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Give anything a few decades and it is bound to change or evolve over time. The U.S. Golf Open is no exception with the tournament immensely evolving over more than a hundred decades.
Take the first ever winner of the U.S. Open, Englishman Horace Rawlins, for example. When Rawlins won the Open in 1895, the first year of the tournament, the purse was $150 along with a $50 gold medal.
Fast forward to the payout of 2006’s Open winner, Australian-born Geoff Ogilvy, where his share was $1,225,000. Of course when Rawlins won, he only had to compete with 10 other golfers while Ogilvy had to fend off a total 155 players.
Part of the evolultion of the tournament has also been the domination of golfers born from certain countries. Out of the first 16 U.S. Open tournaments, four winners were from England while 12 were from Scotland.
No other country has dominated the winner’s spot like the United States, however. John J. McDermott was the first native-born American to win the U.S. Open in 1911 and since then, golfers from the U.S. have dominated nearly every tournament since then.
Among some of the best that the United States has had to offer at the U.S. Open include: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nickluas. The trio have gone on to win four tournaments apiece.
Even though he hasn’t won as many U.S. Open titles as the players listed above, some would lump Tiger Woods into the category of best American Open winners. Woods has won two US Open tournaments since 2000 and is still only 30-years old. He may tie and pass the current record of four U.S. Open titles by the time he reaches 35.
The latest U.S. Open was held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California and was won by Tiger Woods, who captured his 14th major. Woods outlasted Rocco Mediate in a sudden death playoff to win his third U.S. Open Championship.
For previews, recaps, general information and to relive past US Open tournaments, see our web guide below.
Top Information Web Sites
US Open.com
Official 2007 U.S. Open website with news, player profiles and history of the tournament and course.
USGA.com
Official website of the United States Golf Association with links to both men and women’s tournaments and championships.
PGATour.com
Provides mostly news stories on players, but has everything from stats, player profiles and also a page dedicated to fantasy golf.
The Golf Channel
The latest news, player profiles, current weather forecasts, complete TV air times and a look back at the 2005 championship.
Golf Online
Keep up with the latest news, catch the scores on the leader board, get the full schedule, key statistics and find out who the money leaders are as the tournaments lead up to the action in the PGA Championship.
BBC Golf
Watch for classic coverage of this year's championship with the Beeb's usual top-notch video and audio reports, live updates, news features, schedule, standings, and player profiles.
Golf.com
Anything and everything relating to the sport of golf including: news, games and even contests.
Relive Past US Opens
2008
Woods outlasts Mediate in playoff to capture U.S Open
In one of the more suspenseful U.S. Opens in years, Tiger Woods won his 14th major and third U.S. Open victory with a sudden death win over Rocco Mediate.
2007
Angel Cabrera wins U.S. Open with 5-Over
Angel Cabrera held of Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods to win his first ever U.S. Open title.
2006
Ogilvy wins U.S. Open as Mickelson falters on 18
With Phil Mickelson’s collapse on the 18th green, Geoff Ogilvy became the first Australian to win the U.S. Open title in 25 years.
2005
Campbell holds off Tiger
In 2005, Michael Campbell held off Tiger Woods’ attempt at a 10th straight major to win his first ever U.S. Open.
2004
Lightening strikes twice for Goosen
Mostly an American Championship, South African Retief Goosen notches his second title in four years in 2004.
2000
Woods romps home by 15 shots
The year is 2000 and Tiger Woods claims his first U.S. Open Championship.
General
Top 5 Players in U.S. Open History
Brent Kelly from About.com ranks his top five best golfers in U.S. Open history.
Simons Almost said U.S. Open Title
Jim Simons is a relatively unknown in the minds of today’s golf enthusiast. But back in 1971, everybody knew the 21-year old Simons and his amazing out of nowhere story.
100 Years Later, Shinnecock Still a Brute
The historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Course has seen plenty of memorable moments while hosting the U.S. Open eight times. Revisit the past championship moments from Shinnecock.
All Time US Open Winners
2008 - Tiger Woods
2007 - Angel Cabrera
2006 - Geoff Ogilvy
2005 - Michael Campbell
2004 - Retief Goosen
2003 - Jim Furyk
2002 - Tiger Woods
2001 - Retief Goosen
2000 - Tiger Woods
1999 - Payne Stewart
1998 - Lee Janzen
1997 - Ernie Els
1996 - Steve Jones
1995 - Corey Pavin
1994 - Ernie Els
1993 - Lee Janzen
1992 - Tom Kite
1991 - Payne Stewart
1990 - Hale Irwin
1989 - Curtis Strange
1988 - Curtis Strange
1987 - Scott Simpson
1986 - Ray Floyd
1985 - Andy North
1984 - Fuzzy Zoeller
1983 - Larry Nelson
1982 - Tom Watson
1981 - David Graham
1980 - Jack Nicklaus
1979 - Hale Irwin
1978 - Andy North
1977 - Hubert Green
1976 - Jerry Pate
1975 - Lou Graham
1974 - Hale Irwin
1973 - Johnny Miller
1972 - Jack Nicklaus
1971 - Lee Trevino
1970 - Tony Jacklin
1969 - Orville Moody
1968 - Lee Trevino
1967 - Jack Nicklaus
1966 - Billy Casper
1965 - Gary Player
1964 - Ken Venturi
1963 - Julius Boros
1962 - Jack Nicklaus
1961 - Gene Littler
1960 - Arnold Palmer
1959 - Billy Casper
1958 - Tommy Bolt
1957 - Dick Mayer
1956 - Cary Middlecoff
1955 - Jack Fleck
1954 - Ed Furgol
1953 - Ben Hogan
1952 - Julius Boros
1951 - Ben Hogan
1950 - Ben Hogan
1949 - Cary Middlecoff
1948 - Ben Hogan
1947 - Lew Worsham
1946 - Lloyd Mangrum
1942-45 - Not played due to World War II
1941 - Craig Wood
1940 - Lawson Little
1939 - Byron Nelson
1938 - Ralph Guldahl
1937 - Ralph Guldahl
1936 - Tony Manero
1935 - Sam Parks Jr.
1934 - Olin Dutra
1933 - Johnny Goodman
1932 - Gene Sarazen
1931 - Billy Burke
1930 - Bobby Jones
1929 - Bobby Jones
1928 - Johnny Farrell
1927 - Tommy Armour
1926 - Bobby Jones
1925 - W MacFarlane
1924 - Cyril Walker
1923 - Bobby Jones
1922 - Gene Sarazen
1921 - James M. Barnes
1920 - Edward Ray
1919 - Walter Hagen
1917-18 - Not played due to World War I
1916 - Charles Evans Jr.
1915 - Jerome Travers
1914 - Walter Hagen
1913 - Francis Ouimet
1912 - John McDermott
1911 - John McDermott
1910 - Alex Smith
1909 - George Sargent
1908 - Fred McLeod
1907 - Alex Ross
1906 - Alex Smith
1905 - Willie Anderson
1904 - Willie Anderson
1903 - Willie Anderson
1902 - Laurie Auchterlonie
1901 - Willie Anderson
1900 - Harry Vardon
1899 - Willie Smith
1898 - Fred Herd
1897 - Joe Lloyd
1896 - James Foulis
1895 - Horace Rawlins