Compleat Golfer look at the numbers that matter ahead of the US Open’s return to Shinnecock Hills.
4 – Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have all won the US Open four times, the most by any player. Anderson won a record three in a row in 1903, 1904 and 1905.
6 –Phil Mickelson has finished runner-up a record six times, but has never won the US Open. He finished second in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013.
9 – Oakmont Country Club has forged a reputation as the unofficial ‘home’ of the US Open, hosting it a record nine times – 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007 and 2016.
15 –When Tiger Woods won in 2000 at Pebble Beach, he finished 15 shots clear of second-placed Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
19 –John McDermott was just 19 years, 10 months and 14 days when he won in 1911 to become the youngest champion.
33 – The number of playoffs at the US Open, the most recent being Tiger Woods’ dramatic win over Rocco Mediate in 2008 at Torrey Pines.
44 – How’s this for longevity! Jack Nicklaus played 44 consecutive US Opens between 1957 and 2000.
45 – American Hale Irwin became the oldest winner, at the age of 45 years and 15 days, when he won in 1990.
63 – The lowest round recorded at a US Open, the most celebrated being Johnny Miller’s final-round 63 during the 1973 tournament at Oakmont. Other 63s were by Tom Weiskopf (first round, 1980 at Baltusrol), Jack Nicklaus (first round, 1980 at Baltusrol), Vijay Singh (second round, 2003 at Olympia Fields) and Justin Thomas (third round, 2017 at Erin Hills).
268 –The lowest 72-hole aggregate score, by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy in 2011 at Congressional Country Club. His 16 under was also the lowest-ever score to par.
9 049 – The number of entries from players (must have a handicap index of 1.4 or better) entering final qualifying events for the tournament.
