U.S. Senior Open

The U.S. Senior Open is one of the five major championships in senior golf, introduced 42 years ago in 1980.[1] It is administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is recognized as a major championship by both the PGA Tour Champions and the European Senior Tour. The lower age limit was 55 in 1980, but it was lowered to 50 for the second edition in 1981,[2] which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. By definition, the event is open to amateurs, but has been dominated by professionals; through 2019, all editions have been won by pros. Like other USGA championships, it has been played on many courses throughout the United States.

U.S. Senior Open
Tournament information
LocationOmaha, Nebraska
Established1980, 42 years ago
Course(s)Omaha Country Club
Par70
Length6,771 yards (6,191 m)
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
European Senior Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$4,000,000
Month playedJuly
Tournament record score
Aggregate261 Steve Stricker (2019)
To par−20 Fred Funk (2009)
Current champion
Jim Furyk
Location Map
Omaha CC
Location in the United States
Omaha CC
Location in Nebraska

Allen Doyle became the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion in 2006, winning two weeks before his 58th birthday.[3]

The total purse was the highest of any senior tour event until the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, a Champions Tour event in 2010 and 2011 with a $3 million purse, but had a lower winner's share ($450,000). The U.S. Senior Open is again the highest purse on the PGA Tour Champions; in 2016 it was $3.75 million, and champion Gene Sauers earned $675,000. The purse in 2017 is anticipated to be $4 million, yielding a winner's share of $720,000.

Like other senior majors, players must walk the course unless they receive a medical exemption to use a cart. Winners gain entry into the following year's U.S. Open.

The playoff format was modified for 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death.[4] The three-hole aggregate playoff was used in 2002 and 2014; the final 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Senior Open was in 1991, won by Jack Nicklaus.[5]

Eligibility

The following players are exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, provided they are 50 years old as of the opening day of the tournament. Amateur categories require that the player is still an amateur on the opening day of the tournament, except for the one-time exemption for former champions of the U.S. Amateur or The Amateur Championship.[6]

  • Any past winner of the U.S. Senior Open
  • Winners of any of the major championships in the last 10 years
  • Winners of any of the U.S. Amateur in the last 10 years and runner-up in previous year
  • Winners of the Senior PGA Championship in the last 10 years
  • Winner of the Senior Open Championship in the last five years
  • Top 15 finishers from the previous year's U.S. Senior Open
  • Any amateur completing 72 holes in last U.S. Open
  • Low amateur in last U.S. Senior Open
  • Winner and runner-up of the U.S. Senior Amateur in the previous year
  • Members of the Walker Cup and Eisenhower Trophy teams for the last two competitions
  • Members of both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams for the last five competitions
  • Top 30 from the previous year's PGA Tour Champions money list, top 20 from current list
  • Top 50 leaders from the PGA Tour Champions career money list
  • Winners of PGA Tour Champions events in the previous three years
  • Top six from previous year's European Senior Tour money list
  • Top two from previous year's Japan Seniors Tour money list
  • Winners of PGA Tour events in the previous five years
  • Winners of the U.S. Open in first ten years of age eligibility
  • One-time exemption for any winner of a major championship, U.S. Amateur, or British Amateur.
    • Winners of amateur championships who have since turned professional are able to use this exemption.

Special exemptions are given occasionally, and like other USGA events, many qualify through the local and sectional ranks.

Winners
YearChampionScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upPurse ($)Winner's
share ($)		VenueLocation
2021 Jim Furyk273−73 strokes Retief Goosen
Mike Weir		4,000,000720,000OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7][8]
2019 Steve Stricker261−196 strokes Jerry Kelly
David Toms		4,000,000720,000Warren Golf Course
U of Notre Dame		South Bend, Indiana
2018 David Toms277−31 stroke Miguel Ángel Jiménez
Jerry Kelly
Tim Petrovic		4,000,000720,000BroadmoorColorado Springs, Colorado
2017 Kenny Perry (2)264−162 strokes Kirk Triplett4,000,000720,000SalemPeabody, Massachusetts
2016 Gene Sauers277−31 stroke Miguel Ángel Jiménez
Billy Mayfair		3,750,000675,000SciotoUpper Arlington, Ohio
2015 Jeff Maggert270−102 strokes Colin Montgomerie3,750,000675,000Del PasoSacramento, California
2014 Colin Montgomerie279−5Playoff Gene Sauers3,500,000630,000Oak Tree NationalEdmond, Oklahoma
2013 Kenny Perry267−135 strokes Fred Funk2,750,000500,000OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
2012 Roger Chapman270−102 strokes Fred Funk
Bernhard Langer
Tom Lehman
Corey Pavin		2,750,000500,000IndainwoodLake Orion, Michigan
2011 Olin Browne269−153 strokes Mark O'Meara2,750,000500,000Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio
2010 Bernhard Langer272−83 strokes Fred Couples2,600,000470,000SahaleeSammamish, Washington
2009 Fred Funk268−206 strokes Joey Sindelar2,600,000470,000Crooked StickCarmel, Indiana
2008 Eduardo Romero274−64 strokes Fred Funk2,600,000470,000BroadmoorColorado Springs, Colorado
2007 Brad Bryant282−63 strokes Ben Crenshaw2,600,000470,000Whistling Straits
Straits Course		Haven, Wisconsin
2006 Allen Doyle (2)272−82 strokes Tom Watson2,600,000470,000Prairie DunesHutchinson, Kansas
2005 Allen Doyle274−101 stroke Loren Roberts
D. A. Weibring		2,600,000470,000NCR
South Course		Kettering, Ohio
2004 Peter Jacobsen272−121 stroke Hale Irwin2,600,000470,000BelleriveSt. Louis, Missouri
2003 Bruce Lietzke277−72 strokes Tom Watson2,600,000470,000Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio
2002 Don Pooley274−10Playoff Tom Watson2,500,000450,000Caves ValleyOwings Mills, Maryland
2001 Bruce Fleisher280E1 stroke Isao Aoki
Gil Morgan		2,400,000430,000SalemPeabody, Massachusetts
2000 Hale Irwin (2)267−173 strokes Bruce Fleisher2,250,000400,000Saucon Valley
Old Course		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1999 Dave Eichelberger281−73 strokes Ed Dougherty1,750,000315,000Des MoinesWest Des Moines, Iowa
1998 Hale Irwin285+11 stroke Vicente Fernández1,500,000267,500RivieraPacific Palisades, California
1997 Graham Marsh280E1 stroke John Bland1,300,000232,500Olympia FieldsOlympia Fields, Illinois
1996 Dave Stockton277−112 strokes Hale Irwin1,200,000212,500CanterburyBeachwood, Ohio
1995 Tom Weiskopf275−134 strokes Jack Nicklaus1,000,000175,000Congressional
Blue Course		Bethesda, Maryland
1994 Simon Hobday274−101 stroke Jim Albus
Graham Marsh		800,000145,000Pinehurst Resort
No. 2 Course		Pinehurst, North Carolina
1993 Jack Nicklaus (2)278−61 stroke Tom Weiskopf700,000135,330Cherry HillsCherry Hills Village, Colorado
1992 Larry Laoretti275−94 strokes Jim Colbert700,000130,000Saucon Valley
Old Course		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1991 Jack Nicklaus282+2Playoff Chi-Chi Rodríguez600,000110,000Oakland Hills
South Course		Birmingham, Michigan
1990 Lee Trevino275−132 strokes Jack Nicklaus500,00090,000RidgewoodParamus, New Jersey
1989 Orville Moody279−92 strokes Frank Beard450,00080,000Laurel ValleyLigonier, Pennsylvania
1988 Gary Player (2)288EPlayoff Bob Charles400,00065,000Medinah
Course No. 3		Medinah, Illinois
1987 Gary Player270−146 strokes Doug Sanders300,00047,000BrooklawnFairfield, Connecticut
1986 Dale Douglass279−91 stroke Gary Player275,00042,500SciotoColumbus, Ohio
1985 Miller Barber (3)285−34 strokes Roberto De Vicenzo225,00040,199Edgewood TahoeStateline, Nevada
1984 Miller Barber (2)286−22 strokes Arnold Palmer200,00036,448Oak Hill
East Course		Pittsford, New York
1983 Billy Casper288+4Playoff Rod Funseth175,00030,566Hazeltine NationalChaska, Minnesota
1982 Miller Barber282−24 strokes Gene Littler
Dan Sikes		150,00028,648PortlandPortland, Oregon
1981 Arnold Palmer289+9Playoff Billy Casper
Bob Stone		149,00026,000Oakland Hills
South Course		Birmingham, Michigan
1980 Roberto De Vicenzo285+14 strokes William C. Campbell (a)100,00020,000Winged Foot
East Course		Mamaroneck, New York

Multiple winners

Six men have multiple victories in the U.S. Senior Open:

3 wins

2 wins

Successful defenders of the title were Barber (1985), Player (1988), and Doyle (2006).

Winners of both U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open

The following men have won both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open, the majors run by the USGA:

PlayerU.S. OpenU.S. Senior Open
Arnold Palmer19601981
Billy Casper1959, 19661983
Gary Player19651987, 1988
Orville Moody19691989
Lee Trevino1968, 19711990
Jack Nicklaus1962, 1967, 1972, 19801991, 1993
Hale Irwin1974, 1979, 19901998, 2000
Jim Furyk20032021

Palmer (1954) and Nicklaus (1959, 1961) also won the U.S. Amateur, previously considered a major.

Final round ratings

2019: 761,000 on Fox[9]

Future sites
YearVenueLocationDates
2022Saucon Valley Country ClubBethlehem, PennsylvaniaJune 23–26
2023SentryWorldStevens Point, WisconsinJune 29 – July 2
2024Newport Country ClubNewport, Rhode IslandJune 27–30[10]
2025Broadmoor Golf ClubColorado Springs, ColoradoTBD[10]
2030Spyglass Hill Golf CoursePebble Beach, CaliforniaTBD[11]

See also

References
  1. "De Vicenzo cops Senior Open". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. Associated Press. June 30, 1980. p. 7B.
  2. "Seniors tee it up in the US Senior Open". Nashua Telegraph. New Hampshire. Associated Press. July 8, 1981. p. 24.
  3. Senko, David (July 9, 2006). "Doyle becomes oldest winner of U.S. Senior Open". PGA Tour. Archived from the original on July 16, 2006.
  4. "U.S. Open abandons 18 holes for 2-hole playoff". ESPN. Associated Press. February 26, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  5. "Nicklaus' 65 beats Rodriguez". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 30, 1991. p. 23.
  6. "2014 U.S. Senior Open Entry Form" (PDF). USGA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  7. Barrett, Scott (April 6, 2020). "U.S. Senior Open at Newport County Club canceled". The Newport Daily News. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. Altstadter, Jeff (April 6, 2020). "2020 U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Women's Open Canceled". USGA.
  9. "U.S. Senior Open ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  10. DePasquale, Brian (April 20, 2021). "Newport Country Club Awarded 2024 U.S. Senior Open". USGA.
  11. Pine, Julia (April 20, 2022). "USGA, Pebble Beach Company Announce Landmark Partnership". USGA.

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