USGA Receives a Record Number of Entries for 2009 U.S. Open |
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During U.S. Open media day, Tiger Woods called in to share his opinion on the subject. "If it was set up the way we played the Open everyday, I don't think anybody would play golf anymore," said Woods, who won the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage. "It's brutal the way we play it." Fully aware of the Bethpage stigma, of record number of players filled to play in the national golf championship; 9,086 entries were accepted by the United States Golf Association for the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. The total beat out the previous mark of 9,048 for the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Sixty-three of the golfers who are currently fully-exempt for the Open, including seven past champions, are included in the number of applicants.
Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 71 foreign countries, including 783 applicants with foreign addresses or preferred foreign addresses. Seven past champions are already fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming championship. They are: Angel Cabrera (2007); Michael Campbell (2005); Ernie Els (1994, 1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001, 2004); Geoff Ogilvy (2006); and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008). A U.S. Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years. 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. The youngest golfer to enter was 13-year-old Matthew Lowe of Farmingdale, N.Y, who lists Bethpage State Park as his home club. The oldest applicant, for the fourth consecutive year, was 78-year-old Ordean Olson of Hollywood, Fla., who turns 79 before the U.S. Open. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index no higher than 1.4, or be a professional. Local qualifying, played over 18 holes at 112 sites, runs from May 6-25. Sectional qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be 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. The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of the top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings, the top 10 money leaders on the 2009 PGA Tour and the top five money leaders on the 2009 European PGA Tour as of May 25. The winner of The PLAYERS Championship (May 7-10) also receives an exemption, as does any multiple winner of a PGA Tour co-sponsored event whose victories are considered official from June 2, 2008, through June 14, 2009. More information about the U.S. Open before, during and after the championship can be found at www.usopen.com.
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Just how nasty is Bethpage State Park's Black Course during a U.S. Open? First, you'll have to consider that golfers are greeted with a warning label that reads, "The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly-skilled golfers." And that's before you factor in graduated rough.
