U.S. Senior Open

Template:Short description Template:Infobox golf tournament The U.S. Senior Open is one of the five major championships in senior golf, introduced Template:Time ago in 1980.<ref name=devic80>Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref name=nteleg>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.

Bernhard Langer became the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion in 2023, winning at the age of 65 years 10 months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=abandn18>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 Template:Nowrap

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 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

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Purse ($)	Winner's share ($)	Venue	Location
2024	Template:Flagicon Richard Bland	267	−13	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Hiroyuki Fujita	4,000,000	720,000	Newport	Newport, Rhode Island
2023	Template:Flagicon Bernhard Langer (2)	277	−7	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Steve Stricker	4,000,000	720,000	SentryWorld	Stevens Point, Wisconsin
2022	Template:Flagicon Pádraig Harrington	274	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Steve Stricker	4,000,000	720,000	Saucon Valley (Old Course)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2021	Template:Flagicon Jim Furyk	273	−7	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Retief Goosen Template:Flagicon Mike Weir	4,000,000	720,000	Omaha	Omaha, Nebraska
2020	Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation									CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2019	Template:Flagicon Steve Stricker	261	−19	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jerry Kelly Template:Flagicon David Toms	4,000,000	720,000	Warren Golf Course U of Notre Dame	South Bend, Indiana
2018	Template:Flagicon David Toms	277	−3	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Miguel Ángel Jiménez Template:Flagicon Jerry Kelly Template:Flagicon Tim Petrovic	4,000,000	720,000	Broadmoor	Colorado Springs, Colorado
2017	Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry (2)	264	−16	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Kirk Triplett	4,000,000	720,000	Salem	Peabody, Massachusetts
2016	Template:Flagicon Gene Sauers	277	−3	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Miguel Ángel Jiménez Template:Flagicon Billy Mayfair	3,750,000	675,000	Scioto	Upper Arlington, Ohio
2015	Template:Flagicon Jeff Maggert	270	−10	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Colin Montgomerie	3,750,000	675,000	Del Paso	Sacramento, California
2014	Template:Flagicon Colin Montgomerie	279	−5	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Gene Sauers	3,500,000	630,000	Oak Tree National	Edmond, Oklahoma
2013	Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry	267	−13	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Fred Funk	2,750,000	500,000	Omaha	Omaha, Nebraska
2012	Template:Flagicon Roger Chapman	270	−10	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Fred Funk Template:Flagicon Bernhard Langer Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman Template:Flagicon Corey Pavin	2,750,000	500,000	Indianwood	Lake Orion, Michigan
2011	Template:Flagicon Olin Browne	269	−15	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Mark O'Meara	2,750,000	500,000	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
2010	Template:Flagicon Bernhard Langer	272	−8	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Fred Couples	2,600,000	470,000	Sahalee	Sammamish, Washington
2009	Template:Flagicon Fred Funk	268	−20	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Joey Sindelar	2,600,000	470,000	Crooked Stick	Carmel, Indiana
2008	Template:Flagicon Eduardo Romero	274	−6	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Fred Funk	2,600,000	470,000	Broadmoor	Colorado Springs, Colorado
2007	Template:Flagicon Brad Bryant	282	−6	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Ben Crenshaw	2,600,000	470,000	Whistling Straits (Straits Course)	Haven, Wisconsin
2006	Template:Flagicon Allen Doyle (2)	272	−8	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	2,600,000	470,000	Prairie Dunes	Hutchinson, Kansas
2005	Template:Flagicon Allen Doyle	274	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Loren Roberts Template:Flagicon D. A. Weibring	2,600,000	470,000	NCR (South Course)	Kettering, Ohio
2004	Template:Flagicon Peter Jacobsen	272	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin	2,600,000	470,000	Bellerive	St. Louis, Missouri
2003	Template:Flagicon Bruce Lietzke	277	−7	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	2,600,000	470,000	Inverness Club	Toledo, Ohio
2002	Template:Flagicon Don Pooley	274	−10	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	2,500,000	450,000	Caves Valley	Owings Mills, Maryland
2001	Template:Flagicon Bruce Fleisher	280	E	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Isao Aoki Template:Flagicon Gil Morgan	2,400,000	430,000	Salem	Peabody, Massachusetts
2000	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin (2)	267	−17	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bruce Fleisher	2,250,000	400,000	Saucon Valley (Old Course)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1999	Template:Flagicon Dave Eichelberger	281	−7	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Ed Dougherty	1,750,000	315,000	Des Moines	West Des Moines, Iowa
1998	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin	285	+1	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Vicente Fernández	1,500,000	267,500	Riviera	Pacific Palisades, California
1997	Template:Flagicon Graham Marsh	280	E	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon John Bland	1,300,000	232,500	Olympia Fields (North Course)	Olympia Fields, Illinois
1996	Template:Flagicon Dave Stockton	277	−11	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Hale Irwin	1,200,000	212,500	Canterbury	Beachwood, Ohio
1995	Template:Flagicon Tom Weiskopf	275	−13	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	1,000,000	175,000	Congressional (Blue Course)	Bethesda, Maryland
1994	Template:Flagicon Simon Hobday	274	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jim Albus Template:Flagicon Graham Marsh	800,000	145,000	Pinehurst Resort (No. 2 Course)	Pinehurst, North Carolina
1993	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus (2)	278	−6	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Tom Weiskopf	700,000	135,330	Cherry Hills	Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
1992	Template:Flagicon Larry Laoretti	275	−9	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jim Colbert	700,000	130,000	Saucon Valley (Old Course)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1991	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	282	+2	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Chi-Chi Rodríguez	600,000	110,000	Oakland Hills (South Course)	Birmingham, Michigan
1990	Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino	275	−13	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	500,000	90,000	Ridgewood	Paramus, New Jersey
1989	Template:Flagicon Orville Moody	279	−9	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Frank Beard	450,000	80,000	Laurel Valley	Ligonier, Pennsylvania
1988	Template:Flagicon Gary Player (2)	288	E	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Bob Charles	400,000	65,000	Medinah (Course No. 3)	Medinah, Illinois
1987	Template:Flagicon Gary Player	270	−14	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Doug Sanders	300,000	47,000	Brooklawn	Fairfield, Connecticut
1986	Template:Flagicon Dale Douglass	279	−5	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Gary Player	275,000	42,500	Scioto	Columbus, Ohio
1985	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber (3)	285	−3	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Roberto De Vicenzo	225,000	40,199	Edgewood Tahoe	Stateline, Nevada
1984	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber (2)	286	+6	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer	200,000	36,448	Oak Hill (East Course)	Pittsford, New York
1983	Template:Flagicon Billy Casper	288	+4	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Rod Funseth	175,000	30,566	Hazeltine National	Chaska, Minnesota
1982	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber	282	−2	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Gene Littler Template:Flagicon Dan Sikes	150,000	28,648	Portland	Portland, Oregon
1981	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer	289	+9	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Billy Casper Template:Flagicon Bob Stone	149,000	26,000	Oakland Hills (South Course)	Birmingham, Michigan
1980	Template:Flagicon Roberto De Vicenzo	285	+1	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon William C. Campbell (a)	100,000	20,000	Winged Foot East Course	Mamaroneck, New York

Multiple winners

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

3 wins

• Miller Barber (1982, 1984, 1985)

2 wins

• Gary Player (1987, 1988)
• Jack Nicklaus (1991, 1993)
• Hale Irwin (1998, 2000)
• Allen Doyle (2005, 2006)
• Kenny Perry (2013, 2017)
• Bernhard Langer (2010, 2023)

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:

Player	U.S. Open	U.S. Senior Open
Arnold Palmer	1960	1981
Billy Casper	1959, 1966	1983
Gary Player	1965	1987, 1988
Orville Moody	1969	1989
Lee Trevino	1968, 1971	1990
Jack Nicklaus	1962, 1967, 1972, 1980	1991, 1993
Hale Irwin	1974, 1979, 1990	1998, 2000
Jim Furyk	2003	2021

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

Future sites

Year	Edition	Venue	Location	Dates
2025	45th	Broadmoor Golf Club	Colorado Springs, Colorado	June 26–29
2026	46th	Scioto Country Club	Columbus, Ohio	July 2–5
2027	47th	Oak Tree National	Edmond, Oklahoma	July 1–4
2028	48th	Crooked Stick Golf Club	Carmel, Indiana	June 29–July 2
2029	49th	Prairie Dunes Country Club	Hutchinson, Kansas	TBD
2030	50th	Spyglass Hill Golf Course	Pebble Beach, California
2032	52nd	Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2033	53rd	Charlotte Country Club	Charlotte, North Carolina
2038	58th	Plainfield Country Club	Edison, New Jersey
2042	62nd	Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• U.S. Senior Women's Open
• Golf in the United States

External links

• U.S. Senior Open at USGA site (most of the information is in the archive section)
• Coverage on the PGA Tour Champions's official site