Golf Betting - US Open Championship
History - Winners
The first U.S Open Championship was directed by the United States Golf Association on the nine-hole course of Newport Golf and Country Club on October 4, 1895. The U.S Open was conducted by amateurs and by some foreigner golfers. The US Open was played at the same course during the same week and scheduled for September but was postponed because of a conflict with the America’s Cup yacht races.
The first winner was the 21 year old, Horace Rawlins, who scored 91-82-173 with the gutta-percha ball. Prize money was $335; he received a gold medal and the custody of the Open Championship Cup for his club one year.
The first American winner was young John J McDermott in 1911 and in 1912. An important fact occurred in 1913, when Francis Ouimet, a 20 year-old American amateur defeated the famous English Professionals Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in a playoff. The amateur Bobby Jones won the U.S Open four times: 1923, 1926, 1929 & 1930.
In 1922 the tickets for spectators were sold for the first time. The fifth and last amateur that won the U.S Open was John Goodman. The U.S Open had a very strict examination and the players needed to overcome it and because of it, too many players were well identified, since these tests were so rigorous.
Ben Hogan is the owner of four victories in 1948, 1950, 1951, and 1953. Arnold Palmer had a record in 1930.
Jack Nicklaus' rookie season as a professional was when he won the first of his four U.S Open Championship in 1962. He won also in 1967, 1972 and in 1980 and is one of the four golfers that has won four U.S tournaments.
In 1898 the USGA extended the championship to 72 holes with 36 holes played on two days. In 1926 it changed to 18 holes each of two days then 36 holes on the third day. And finally in 1965 it changed to four 18 - hole daily rounds.
US Open prize
In 2005 the purse was $ 6,500,000 and the winner’s share was $1,170,000. Also golfers are automatically invited to participate in other major events as: The Masters, British Open, and the PGA Championship for the next consecutive five years.