Interesting Stories, Stats and Facts about the 2012 US Open

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2012 U.S. OPEN

June 14-17, 2012

The Olympic Club (Lake Course)

San Francisco , Calif.

WHO’S HERE – Among the 156 golfers in the 2012 U.S. Open there are:

U.S. Open champions (10) – Angel Cabrera (2007), Michael Campbell (2005), Ernie Els (1994, ’97), Jim Furyk (2003), Lucas Glover (2009), Retief Goosen (2001, ’04), Graeme McDowell (2010), Rory McIlroy (2011), Geoff Ogilvy (2006) and Tiger Woods (2000, ’02, ’08).

U.S. Open runners-up (7) – Jason Day (2011), Ernie Els (2000), Jim Furyk (2006, ‘07), Miguel Angel Jimenez (2000), Davis Love III (1996), Phil Mickelson (1999, 2002, ’04, ’06, ‘09) and Tiger Woods (2005, ’07).

U.S. Amateur champions (4) – Colt Knost (2007), Matt Kuchar (1997), Phil Mickelson (1990) and Tiger Woods (1994, ’95, ’96).

U.S. Amateur runners-up (4) – Patrick Cantlay (2011), Hunter Mahan (2002), Michael Thompson (2007) and Casey Wittenberg (2003).

U.S. Senior Open champions (1) – Olin Browne (2011).

U.S. Amateur Public Links champions (5) – Tim Clark (1997), Hunter Haas (1999), Trevor Immelman (1998), Colt Knost (2007) and Chez Reavie (2001).

U.S. Amateur Public Links runners-up (1) – Jason Dufner (1998).

U.S. Junior Amateur champions (4) – Brian Harman (2003), Hunter Mahan (1999), Jordan Spieth (2009, ’11) and Tiger Woods (1991, ’92, ’93).

U.S. Junior Amateur runners-up (3) – Aaron Baddeley (1998), Charles Howell III (1996) and Trevor Immelman (1997).

USGA champions (19) – Olin Browne (2011 Senior Open), Angel Cabrera (2007 Open), Michael Campbell (2005 Open), Ernie Els (1994, ’97 Opens), Jim Furyk (2003 Open), Lucas Glover (2009 Open), Retief Goosen (2001, ‘04 Opens), Hunter Haas (1999 Amateur Public Links), Trevor Immelman (1998 Amateur Public Links), Colt Knost (2007 Amateur, 2007 Amateur Public Links), Matt Kuchar (1997 Amateur), Hunter Mahan (1999 Junior Amateur), Graeme McDowell (2010 Open), Rory McIlroy (2011 Open), Phil Mickelson (1990 Amateur), Geoff Ogilvy (2006 Open), Chez Reavie (2001 Amateur Public Links), Jordan Spieth (2009, ’11 Junior Amateurs) and Tiger Woods (2000, ’02, ’08 Opens; 1994, ’95. ’96 Amateurs; 1991, ’92, ’93 Junior Amateurs).

Walker Cup Team Members:

United States (21) – Jonathan Byrd (1999), Patrick Cantlay (2011), Rickie Fowler (2007, ’09), Lucas Glover (2001), Bill Haas (2003), Hunter Haas (1999), Brian Harman (2005, ’09), Tim Herron (1993), Morgan Hoffmann (2009), Dustin Johnson (2007), Colt Knost (2007), Matt Kuchar (1999), Edward Loar (1999), Davis Love III (1985), Phil Mickelson (1989, ’91), Webb Simpson (2007), Jordan Spieth (2011), Kyle Stanley (2007), Nicholas Thompson (2005), Casey Wittenberg (2003) and Tiger Woods (2005).

Great Britain & Ireland (7) – Paul Casey (1999), Luke Donald (1999, 2001), Simon Dyson (1999), Padraig Harrington (1991, ’93, ’95), Graeme McDowell (2001), Rory McIlroy (2007) and Justin Rose (1997).

NCAA Division I champions (7) – Kevin Chappell (2008), Luke Donald (1999), Charles Howell III (2000), Phil Mickelson (1989, ’90, ’92), Scott Langley (2010), John Peterson (2011) and Tiger Woods (1996).

TOTAL OPENS WON BY 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD (14) – Angel Cabrera (1), Michael Campbell (1), Ernie Els (2), Jim Furyk (1), Lucas Glover (1), Retief Goosen (2), Graeme McDowell (1), Rory McIlroy (1), Geoff Ogilvy (1) and Tiger Woods (3).

PLAYERS IN FIELD WITH MOST OPEN APPEARANCES (2012 included) – Davis Love III (23), Phil Mickelson (22), Ernie Els (20), Jim Furyk (18), Stewart Cink (17), Steve Stricker (17), Tiger Woods (17), David Toms (16), Retief Goosen (15) and Padraig Harrington (15).

ACTIVE CONSECUTIVE U.S. OPEN APPEARANCES (2012 included) – Ernie Els (20), Phil Mickelson (19), Stewart Cink (17) and Jim Furyk (17).

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD – The USGA accepted 9,006 entries in 2012. A record 9,086 entries were accepted for the 2009 U.S. Open.

The 156-player field includes 76 fully exempt golfers and 10 past champions. Local qualifying over 18 holes was held at 109 sites, primarily in the month of May, in the attempt to advance to sectional qualifying. Sectional qualifying over 36 holes was held at 13 sites. The England and Japan sectionals were held on May 21 and May 28, respectively. Eleven sectionals in the United States were conducted on Monday, June 4.

History of U.S. Open Championship Entries

Year                 Number Host Site

2009                 9,086                Bethpage State Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, N.Y.

2010                 9,052                Pebble Peach (Calif.) Golf Links

2005                 9,048               Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (No. 2 Course),

Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

2012                 9,006                The Olympic Club (Lake Course), San Francisco, Calif.

AMATEURS – Eight amateurs have made the 156-player field. The number is the lowest total since 2002. Patrick Cantlay, the 2011 U.S. Amateur runner-up, is among this group. Cantlay, a collegian at UCLA, tied for fourth at the recent NCAA Championship. He was a member of the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team and was a 2010 U.S. Amateur semifinalist.

Beau Hossler is a 17-year-old rising senior at Santa Margarita High School in California. He is playing in his second consecutive U.S. Open. Hossler is one of 24 players in the field to go through both local and sectional qualifying. He qualified for the 2009 U.S. Amateur as an eighth grader.

Cameron Wilson, who just completed his sophomore season at Stanford University, shot 65, one stroke off the course record, at Canoe Brook Country’s Club North Course in New Jersey to earn medalist honors in sectional qualifying. Wilson, who is ambidextrous but plays left-handed, is a three-time U.S. Amateur participant (2009, ’10, ’2011) and a 2009 U.S. Junior Amateur quarterfinalist.

Brooks Koepka, a 22-year-old, recently wrapped up his collegiate career at Florida State University. He was voted Atlantic Coast Conference Golfer of the Year twice. Koepka participated in the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Amateur Championships.

Nick Sherwood, who earned a sectional playoff spot on third playoff hole in Oregon, made a four-foot par putt on the par-4 12th hole at Emerald Valley Golf Club to secure his place in the U.S. Open field. Sherwood, a junior at Oregon State University, will have his father, Bill, as a caddie. His father was a member of the 1987-88 Oregon State basketball team.

Alberto Sanchez graduated from La Jolla Country Day School in California on June 1 and qualified for the U.S. Open three days later in Daly City. Sanchez participated in the 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur. He once shot 63 in a qualifier for the 2010 Pacific Coast Amateur.

Jordan Spieth won the 2009 and 2011 U.S Junior Amateurs and joins Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have won the championship multiple times. A freshman at the University of Texas, he was a quarterfinalist at last year’s U.S. Amateur and played on the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team.

Andy Zhang competed in sectional qualifying at Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry Course) at Lecanto, Fla. on June 4. Zhang, a 14-year-old (born Dec. 14, 1997), shot rounds of 70-72—142 to earn first alternate position. Zhang, who is originally from the People’s Republic of China, is believed to be the youngest to play in a U.S. Open. Tadd Fujikawa previously held that distinction; he was 15 at the 2006 Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.

Note: Twelve amateurs played in last year’s U.S. Open Championship at Congressional Country Club. Patrick Cantlay, who tied for 21st, was the low amateur. John Goodman was the last amateur to win the championship, in 1933.

Amateurs at Recent Opens

Year Number Made Cut Top Finisher

2012                      8 ??                             ????

2011                    12 3                            Patrick Cantlay, 21st (tie)

2010                    10 2                            Russell Henley, Scott Langley, 16th (tie)

2009                    15 3                            Nick Taylor, 36th (tie)

2008                    11 3                            Michael Thompson, 29th (tie)

2007                    12 0                            -----

2006                      9                                   0                            -----

2005                      9                                   2                            Matt Every, 28th (tie)

2004                      8                                   4                            Spencer Levin, 13th (tie)

2003                    10                                    2 Trip Kuehne, 57th (tie)

2002                      4                                   1                            Kevin Warrick, 72nd

2001                      3                                   1                            Bryce Molder, 30th (tie)

2000                      7                                   1                            Jeff Wilson, 59th

1999                      6                                   1                            Hank Kuehne, 65th

1998                      5                                   1                            Matt Kuchar, 14th (tie)

1997                      6                                   0                            -----

1996                      6                                   4                            Randy Leen, 54th

1995                      3                                   0                            -----

1994                      6                                   0                            -----

1993                      3                                   1                            Justin Leonard, 68th (tie)

1992                      5                                   0                            -----

1991                      4                                   1                            Phil Mickelson, 55th (tie)

1990                      4                                   2                            Phil Mickelson, 29th (tie)

1989                      2                                   0                            -----

1988                      4                                   1                            Billy Mayfair, 25th (tie)

1987                      2                                   0                            -----

1986                      5                                   1                            Sam Randolph, 35th (tie)

1985                      8                                   2                            Scott Verplank, 34th (tie)

1984                    11 2                            Mark Hayes, Jay Sigel, 43rd (tie)

1983                      9                                   2                            Brad Faxon, 50th (tie)

1982                    14 2                            Nathaniel Crosby, 59th

1981                    18 1                            Joey Rassett, 65th (tie)

1980                    18 2                            Gary Hallberg, 22nd (tie)

LOCAL SECTIONAL QUALIFIERS – Casey Martin is among 25 U.S. Open qualifiers who advanced through local and sectional play. Martin, who is the head men’s golf coach at the University of Oregon, was among 37 players who played for two spots at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Ore. At age 26, Martin played in the 1998 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club, using a cart in competition due to a disability (Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome). Fourteen years later, Martin will once again use a cart to navigate The Olympic Club’s Lake Course.

Nicholas Thompson (2006), Scott Langley (2010) and Beau Hossler (2011) have previously made the local sectional qualifier list. Langley tied for low amateur at the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Langley, who played at the University of Illinois, was the 2010 NCAA Division individual champion. He participated in three U.S. Amateurs and was a quarterfinalist in 2010.

A total of 29 players worked their way to the U.S. Open from the local qualifying 2011. Four made the cut; Bud Cauley was low finisher, tying for 63rd place at Congressional Country Club.

In 2012, there were 109 local qualifying sites that led to 13 sectionals, including international sites in Japan and England. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and sectional play. Jerry Pate (1976), Steve Jones (1996), Michael Campbell (2005) and Lucas Glover (2009) have won as sectional qualifiers.

2012 Local Sectional Qualifiers (25)

Name                           Sectional Site                           Local Site

Jeff Curl                       Rockville, Md.                           Hoover. Ala.

Brian Gaffney                Summit, N.J. Jackson, N.J.

Brice Garnett                 Springfield, Ohio                       Parkville, Mo.

James Hahn                  Daly City, Calif.                         Newnan, Ga.

Hunter Hamrick              Memphis, Tenn.                         Pensacola, Fla.

Jim Herman                   Summit, N.J. Cincinnati, Ohio

Morgan Hoffmann         Columbus, Ohio Alpine, N.J. (A)

a-Beau Hossler              Daly City, Calif.                         Glendale, Calif.

Cole Howard                 Rockville, Md.                           Hot Springs, Ark. (A)

Scott Langley                Lecanto, Fla. Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Steve LeBrun                Columbus, Ohio Lake Wales, Fla. (A)

Casey Martin                 Creswell, Ore. Vancouver, Wash.

Mark McCormick            Summit, N.J. Alpine, N.J.

Dennis Miller                 Columbus, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio (A)

Jesse Mueller                Columbus, Ohio Tucson, Ariz.

Samuel Osborne           Lecanto, Fla. Tarpon Springs, Fla.

John Peterson               Springfield, Ohio                       Bryan, Texas

Brian Rowell                  Houston, Texas                         New Orleans, La.

a-Alberto Sanchez         Daly City, Calif.                         Lakeside, Calif.

a-Nick Sherwood           Creswell, Ore. Vancouver, Wash.

Scott Smith                   Daly City, Calif.                         Genoa, Nev.

Nicholas Thompson       Rockville, Md.                           Port St. Lucie, Fla. (A)

Tim Weinhart                 Suwanee, Ga.                            Newnan, Ga.

a-Cameron Wilson         Summit, N.J. Pleasanton, Calif.

a-Andy Zhang               Lake Wales, Fla.                        Lecanto, Fla.

History of Local Sectional Qualifiers

Year                 Number Made Cut Top Finisher

2012                      25                      ??               ????

2011                      29                        4              Bud Cauley, 63rd (tie)

2010                      24                        7              Russell Henley, Scott Langley, 16th (tie)

2009                      30                        2              Gary Woodland, 47th (tie)

2008                      36                        6              Kevin Streelman, 53rd

2007                      26                        2              D.J. Brigman, 30th (tie)

2006                      30                        4              Scott Hend, 32nd (tie)

2005                      30                        5              Paul Claxton, 23rd (tie)

2004                      35                        5              a-Spencer Levin, 13th (tie)

2003                      28                        3              Dicky Pride, 28th (tie)

2002                      22                        6              Jason Caron, 30th (tie)

2001                      28                        6              Michael Allen, 12th (tie)

2000                      37                        6              Bobby Clampett, Charles Warren, 37th (tie)

1999                      36                        7              David Berganio Jr., 28th (tie)

1998                      40                        5              Lee Porter, 32nd (tie)

1997                      33                      10               David White, 51st (tie)

LOCAL ALTERNATES – Five sectional qualifiers were local alternates prior to making the U.S. Open field: Dennis Miller, Steve LeBrun, Nicholas Thompson, Morgan Hoffmann and Cole Howard. Miller reached the Open field in his 12th qualifying attempt after a 22-foot putt fell in the right edge of the fourth playoff hole at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Miller, a professional at Mill Creek Golf Course in Boardman, Ohio, reached the course at 6:15 a.m. not knowing if he would have a place in the sectional field.

LeBrun took a break from a family vacation at Disney World to take his place at a sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. LeBrun has been on and off the Nationwide Tour and has played in just two PGA Tour events during his career.

Nicholas Thompson is part of a golfing family. His sister, Lexi, plays on the LPGA Tour and his brother, Curtis, is a member of the Louisiana State University team.

Morgan Hoffmann, a 2009 USA Walker Cup Team member, survived a 4-for-3 playoff in Columbus.

Cole Howard, 26, makes his first Open appearance after playing on the Golfweek National Pro Tour, Hooters Tour and Adams Golf Pro Tour.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE I – Michael Allen, 53, was born in nearby San Mateo, Calif., and is a longtime member of The Olympic Club. He qualified for the U.S. Open through sectional play in Daly City by shooting 67 at Lake Merced Golf Club and 70 at TPC Harding Park. Allen, who won the 2009 Senior PGA Championship, is the leading money winner on the Champions Tour. He is playing in his sixth U.S. Open. Allen’s best Open finish came in 2001, when he tied for 12th at Southern Hills. His last Open appearance came at Torrey Pines in 2008

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE II – James Hahn, 30, is a San Bruno, Calif., resident who played his collegiate golf at the University of California, Berkeley. Hahn, who was born in South Korea, was victorious for the first time on the Nationwide Tour when he won a playoff at the Rex Hospital Open in Raleigh, N.C. After winning the title, he immediately embarked on a cross-country 2,500-mile airplane ride to the Bay Area for sectional qualifying. After a few hours of sleep, Hahn shot 66 at Lake Merced Golf Club and 70 at TPC Harding Park to earn medalist honors by one stroke.

THE U.S. OPEN COURSE – The Olympic Club’s Lake Course will be set up at 7,170 yards and will play to a par of 34-36–70. Sam Whiting designed the current layout of the Lake Course, which opened in 1927. Revisions to the course, prior to the 1955 U.S. Open, were supervised by Robert Trent Jones Sr. Bill Love has supervised all the design work on the course since 2004, which includes new rear tees, the green construction project in 2008-09 and a recently added bunker on the 17th hole.

U.S. OPENS AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB

This is the fifth U.S. Open Championship and the ninth USGA championship to be conducted at The Olympic Club’s Lake Course.

In 1955, Jack Fleck defeated four-time Open champion Ben Hogan in a playoff. Fleck, a municipal-course professional from Davenport, Iowa, who was playing his first full year on the tour, birdied two of the last four holes to tie Hogan at seven-over-par 287. He shot 69 in the 18-hole playoff and never trailed, as Hogan carded a 73.

In 1966, Billy Casper won his second U.S. Open in a playoff with Arnold Palmer. Casper trailed by seven strokes with nine holes to play in the final round, but rallied to match Palmer at two-under-par 278. In the playoff, Palmer led by two shots after nine holes, but Casper erased the lead with a 50-foot birdie at the par-3 13th. Casper finished with a one-under-par 69, while Palmer shot 73.

Scott Simpson birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes of the final round to win the 1987 U.S. Open, overtaking Tom Watson. Simpson’s 72-hole total of three-under 277 was one stroke better than Watson’s 278. They were the only players to better par for the championship.

Lee Janzen made four birdies and no bogeys over the final 15 holes to capture his second U.S. Open in 1998 at The Olympic Club. Janzen, who finished at even-par 280 for a one-stroke win, came from seven strokes behind Payne Stewart for the largest come-from-behind victory after 54 holes in 25 years. He earned a share of the lead with birdies on the 12th and 13th holes, before carefully navigating pars the rest of the way. Stewart bogeyed the 16th, but had a chance to tie Janzen on the finishing hole. His 25-foot birdie putt slid inches below the hole.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB

Championship Years and Winners

1955 U.S. Open – Jack Fleck def. Ben Hogan, 287 (69) - 287 (73)

1958 U.S. Amateur – Charles Coe def. Tommy Aaron, 5 and 4

1966 U.S. Open – Billy Casper def. Arnold Palmer, 278 (69) - 278 (73)

1981 U.S. Amateur – Nathaniel Crosby def. Brian Lindley, 37 holes

1987 U.S. Open – Scott Simpson by one stroke over Tom Watson, 277-278

1998 U.S. Open – Lee Janzen by one stroke over Payne Stewart, 280-281

2004 U.S. Junior Amateur – Sihwan Kim def. David Chung, 1 up

2007 U.S. Amateur – Colt Knost def. Michael Thompson, 2 and 1

PLAYERS WHO PLAYED IN 1998 U.S. OPEN AT OLYMPIC CLUB (20) –Shane Bertsch (MC), Thomas Bjorn (T25), Olin Browne (T43), Stewart Cink (T10), Joe Durant (T32), Ernie Els (T48), Jim Furyk (T14), Retief Goosen (MC), Padraig Harrington (T32), Tim Herron (T53), Robert Karlsson (MC), Matt Kuchar (T14), Davis Love III (MC), Casey Martin (T23), Phil Mickelson (T10), Vijah Singh (T25), Steve Stricker (T5), Lee Westwood (T7), Mark Wilson (MC), Tiger Woods (T18).

PLAYERS WHO PLAYED IN 2007 U.S. AMATEUR AT OLYMPIC CLUB (8) –Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Morgan Hoffmann, Dustin Johnson, Colt Knost, Webb Simpson, Kyle Stanley, Michael Thompson.