A list of historical records achieved at the U.S Open.
Most U.S Open Championship Victories: 4
Willie Anderson, Robert T. Jones Jr, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus hold the record for the most U.S. Open Championship victories, with four apiece.
Anderson won four times at the start of the 20th century, first in 1901 and in three consecutive years between 1903 – 1905. Jones then followed with four victories of his own in 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1930, while Hogan earned his titles in the space of six years in 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953.
Nicklaus, who holds the record for longest stretch between wins, won his first title in 1962, his second in 1967, his third in 1972, and his fourth and final in 1980 at the age of 40.
Two players have three victories to their name: Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990), and Tiger Woods (2000,2002,2008).
Oldest U.S. Open winner: Hale Irwin
In 1995, Hale Irwin won his third and final U.S Open at the age of 45 years and 15 days old, defeating fellow American Mike Donald with a birdie on the first play-off hole. His victory came 16 years after he first lifted the title in 1974, which he won for a second time in 1979.
45/0/15, Hale Irwin, 1990
43/9/11, Raymond Floyd, 1986
43/4/16, Ted Ray, 1920
Youngest U.S. Open winner: John J. McDermott
John J. McDermott was 19 years, 10 months and 14 days old when he became the U.S Open Champion in 1911. He was the first American to win the U.S. Open, and successfully defended his title a year later.
Winners on their U.S. Open debut
There have been five champions to triumph on their debut in the U.S. Open, but none in over 100 years. Horace Rawlins claimed the inaugural title in 1895, and was followed by Fred Her (1898), Harry Vardon (1900), George Sargent (1909) and Francis Outmet (1913).
Oumet was the first amateur to win on his debut, earning the U.S. Open title in an 18-hole play-off against Vardon and Ted Ray.
Amateur Champions at the U.S. Open
Francis Oumet made history when he won the U.S. Open on his debut as an amateur. Since his win, there have been five other amateur winners.
Francis Ouimet, The Country Club, Brookline, Mass., 1913
Jerome D. Travers, Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J., 1915
Charles Evans Jr., Minikahda Club, Minneapolis, Minn., 1916
Robert T. Jones Jr., Inwood (N.Y.) C.C., 1923; Scioto C.C., Columbus, Ohio, 1926; Winged Foot G.C., Mamaroneck, N.Y., 1929; Interlachen C.C., Edina, Minn., 1930
John Goodman, North Shore C.C., Glenview, Ill., 1933
Largest winning margin
Tiger Woods’ historic 15 strokes victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 remains the biggest winning margin in golf.
It was also the start of the ‘Tiger Slam’, as Woods went on to win the 2000 Open Championship, 2000 US PGA Championship, and 2001 Masters to hold all four Major titles at once.
15 Strokes, Tiger Woods (272), Pebble Beach, 2000
11 Strokes, Willie Smith (315), Baltimore C.C, 1899
9 Strokes, James Barnes (289), Columbia C.C, 1921
What is the scoring record at the U.S. Open?
Rory McIlroy holds the U.S. Open scoring record with a total of 268, carding rounds of 65, 66, 68 and 69 at Congressional C.C. during his 2011 victory. It's three better than the next best players – Martin Kaymer (2014) and Gary Woodland (2019), who have totals of 271.
268, Rory McIlroy (65-66-68-69), Congressional C.C. (Blue Course), Bethesda, Md., 2011
271, Martin Kaymer (65-65-72-69), Pinehurst R. & C.C. (No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C., 2014
271, Gary Woodland (68-65-69-69), Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L., 2019
272, Jack Nicklaus (63-71-70-68), Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., 1980
272, Lee Janzen (67-67-69-69), Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., 1993
272, Tiger Woods (65-69-71-67), Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L., 2000
272, Jim Furyk (67-66-67-72), Olympia Fields (Ill.) C.C. (North Course), 2003
272, Brooks Koepka (67-70-68-67), Erin Hills, Erin, Wis., 2017
What is the scoring record (to par) in the U.S. Open?
Rory McIlroy's eight-stroke victory at Congressional in 2011 saw him finish with a total of 16 under par. He did get to 17 under twice on the back nine of his final round, but a bogey at the 17th saw him drop back. His record total was matched by Brooks Koepka six years later, when he won his first U.S. Open title at Erin Hills.
16 under (272), Brooks Koepka, Erin Hills, Erin, Wis., 2017
13 under (271), Gary Woodland, Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L., 2019
12 under (272), Tiger Woods, Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L., 2000
9 under (271), Martin Kaymer, Pinehurst R. & C.C. (No. 2), Village of Pinehurst, N.C., 2014
What is the lowest 18 hole score at the U.S. Open?
There have been six rounds of 63 ever recorded at the U.S. Open, starting with Johnny Miller during the final round at Oakmont in 1973 and most recently with Tommy Fleetwood during the fourth round at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.
63 (9 under), Justin Thomas, third round, Erin Hills, Erin, Wis., 2017
63 (8 under), Johnny Miller, final round, Oakmont (Pa.) C.C., 1973
63 (7 under), Jack Nicklaus, first round, Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., 1980
63 (7 under), Tom Weiskopf, first round, Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course), Springfield, N.J., 1980
63 (7 under), Vijay Singh, second round, Olympia Fields (Ill.) C.C. (North Course), 2003
63 (7 under), Tommy Fleetwood, fourth round, Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton, N.Y., 2018
What is the lowest 9 hole score at the U.S. Open?
There have been three players to record a 29 over nine holes at the U.S. Open. Neal Lancaster did it twice in back-to-back years, first during the back-nine of his fourth round at Shinnecock Hills in 1995, and again during the back-nine of his second round at Bloomfield Hills in 1996.
29, Neal Lancaster, fourth round, second nine, Shinnecock Hills G.C., Southampton, N.Y., 1995
29, Neal Lancaster, second round, second nine, Oakland Hills C.C. (South Course), Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 1996
29, Vijay Singh, second round, second nine, Olympia Fields (Ill.) C.C. (North Course), 2003
29, Louis Oosthuizen, fourth round, second nine, Chambers Bay, University Place, Wash., 2015
Wire-to-wire winners
In the history of the U.S. Open there have been eight wire-to-wire winners (no ties), and nine wire-to-wire winners including ties.
Walter Hagen was the first wire-to-wire winner (no ties) in 1914, and was followed by James Barnes (1921), Ben Hogan (1953), Tony Jacklin (1970), Tiger Woods (2000, 2002), Rory McIlroy (2011) and Martin Kaymer (2014).
Willie Anderson was the first to win wire-to-wire including ties, and was followed by Alex Smith (1906), Charles Evans Jr (1916), Tommy Bolt (1958), Jack Nicklaus (1972, 1980), Hubert Green (1977), Payne Stewart (1991) and Retief Goosen (2001).
What is the longest course in U.S. Open history?
The 2017 contest at Erin Hills was the longest course in U.S. Open history, and sweeps the records for longest course on all four days. The previous record belonged to Chambers Bay, which measured 7,695 yards during the second round on 2015.
7,845 yards, Erin Hills, first round, Erin, Wis., 2017
7,839 yards, Erin Hills, second round, Erin, Wis., 2017
7,818 yards, Erin Hills, third round, Erin, Wis., 2017
7,721 yards, Erin Hills, fourth round, Erin, Wis., 2017
7,695 yards, Chambers Bay, second round, University Place, Wash., 2015
7,676 yards, Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), fourth round, San Diego, Calif., 2021
Largest 54-Hole Lead
During Woods' victory at Pebble Beach in 2000, he went in to the final day with a 10 stroke lead, before extending that by five to win by 15 strokes.
10, Tiger Woods (205), Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L., 2000
8, Rory McIlroy (199), Congressional C.C. (Blue Course), Bethesda, Md., 2011
7, James Barnes (217), Columbia C.C., Chevy Chase, Md., 1921
Best Comeback by Winner, Final Round
Arnold Palmer made history when he claimed his solitary U.S. Open victory at Cherry Hills Country Club in 1960. Palmer started the day seven strokes behind, but came back to win by two strokes on four under par.7 strokes, Arnold Palmer (72-71-72-65), Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo., 1960
6 strokes, Johnny Miller (71-69-76-63), Oakmont (Pa.) C.C., 1973
5 strokes, Walter Hagen (78-73-75-75), Brae Burn C.C., West Newton, Mass, 1919
5 strokes, Johnny Farrell (77-74-71-72), Olympia Fields C.C. (No. 4 Course), Matteson, Ill., 1928
5 strokes, Byron Nelson (72-73-71-68), Philadelphia C.C. (Spring Mill Course), West Conshohocken, Pa., 1939
5 strokes, Lee Janzen (73-66-73-68), The Olympic Club (Lake Course), San Francisco, Calif., 1998
Most Appearances
Jack Nicklaus, who won four U.S. Open titles, also holds the record for most appearances by a staggering ten over the next player. He has appeared in 44 U.S. Opens between 1957 and 2000, which is ten more than Hale Irwin, who played 34 times between 1966 and 2003.44, Jack Nicklaus (1957-2000)
34, Hale Irwin (1966-2003)
33, Tom Kite (1970-2004)
33, Gene Sarazen (1920-1958)
32, Arnold Palmer (1953-1994)
