Players who have received USGA special exemptions into the U.S. Open, and how they fared

Posted on Posted in Blog
Players who have received USGA special exemptions into the U.S. Open, and how they fared
Please Share


The USGA announced on Thursday that it had offered a special exemption to Tiger Woods to compete in this year’s U.S. Open. And, of course, the three-time champion accepted.

The 124th edition of the U.S. Open will take place June 13-16 on Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

As one of the field criteria, the USGA reserves the right to offer special exemptions but does so with discretion. Here’s a look at who has received them over the years and how they fared, per the USGA. Most notably, Hale Irwin won in 1990 at Medinah, defeating Mike Donald in a playoff, after getting an invite.

1966 (Olympic Club)

1977 (Southern Hills)

  • Sam Snead, MC
  • Tommy Bolt, MC
  • Julius Boros, MC

1978 (Cherry Hills)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC
  • Bill Casper, T-30
  • Seve Ballesteros, T-16

1980 (Baltusrol)

  • Arnold Palmer, 63rd
  • Gene Littler, T-38
  • Jay Sigel (a), MC

1981 (Merion)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC
  • Gary Player, T-26
  • Lou Graham, MC

1983 (Oakmont)

  • Arnold Palmer, T-60
  • Gary Player, T-20
  • Lee Trevino, WD

1984 (Winged Foot)

  • Isao Aoki, T-16
  • Lee Trevino, T-9

1986 (Shinnecock)

1988 (The Country Club)

1990 (Medinah)

1991 (Hazeltine)

1993 (Baltusrol)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-72
  • Tom Watson, T-5

1994 (Oakmont)

  • Arnold Palmer, MC
  • Johnny Miller, MC
  • Larry Nelson, MC
  • Ben Crenshaw, T-33
  • Seve Ballesteros, T-18

1995 (Shinnecock)

1996 (Oakland Hills)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-27
  • Tom Watson, T-13

1997 (Congressional)

1998 (Olympic Club)

  • Jack Nicklaus, T-43
  • Scott Simpson, 58th

1999 (Pinehurst)

2000 (Pebble Beach)

  • Aaron Baddeley (a), MC
  • Michael Campbell, T-12
  • Jack Nicklaus, MC
  • Greg Norman, MC
  • Curtis Strange, MC
  • Tom Watson, T-27

2002 (Bethpage)

  • Hale Irwin, MC
  • Nick Faldo, T-5

2003 (Olympia Fields)

  • Hale Irwin, WD
  • Tom Kite, MC
  • Tom Watson, T-28

2004 (Shinnecock Hills)

2005 (Pinehurst)

2010 (Pebble Beach)

  • Tom Watson, T-29
  • Vijay Singh, T-40

2016 (Oakmont)

2018 (Shinnecock Hills)

  • Ernie Els, MC
  • Jim Furyk, T-48

2019 (Pebble Beach)

2021 (Torrey Pines)

2024 (Pinehurst)

(a = amateur)





Source link