U.S. Senior Open

The U.S. Senior Open is one of the five major championships in senior golf, introduced 43 years ago in 1980.[1] It is administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and is recognized as a major championship by both the PGA Tour Champions and the European Senior Tour. The lower age limit was 55 in 1980, but it was lowered to 50 for the second edition in 1981,[2] which is the standard limit for men's senior professional golf tournaments. By definition, the event is open to amateurs, but has been dominated by professionals; through 2022, all editions have been won by pros. Like other USGA championships, it has been played on many courses throughout the United States.

U.S. Senior Open
Tournament information
LocationStevens Point, Wisconsin
Established1980
Course(s)SentryWorld Golf Course
Par72
Length7,102 yards (6,494 m)
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour Champions
European Senior Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$4,000,000
Month playedJune/July
Tournament record score
Aggregate261 Steve Stricker (2019)
To par−20 Fred Funk (2009)
Current champion
Germany Bernhard Langer
Location Map
SentryWorld GC is located in the United States
SentryWorld GC
SentryWorld GC
Location in the United States
SentryWorld GC is located in Wisconsin
SentryWorld GC
SentryWorld GC
Location in Wisconsin

Bernhard Langer became the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion in 2023, winning at the age of 65 years 10 months.[3]

The total purse was the highest of any senior tour event until the Posco E&C Songdo Championship in South Korea, a Champions Tour event in 2010 and 2011 with a $3 million purse, but had a lower winner's share ($450,000). The U.S. Senior Open is again the highest purse on the PGA Tour Champions; in 2016 it was $3.75 million, and champion Gene Sauers earned $675,000. The purse in 2017 is anticipated to be $4 million, yielding a winner's share of $720,000.

Like other senior majors, players must walk the course unless they receive a medical exemption to use a cart. Winners gain entry into the following year's U.S. Open.

The playoff format was modified for 2018, reduced from three to two aggregate holes, followed by sudden death.[4] The three-hole aggregate playoff was used in 2002 and 2014; the final 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Senior Open was in 1991, won by Jack Nicklaus.[5]

Eligibility

The following players are exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, provided they are 50 years old as of the opening day of the tournament. Amateur categories require that the player is still an amateur on the opening day of the tournament, except for the one-time exemption for former champions of the U.S. Amateur or The Amateur Championship.[6]

  • Any past winner of the U.S. Senior Open
  • Winners of any of the major championships in the last 10 years
  • Winners of any of the U.S. Amateur in the last 10 years and runner-up in previous year
  • Winners of the Senior PGA Championship in the last 10 years
  • Winner of the Senior Open Championship in the last five years
  • Top 15 finishers from the previous year's U.S. Senior Open
  • Any amateur completing 72 holes in last U.S. Open
  • Low amateur in last U.S. Senior Open
  • Winner and runner-up of the U.S. Senior Amateur in the previous year
  • Members of the Walker Cup and Eisenhower Trophy teams for the last two competitions
  • Members of both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams for the last five competitions
  • Top 30 from the previous year's PGA Tour Champions money list, top 20 from current list
  • Top 50 leaders from the PGA Tour Champions career money list
  • Winners of PGA Tour Champions events in the previous three years
  • Top six from previous year's European Senior Tour money list
  • Top two from previous year's Japan Seniors Tour money list
  • Winners of PGA Tour events in the previous five years
  • Winners of the U.S. Open in first ten years of age eligibility
  • One-time exemption for any winner of a major championship, U.S. Amateur, or British Amateur.
    • Winners of amateur championships who have since turned professional are able to use this exemption.

Special exemptions are given occasionally, and like other USGA events, many qualify through the local and sectional ranks.

Winners
YearWinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upPurse
($)		Winner's
share ($)		VenueLocation
2023Germany Bernhard Langer (2)277−72 strokesUnited States Steve Stricker4,000,000720,000SentryWorldStevens Point, Wisconsin
2022Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington274−101 strokeUnited States Steve Stricker4,000,000720,000Saucon Valley
(Old Course)		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2021United States Jim Furyk273−73 strokesSouth Africa Retief Goosen
Canada Mike Weir		4,000,000720,000OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7][8]
2019United States Steve Stricker261−196 strokesUnited States Jerry Kelly
United States David Toms		4,000,000720,000Warren Golf Course
U of Notre Dame		South Bend, Indiana
2018United States David Toms277−31 strokeSpain Miguel Ángel Jiménez
United States Jerry Kelly
United States Tim Petrovic		4,000,000720,000BroadmoorColorado Springs, Colorado
2017United States Kenny Perry (2)264−162 strokesUnited States Kirk Triplett4,000,000720,000SalemPeabody, Massachusetts
2016United States Gene Sauers277−31 strokeSpain Miguel Ángel Jiménez
United States Billy Mayfair		3,750,000675,000SciotoUpper Arlington, Ohio
2015United States Jeff Maggert270−102 strokesScotland Colin Montgomerie3,750,000675,000Del PasoSacramento, California
2014Scotland Colin Montgomerie279−5PlayoffUnited States Gene Sauers3,500,000630,000Oak Tree NationalEdmond, Oklahoma
2013United States Kenny Perry267−135 strokesUnited States Fred Funk2,750,000500,000OmahaOmaha, Nebraska
2012England Roger Chapman270−102 strokesUnited States Fred Funk
Germany Bernhard Langer
United States Tom Lehman
United States Corey Pavin		2,750,000500,000IndianwoodLake Orion, Michigan
2011United States Olin Browne269−153 strokesUnited States Mark O'Meara2,750,000500,000Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio
2010Germany Bernhard Langer272−83 strokesUnited States Fred Couples2,600,000470,000SahaleeSammamish, Washington
2009United States Fred Funk268−206 strokesUnited States Joey Sindelar2,600,000470,000Crooked StickCarmel, Indiana
2008Argentina Eduardo Romero274−64 strokesUnited States Fred Funk2,600,000470,000BroadmoorColorado Springs, Colorado
2007United States Brad Bryant282−63 strokesUnited States Ben Crenshaw2,600,000470,000Whistling Straits
(Straits Course)		Haven, Wisconsin
2006United States Allen Doyle (2)272−82 strokesUnited States Tom Watson2,600,000470,000Prairie DunesHutchinson, Kansas
2005United States Allen Doyle274−101 strokeUnited States Loren Roberts
United States D. A. Weibring		2,600,000470,000NCR
(South Course)		Kettering, Ohio
2004United States Peter Jacobsen272−121 strokeUnited States Hale Irwin2,600,000470,000BelleriveSt. Louis, Missouri
2003United States Bruce Lietzke277−72 strokesUnited States Tom Watson2,600,000470,000Inverness ClubToledo, Ohio
2002United States Don Pooley274−10PlayoffUnited States Tom Watson2,500,000450,000Caves ValleyOwings Mills, Maryland
2001United States Bruce Fleisher280E1 strokeJapan Isao Aoki
United States Gil Morgan		2,400,000430,000SalemPeabody, Massachusetts
2000United States Hale Irwin (2)267−173 strokesUnited States Bruce Fleisher2,250,000400,000Saucon Valley
(Old Course)		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1999United States Dave Eichelberger281−73 strokesUnited States Ed Dougherty1,750,000315,000Des MoinesWest Des Moines, Iowa
1998United States Hale Irwin285+11 strokeArgentina Vicente Fernández1,500,000267,500RivieraPacific Palisades, California
1997Australia Graham Marsh280E1 strokeSouth Africa John Bland1,300,000232,500Olympia Fields
(North Course)		Olympia Fields, Illinois
1996United States Dave Stockton277−112 strokesUnited States Hale Irwin1,200,000212,500CanterburyBeachwood, Ohio
1995United States Tom Weiskopf275−134 strokesUnited States Jack Nicklaus1,000,000175,000Congressional
(Blue Course)		Bethesda, Maryland
1994South Africa Simon Hobday274−101 strokeUnited States Jim Albus
Australia Graham Marsh		800,000145,000Pinehurst Resort
(No. 2 Course)		Pinehurst, North Carolina
1993United States Jack Nicklaus (2)278−61 strokeUnited States Tom Weiskopf700,000135,330Cherry HillsCherry Hills Village, Colorado
1992United States Larry Laoretti275−94 strokesUnited States Jim Colbert700,000130,000Saucon Valley
(Old Course)		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1991United States Jack Nicklaus282+2PlayoffUnited States Chi-Chi Rodríguez600,000110,000Oakland Hills
(South Course)		Birmingham, Michigan
1990United States Lee Trevino275−132 strokesUnited States Jack Nicklaus500,00090,000RidgewoodParamus, New Jersey
1989United States Orville Moody279−92 strokesUnited States Frank Beard450,00080,000Laurel ValleyLigonier, Pennsylvania
1988South Africa Gary Player (2)288EPlayoffNew Zealand Bob Charles400,00065,000Medinah
(Course No. 3)		Medinah, Illinois
1987South Africa Gary Player270−146 strokesUnited States Doug Sanders300,00047,000BrooklawnFairfield, Connecticut
1986United States Dale Douglass279−51 strokeSouth Africa Gary Player275,00042,500SciotoColumbus, Ohio
1985United States Miller Barber (3)285−34 strokesArgentina Roberto De Vicenzo225,00040,199Edgewood TahoeStateline, Nevada
1984United States Miller Barber (2)286+62 strokesUnited States Arnold Palmer200,00036,448Oak Hill
(East Course)		Pittsford, New York
1983United States Billy Casper288+4PlayoffUnited States Rod Funseth175,00030,566Hazeltine NationalChaska, Minnesota
1982United States Miller Barber282−24 strokesUnited States Gene Littler
United States Dan Sikes		150,00028,648PortlandPortland, Oregon
1981United States Arnold Palmer289+9PlayoffUnited States Billy Casper
United States Bob Stone		149,00026,000Oakland Hills
(South Course)		Birmingham, Michigan
1980Argentina Roberto De Vicenzo285+14 strokesUnited States William C. Campbell (a)100,00020,000Winged Foot
East Course		Mamaroneck, New York

Multiple winners

Seven men have multiple victories in the U.S. Senior Open:

3 wins

2 wins

Successful defenders of the title were Barber (1985), Player (1988), and Doyle (2006).

Winners of both U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open

The following men have won both the U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open, the majors run by the USGA:

PlayerU.S. OpenU.S. Senior Open
Arnold Palmer19601981
Billy Casper1959, 19661983
Gary Player19651987, 1988
Orville Moody19691989
Lee Trevino1968, 19711990
Jack Nicklaus1962, 1967, 1972, 19801991, 1993
Hale Irwin1974, 1979, 19901998, 2000
Jim Furyk20032021

Palmer (1954) and Nicklaus (1959, 1961) also won the U.S. Amateur, previously considered a major.

Future sites
YearEditionVenueLocationDates
202444thNewport Country ClubNewport, Rhode IslandJune 27–30
202545thBroadmoor Golf ClubColorado Springs, ColoradoJune 26–29
202646thScioto Country ClubColumbus, OhioTBD
202747thOak Tree NationalEdmond, OklahomaTBD
202848thCrooked Stick Golf ClubCarmel, IndianaTBD
202949thPrairie DunesHutchinson, KansasTBD
203050thSpyglass Hill Golf CoursePebble Beach, CaliforniaTBD
203252ndSaucon Valley Country ClubBethlehem, PennsylvaniaTBD
203858thPlainfield Country ClubEdison, New JerseyTBD
204262ndSaucon Valley Country ClubBethlehem, PennsylvaniaTBD

Source:[9]

See also

References
  1. "De Vicenzo cops Senior Open". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. Associated Press. June 30, 1980. p. 7B.
  2. "Seniors tee it up in the US Senior Open". Nashua Telegraph. New Hampshire. Associated Press. July 8, 1981. p. 24.
  3. "65-year-old Bernhard Langer wins the US Senior Open to break the Champions' victory record". Washington Post. Associated Press. July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  4. "U.S. Open abandons 18 holes for 2-hole playoff". ESPN. Associated Press. February 26, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  5. "Nicklaus' 65 beats Rodriguez". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. July 30, 1991. p. 23.
  6. "2014 U.S. Senior Open Entry Form" (PDF). USGA. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  7. Barrett, Scott (April 6, 2020). "U.S. Senior Open at Newport County Club canceled". The Newport Daily News. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. Altstadter, Jeff (April 6, 2020). "2020 U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Senior Women's Open Canceled". USGA.
  9. DePasquale, Brian (September 26, 2023). "Scioto, Oak Tree, Crooked Stick to Host Future U.S. Senior Opens". USGA. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
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