1965, the present format of four 18-hole daily rounds was implemented for the first time.
In 2002, a two-tee (Nos. 1 and 10) start was used for the first and second rounds. In addition, Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., was the first facility owned by the public to host a U.S. Open.
International qualifying sites were added in 2005 and the champion at Pinehurst Resort in N.C. was Michael Campbell, who qualified in England.
The youngest winner of the Open was 19-year-old John McDermott, who won in 1911. Eight players age 21 or younger have won the Open, but none that young since Robert T. Jones Jr. won in 1923. Since then, Jack Nicklaus is the youngest winner at 22 years and 4 months in 1962 (Jerry Pate was 22 years and 9 months in 1976). The oldest winner is Hale Irwin, who was 45 when he won in 1990.
NEWS and Notes
2009: On May 20, it's revealed that Phil Mickelson's wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mickelson immediately suspends his schedule and doesn't play again until the week before the U.S. Open at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis.
2008: Tiger Woods undergoes knee surgery after the Masters and does not play in a PGA TOUR event until the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Pushing himself to get ready for a possible start in The Memorial, he suffers a double stress fracture of the left tibia. Doctors recommended crutches for three weeks, then rest for another three weeks, but he goes against their advice.
2007: Chipping in the thick rough at Oakmont while practicing during Memorial Day weekend, Phil Mickelson injures his left wrist, putting his participation in the U.S. Open in doubt. Mickelson decides to compete, but shoots 74-77--151 (+11) to miss the cut for the first time at the U.S. Open in 15 years.
2006: Playing his first tournament after the death of his father 6 weeks earlier, Tiger Woods is obviously rusty although he doesn't make any excuses for his showing at Winged Foot. He shoots 76-76--152 (+12) and misses the cut in a major for the first time as a professional.
- an Open exemption for the next 10 years
- an invitation to the next five Masters Tournaments
- an invitation to the next five British Open Championships
- an invitation to the next five Players Championships
- an invitation to the next five PGA Championships
- exempt status on the PGA Tour for five years
The top 15 finishers (and ties) are exempt for next year’s (2010) U.S. Open
The top 8 finishers (and ties) are invited to next year’s (2010) Masters Tournament
The winner qualifies for this year’s (2009) British Open
The winner qualifies for this year’s (2009) PGA Championship
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.
Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, was 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.
July 2007: ruptures left ACL while running at home in Orlando following The Open Championship
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