The U.S. Senior Open is one of the major championships in men's senior golf. It was first played in 1980 and is administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is recognized as a major championship by both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. Initially the lower age limit was 55, but it is now 50, which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. The event is open to amateurs but it is dominated by professionals. It has been played on several different courses.
Allen Doyle became the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion in 2006, winning two weeks before his 58th birthday.[1]
In 2011, the prize fund was $2.6 million, with $500,000 awarded to the champion, Olin Browne. The total purse was the highest of any senior tour event until the Posco E&C Songdo Championship, a new Champions Tour event held in South Korea, launched in 2010 with a $3 million purse. However, the first prize in the U.S. Senior Open remains the highest on the Champions Tour (first prize in the Korean event is $450,000). 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.
2012 : WHAT THE WINNER RECEIVES: Among the benefits enjoyed by the U.S. Senior Open champion is a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Senior Open or an exemption through age 65, whichever yields the higher number of exemptions. The champion also is exempt from qualifying for the 2013 U.S. Open.
HISTORY: This is the 33rd U.S. Senior Open Championship. The first U.S. Senior Open, played in 1980, was conducted for golfers 55 and older. The next year, the USGA lowered the age minimum to 50.
Miller Barber captured the first of his three Senior Open titles in 1982, later winning in 1984 and 1985. In its history, the U.S. Senior Open has had four two-time winners: Gary Player (1987-88); Jack Nicklaus (1991, 1993); Hale Irwin (1998, 2000); and Allen Doyle (2005, 2006). Doyle became the championship’s oldest winner in 2006 at the age of 58 years and 13 days.
Dale Douglass is the youngest champion, having won the championship on his first try, in 1986, at the age of 50 years, 3 months and 24 days.
IRON MAN: Dale Douglass made his 26th consecutive start in the U.S. Senior Open championship last year, breaking Arnold Palmer’s record of 25 consecutive starts from 1981-2005. Douglass, the 1986 Senior Open champion, has made the cut 14 times and has three top-five finishes in his 26 Senior Open appearances.
USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MICHIGAN: This will be the 31st USGA championship held in Michigan and the third U.S. Senior Open held in the state. In 1981, Arnold Palmer defeated Bob Stone and Billy Casper in an 18-hole playoff at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills. Jack Nicklaus shot 65 to win by four strokes over Chi Chi Rodriguez in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1991 championship at Oakland Hills C.C.
OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT INDIANWOOD: Indianwood Golf & Country Club is hosting its third USGA championship. In 1989, Betsy King led from start to finish in winning the U.S. Women’s Open. Her 72-hole total of 278 was four better than runner-up Nancy Lopez. Patty Sheehan captured her second U.S. Open with a one-stroke victory over Tammie Green in 1994.
Gene Sarazen won the 1930 Western Open on this course. In addition, Indianwood G&CC has hosted the Michigan PGA and Michigan Open.
FUTURE SENIOR OPEN SITES: July 13-16, 2013 – Omaha (Neb.) Country Club; July 10-13, 2014 – Oak Tree National, Edmond, Okla.
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The 2013 U.S. Open Golf Championship
will be played at the historic Olympic Club, located in San Francisco,
California. The Championship will be held June 13-16, 2013. Four
previous U.S. Open golf championships have been hosted at this venue.
They were in 1955, 1966, 1987 and 1998. This event presents golfers
around the world with the opportunity to see the world’s best
professionals compete on this classic stage, and to play some of the
nation’s finest public courses including Pasatiempo Golf Club,
CordeValle, Pebble Beach, and Spyglass Hill.
